The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

Volkswagen

interior-upgrades-and-new-tech-for-facelifted-vw-grand-california-campervan

facelifted-volkswagen-grand-california-receives-interior-upgrades

VOLKSWAGEN

Temporary taxonomy until official CAP taxonomy is linked to review.

Grand California

On sale Autumn 2025 Price from £85,000 (est.) Campervans offer the best of both worlds, combining the best aspects of camping outdoors with the comfort of sleeping in a proper bed – and Volkswagen is aiming to up the luxury even more with updates to its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/grand-california/mpv/review/n20215">VW Grand California</a> campervan.Indeed, the new VW Grand California has received a host of updates to its interior, including new bamboo furnishings in the kitchenette and new PVC flooring which is said to be more durable. The dining table can now be locked outside of the kitchenette so you can have your dinner al fresco.

New luggage nets in the storage cabinets should make it easier to stow items inside the large two- or four-berth <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-campervans/n26020">campervan</a>. You can also now opt for a custom-fit thermal sleeping mat and blackout curtains for the windows in the cab area.

In accordance with updates to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">VW Crafter</a> upon which the Grand California is based from last year, the latter gets a 10.4in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a> alongside a new digital instrument display. We found the old system to be relatively outdated, but it was still easy to use. We haven’t tested the new system, but it should hopefully have been thoroughly modernised.

The Grand California also received a number of additional safety features, including emergency brake assist with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane assist and parking aids. Switching the handbrake lever to a switch on the instrument panel means that the driver’s seat has more flexibility with movement.The new VW Grand California will be ready for the start of the 2026 model year, meaning it’ll arrive in autumn this year. Prices aren’t yet revealed, but it's likely they'll be in line with the current Grand California; the lineup starts at £84,151.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-campervans/n26020">Best c</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-campervans/n26020">ampervans</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

On sale Autumn 2025 Price from £85,000 (est.) Campervans offer the best of both worlds, combining the best aspects of camping outdoors with the comfort of sleeping in a proper bed – and Volkswagen is aiming to up the luxury even more with updates to its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/grand-california/mpv/review/n20215">VW Grand California</a> campervan.

Indeed, the new VW Grand California has received a host of updates to its interior, including new bamboo furnishings in the kitchenette and new PVC flooring which is said to be more durable. The dining table can now be locked outside of the kitchenette so you can have your dinner al fresco. New luggage nets in the storage cabinets should make it easier to stow items inside the large two- or four-berth <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-campervans/n26020">campervan</a>. You can also now opt for a custom-fit thermal sleeping mat and blackout curtains for the windows in the cab area.

Interior upgrades and new tech for facelifted VW Grand California campervan

Facelifted Volkswagen Grand California receives interior upgrades

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

Updates to the VW Grand California campervan bring new bamboo furnishings and storage solutions

Interior upgrades and new tech for facelifted VW Grand California campervan        

Camper (2025 - )

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

Citroen

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

Dacia

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

Ford

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

Lexus

MAXUS

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

Mercedes-Benz

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

Nissan

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

Peugeot

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

Renault

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

Toyota

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

Vauxhall

Caddy

Caddy California

California

Caravelle

ID. Buzz

Multivan

Touran

GRAND CALIFORNIA

The&nbsp;Volkswagen Grand California&nbsp;and other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/lifestyle-vans">campervans</a> provide a real tonic for the soul, putting the prospect of getting away from it all at a moment's notice right on your driveway. Owning one allows you to grab the keys and hit the road for somewhere more appealing whenever you want.

With the Grand California, you'll have plenty of&nbsp;comforts when you get wherever you're going, too. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> design team started with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">VW Crafter</a> van then used&nbsp;every cubic millimetre of space to its best advantage to create a proper home away from home.

You can stay civilised when you're living off-grid because there's a shower, a toilet, hot and cold running water – and even central heating.&nbsp;

In other words, the Grand California is a step up into motorhome territory, and while it's not the only vehicle of its kind available in the UK, it's unusual because it's produced in-house by VW, rather than being converted from a van model by a specialist builder.

So, while the smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/california/mpv/review/n19868">VW California</a> contends with the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/v-class/estate/review/n23174">Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo</a>&nbsp;and special-order versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a>&nbsp;there aren’t really any manufacturer-backed rivals at the moment to challenge the Grand California.

You can choose from two different versions, depending on how many people you want to accommodate on trips. For families, there’s the four-berth&nbsp;600, which is six metres long and has room for two adults and the option of a top bunk for two children.

For couples who want maximum luxury, there's the 680, which sleeps two in greater comfort. The 680 is 6.8 metres long, and to get behind the wheel you need a driving licence that covers&nbsp;vehicles weighing&nbsp;more than 3.5 tonnes.

Read on to find out what the VW Grand California is like on the road, how practical it is inside and what it’ll cost you. And in the interests of thoroughness, we’ll also describe what it’s like to sleep in.

When you're looking for a fresh set of wheels, remember we can make the whole process easier and save you some cash if you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. It lists some of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/camper-van">new Campervan deals</a>.

<hr />
What’s new? 
March 2025: VW gives Grand California a large update, including digital instruments, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a touchscreen in the living area to control the auxiliary heating and ambient lighting, and an updated 159bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine. The Grand California is either front-wheel drive of four-wheel drive 
February 2019: latest version of Grand California makes UK debut, and offers more space, a bathroom with a toilet, an electrically powered step and Bluetooth audio control

<hr />
Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

Cleverly designed motorhome&nbsp;makes camping trips a piece of cake. &nbsp;

Volkswagen Grand California

A staple of British holidaymakers, camper vans come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, but are usually based on existing commercial vehicles. Camper vans will have been modified to make them more comfortable for extended use, and often come with extra amenities including cooking facilities, a sleeping area and, in some cases, a toilet or shower.

Interior upgrades and new tech for facelifted VW Grand California campervan

Updates to the VW Grand California campervan bring new bamboo furnishings and storage solutions...

Read more: Best c ampervans >>

2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB revealed

Volkswagen Multivan long-term test: report 3

Volkswagen Multivan long-term test: report 2

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: practicality

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: interiors

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: verdict

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Information

Legal bits

Interior upgrades and new tech for facelifted VW Grand California campervan

Updates to the VW Grand California campervan bring new bamboo furnishings and storage solutions...

Read more: Best campervans >>

2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB revealed

Volkswagen Multivan long-term test: report 3

Volkswagen Multivan long-term test: report 2

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: practicality

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: interiors

New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: verdict

Quick search

Tools & services

Information

Legal bits

Read more: Best c ampervans >>