Volkswagen California 2.0 TDI Beach Tour 5dr DSG [7 Seat] Review

Category: Camper van

Section: Version review

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Volkswagen California 2021 front right cornering
  • Volkswagen California 2021 front right cornering
  • Volkswagen California 2021 rear cornering
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior dashboard
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior rear seats
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior infotainment
  • Volkswagen California 2021 right tracking
  • Volkswagen California 2021 left static rear door open
  • Volkswagen California 2021 badge detail
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior front seats
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior living space
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior bed
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior pop-up roof
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior under-seat storage
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior kitchen
  • Volkswagen California 2021 rear door open
  • Volkswagen California 2021 front right cornering
  • Volkswagen California 2021 rear cornering
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior dashboard
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior rear seats
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior infotainment
  • Volkswagen California 2021 right tracking
  • Volkswagen California 2021 left static rear door open
  • Volkswagen California 2021 badge detail
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior front seats
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior living space
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior bed
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior pop-up roof
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior under-seat storage
  • Volkswagen California 2021 interior kitchen
  • Volkswagen California 2021 rear door open
RRP£63,438
Fuel type:
diesel
Gearbox:
semi-auto
Doors:
5 doors

You can tell plenty of thought and experience has gone into the VW California’s practical interior, even if folding out the beds takes a bit of muscle. It handles well by camper standards and has reasonable performance, but the Mercedes Marco Polo is better to drive, plusher inside and has easier to convert beds.

This is effectively an MPV that just so happens to have a couple of double beds, one in the pop-up roof and another created by folding the rear seats. You don’t get a kitchen or cupboards, but you do get the option of up to seven seats, a removable camping table with a couple of folding chairs, a 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system and twin sliding rear doors as standard.

Unless you opt for an Ocean model, this 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine is your only option. Available only with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, its 148bhp was good enough for 0-60mph in 12.1sec during our tests and it managed 33.5mpg, too. As it’s unlikely you’ll be driving quickly in your camper, it’s our pick.


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Key information

Doors5
Seats7
0-62 MPH14.3 seconds
Fuel TypeDiesel
GearboxSEMI-AUTO

Available colours

MPGOfficial overall fuel economy figure

36.2

Boot CapacityHow much space is there?

N/A

EmissionsOfficial emissions rating

209

g/km