Volkswagen California 2.0 TDI Ocean 204 4dr DSG [5 Seat] Review
Category: Camper van
Section: Version review
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.
The trim
See full equipmentYou get all the camping equipment of Coast along with an electric roof, climate control, ambient interior lighting, an upgraded 8.0in infotainment system with sat nav, digital instruments, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights and foglights. Pricey, but the only model available with the more powerful TDI 204 engine and four-wheel drive.
The engine
See full engine specsAnother 2.0-litre diesel, this time with 201bhp. It drops the 0-62mph time to below 12sec, but does generate a fair bit of wheelspin if you accelerate hard from a standstill. Thankfully four-wheel drive is optional, but it’s a pricey choice. Unless you’re towing, we’d stick to the 150.
