Looking to buy. May 9, 2023. #1. I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding. Our main considerations: -We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two. -It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily Our particular T6 California was a German-market specification vehicle powered by a version of VW's long-serving 2.0-liter turbo four driving all 4Motion wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch Dimensions for the 2022 Volkswagen California are dependent on which body type is chosen. The maximum width and height is 1904mm x 1990mm and can vary on the basis of model. Volkswagen California Model. Body Type. Height x Width x Length. Ground Clearance. TDI340 California Beach. Wagon. 1990x1904x4904 mm. #Vw California #Coast #6.1 #california 6.1 #camper #Vw camper #combi #Bulli #Lzo54 #essai california #DCT #ROADTRIP #vanlife #VW Van#dsg#california#van#volks Ride Height and Car Parks with a 2 Meter Height Restriction. This is often overlooked. Most T5/T6 conversions which have popup roofs are over 2 meters high whereas the California overall height is less than 2 meters. The discerning converter might lower the suspension on a standard van but this costly and is another modification which your This section is a premium listing for traders wanting to have coverage of their business. Listings should contain at least 300 word for company description, company logo, website , address and phone numbers. Trade Member A Great Time Of Year To Get your California Habitation Check Done. Nov 2, 2023. JerbaCampervans. . Wolność bez granic na czterech kołachZasypiać pod rozgwieżdżonym niebem. Rano budzić się słysząc szum morza. Zwiedzać obce kraje lecz czuć się zawsze jak w domu: California to wolność w czystej postaci. Dzięki wygodnemu wyposażeniu wnętrza oraz przemyślanym detalom, każda podróż zamienia się w niezapomnianą przygodę. Ciesz się swoją niezależnością i podróżuj tam, dokąd chcesz. Zabierz ze sobą wszystko, czego wyposażeniaRobi wyjątkowe wrażenieNowy design kuchni w Californii kuchnia świataNowy design kuchni w Californii szakszuka czy leczo: ten, kto podróżuje po świecie, odkrywa nie tylko obce kraje, ale także egzotyczne potrawy. W Californii możesz wypróbować swoje nowe przepisy: wyposażenie kuchni obejmuje kuchenkę gazową z dwiema płytami grzewczymi, stabilną pokrywę z możliwością używania jej jako blat roboczy oraz wyjmowaną miskę w każdym szczególeZnakomite osiągnięcieJest legendą i mamy na to dowódCieszymy się i pękamy z dumy: Volkswagen California zwyciężył w plebiscycie The Best of Moto 2020 w kategorii Samochód legenda. Plebiscyt organizowany był przez portal a zwycięzca został wybrany głosami czytelników i internautów. Ty też możesz podróżować w legendarnym stylu i wzbudzać zachwyt na drogach. Wybierz nie stanowi oferty, kolory nadwozi prezentowanych na niniejszym materiale mogą być już niedostępne w produkcji lub ich wybór może być – 30 lat wolności. A przygoda toczy się niezależności i wolności. Dom na kółkach dla milionów podróżnych. A do tego gotowy na kolejne 30 lat niezapomnianych oryginalne akcesoria do swojej CaliforniiFinansowanieDobierz finansowanieFinansowanie dla firmFinansowanie dla klientów indywidualnychKalkulator finansowyDobierz finansowanieFinansowanie dla firmZadbamy o Twoje autoBezpieczeństwo i komfort podróżowaniaPozostań mobilny, cokolwiek się stanieGwarancja obsługi najwyższej jakościZadbamy o Twoje autoBezpieczeństwo i komfort podróżowaniaMoże zainteresują Cię również:Może zainteresują Cię również: Particulièrement confortable et jouissant de finitions impeccables, le California Coast est une valeur sûre… à condition de garder à l'esprit que l'absence de toilettes et l'autonomie limitée imposent des étapes régulières au camping. Tarif de la version de base: 55200 €. Hormis la continuité d’un certain état d’esprit et une polyvalence affirmée, il n’y a vraiment plus rien de commun entre le California d’aujourd’hui et l’antique Combi. Différence majeure: le Transporter aménagé d'aujourd'hui est ultra-confortable. C’est au début des années cinquante qu’un artisan d’outre-Rhin installa à son bord le premier aménagement. Soixante ans après, l’histoire n’a plus de secret. Le Combi devint Transporter et, à son bord, Volkswagen se charge désormais de l’aménagement qui a beaucoup évolué. Et six générations de Transporter plus tard, la légende perdure. Indémodable, éprouvé, plébiscité, l’aménagement du California Coast séduit toujours ceux qui privilégient la simplicité de vie à bord et qui entendent faire d’un camping-car un véhicule du quotidien. À moins que ce ne soit l’inverse. Mais toujours dans le confort. Lire aussi notre article 10 vérités sur les fourgons aménagés, des camping-cars pas si différents À bord, les manipulations se limitent au strict nécessaire: mise en place de la table (ingénieux système), pivotement des sièges cabine, relevage du toit (motorisé sur l’Ocean, pas sur le Coast). Rien de plus. La place manque ici pour donner le détail de tout ce qui fait l’agrément de ce California. Il faudrait décrire ses rangements variés, son petit coffre secret, le sommier à lattes de son lit haut, sa trémie fermée par un rideau à lamelles. Il faudrait encore citer son mobilier de plein air (une table, deux chaises) et l’ingéniosité de son rangement, sa banquette coulissante… Lire aussi notre article Le nouveau visage d'un camping-car mythique: le VW California sur T6 À son bord, la simplicité et l’élégance sont de mise et font également partie du plaisir éprouvé. Sous cet angle, les techniques développées, les matériaux modernes utilisés et le haut niveau de finition placent ce California dans la famille automobile. Ils font de ce camping-car compact une sorte de frégate du bitume qui, toit baissé et portières fermées, ne laisse rien deviner de ses capacités. Une frégate que l’on choisira plus pour son style et le plaisir qu’elle procure, que pour son autonomie, imposant de fréquents ravitaillements dans le cadre d’une utilisation familiale pour laquelle il faudra attendre le retour des beaux jours. Volkswagen California Coast, fiche technique L x l x h : 4,89 x 1,90 x 1,99 m Porteur : Volkswagen Transporter 2,0 l Tdi de 150 ch, toit relevable à parois entoilées PTAC/CU: 3000/550 kg Places autorisées : 4 Couchages: lit haut de120 x 200 cm, lit dînette de 113 x 202 cm Toilette : sans Eaux propre/usées : 30/30 l Réfrigérateur : à compression de 42 l Chauffage : à air pulsé programmable, sur carburant Équipements de série : ESP, ASR, aide au démarrage en côte, airbags frontaux et latéraux, détecteur de fatigue, régulateur de vitesse, réglage automatique de la portée des phares, climatisation, système radio (écran tactile), volant multifonctions, rideaux occultation… • Tarif : (version 2,0 l de 150 ch, boîte de vitesse manuelle) Pour ▲ Polyvalence, compacité ▲ Équipement cabine ▲ Comportement, agrément routier ▲ Agrément, facilité de vie à bord ▲ Confort nocturne ▲ Qualité de fabrication ▲ Finition de type automobile ▲ Coffre arrière modulable Contre ▼ Autonomie pour quatre Voir les commentaires Aug 30, 2019 at 10:36am ET It’s not a stretch to say Volkswagen started the whole camper van movement with its classic Type 2 way back in the 1950s. Flash forward to 2019 – VW has a new cool mini motorhome that will make its public debut at this year’s 2019 Caravan Salon. Rather, it’s sort of new, as it’s based on the familiar California that already has camping provisions. This one is a bit different, however, in that it gets its own mini-kitchen along with seating for seven. Camping The VW Way: Officially called the California it’s a product of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and in ordinary life, it functions as a normal van with seating for up to seven people. However, this version offers something new compared to other California campers – the ability to add the mini-kitchen without ditching the extra seating. In that sense, this van becomes a proper family vehicle through the week, with the ability to embrace off-grid life on the weekends. Gallery: Volkswagen California Beach The mini-kitchen stows behind the driver seat between the B and C pillars, and includes a single gas burner with a small workspace to the right. When not in use, the mini kitchen fits neatly into the van’s wall. In its stowed configuration, it takes up no more passenger space than a standard California without the option. As for other camping items, the California features a pop-up aluminum roof with canvas sides, a roof bed, a fold-away table, and the rear bench seat folds to create another sleeping area. Despite its American-sounding name. VW doesn’t offer the California in the States. It’s presently the exclusive domain of overseas markets, though we suspect there are all kinds of VW camping enthusiasts hoping that it will eventually cross the pond. In the meantime, it will be on display starting August 31 at the 2019 Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany. Source: Volkswagen Hide press release Show press release Caravan Salon 2019: world première of the California Beach with new mini kitchen Hannover, 29 August 2019 – Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting a further surprise as part of the world première of the new California at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf (31 Aug. to 8 Sept.): for the first time the entry-level Beach version will have a kitchen. Until now this was reserved for the more exclusive Coast and Ocean lines. New this time: unlike the large row of kitchen units in the Coast and Ocean, being used in the Beach is a completely reworked fold-out mini kitchen. While, due to the broader kitchen, the Coast and Ocean are universally offered with a two-seater bench in the passenger compartment, the California Beach can, thanks to the narrower mini kitchen, also optionally be ordered with a three-seater bench. That opens up the possibility for the first time for families of five to go camping with a California, complete with kitchen on board. The new California Beach with mini kitchen and motorhome type approval is being given the suffix ‘Camper’; the Beach version with passenger car type approval and no mini kitchen will from now on carry the extra name ‘Tour’. New on the Tour: in future it is getting two sliding doors as standard – on the left and right. Previously the Beach was available with the sliding door on the right only. Both Beach versions – Tour and Camper – are additionally united by the fact that a new digital camper control unit in the roof console adds to the standard specification (for the previous model there was no camper control unit). For the first time it is also possible for both models to order hydraulic operation of the pop-up roof as an option instead of manual operation. In this case, the opening and closing of the roof is controlled, like many other functions, via the camper control new mini kitchen broadens the versatility of the California Beach. To use it, it is pulled up and out of the side panel between the B- and C-pillar and folded out. The stainless steel unit has a single-hob gas cooker on the left and a worktop on the right. Over the gas cooker there is also a cover plate, which when lifted up for cooking serves as a splashback. If the mini kitchen's hotplate/worktop is not needed, you simply tip it up and lower it back into the side panel, which, incidentally, despite mini kitchen is no wider than its counterpart with no kitchen. Under the hotplate/worktop against the side wall is a large, open storage compartment and an enclosed compartment for the gas bottle. The California is generally used in everyday life like any normal MPV. Often by families. There is then sometimes the need to carry more than four or five people. For such situations Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers individual seats on the second seating row. Despite the fitted kitchen, the new California Beach provides room here to use not just one, but two individual seats. With the mini kitchen closed, the bench seat and individual seats can be repositioned without any restrictions at all. Depending on bench seat version on the third row, the camper thus becomes a six- or seven-seat MPV. Note, however, that any Beach with type approval as a motorhome has a maximum of five seats. Anyone wanting to use the Beach with mini kitchen and six or seven seats should therefore simply order it as the Tour version with passenger car type approval rather than as the Camper, choose not to have the left sliding door and add the mini kitchen. The compact design of the variable kitchen underlines the fact that the California is more than ever the true all-rounder in the compact motorhome market. The standard features of the California Beach Camper (extract) Aluminium pop-up roof with canvas sides in Basalt Grey Camper control unit with touchscreen in the roof console Roof bed, redesigned with sprung base Swivel seats at the front with lumbar support and armrests Camper interior lighting concept in the passenger compartment Two-seater bench plus fold-out bed extension incl. mattress below and side storage compartments Folding table in the sliding door, folding chairs in the tailgate ‘Climatic’ air conditioning system Awning tracks in black Composition Colour radio with 6 loudspeakers Sliding window on the left Sliding door on the right Hideaway mini kitchen Storage compartment drawer Fabric blackout screens for the cab Illuminated tread plates with ‘California’ inscription Double USB socket on the outside of the front passenger seat Cab and passenger compartment blackout 230V socket with AC converter next to the driver’s seat (300W) The Practical Motorhome Volkswagen California Ocean review - Check out this T6 VW campervan, the California Ocean, with Practical Motorhome's Editor Niall Hampton - Copyright: Practical Motorhome TV Our test VW campervan looks resplendent in its Oryx White pearlescent paint (£606) – the awning is a £396 option This smart Alcantara upholstery is a £870 option, but standard is a rear bench seat boasting automotive quality and comfort The bench seat has fold-away head restraints and can be opened to form a good-sized double bed Here you’ll find the usual hob and sink, but the top-loading fridge is a divergence from form that will irk some – storage is reasonable, not inventive The Ocean is available with a choice of two engines – read more in our T6 VW California review It’s easy to access storage space at the rear, while the end of the furniture unit also houses the neat fresh-water tank and gas-cylinder holder in an unusual arrangement Two folding lounge chairs are stored neatly in the tailgate, while a table for use outside is tucked tidily in the sliding door – both are welcome touches Jump inside the VW California Ocean, as the carmaker produces a high quality campervan that includes an electrically operated pop-top roof as standard Verdict There’s no doubt about it: the VW California Ocean is the ‘real thing’ in the Transporter market. Compare specifications and it actually compares well with its rivals on price. You get an added bonus, too: it won’t lose as much of its value over time as other ’vans would. It may be the world’s second largest carmaker, but Volkswagen still takes a keen interest in the campervan market. It typically sells some 400 Californias at
36 of its van centres, arguably making it the most popular camper in the UK. If you want to be one of them, head to your local Volkswagen Van Centre. And to see other VW campervans for sale, click here. Pros Car-standard build quality It has an electrically operated aluminium roof Owners will benefit from class-leading residuals You get four berths as standard It comes with a table and two chairs for use outside, with clever, dedicated storage Cons The sliding door is not on the UK nearside It does without some practicalities There’s the Volkswagen California, and then there are VW-based campers…  The difference? The California is the only campervan that’s completely manufactured by Volkswagen: the rest are made by specialist manufacturers of varying degrees of pedigree. Now we have the T6, the latest-generation Volkswagen Transporter, on which the VW California Ocean you see here is based. It may not look that different from the T5 that it’s replaced, but it’s meant a choice of cleaner, more fuel-efficient Euro 6 engines, all manner of safety enhancements and more. Indeed, Volkswagen lists some 6000 changes to the T6 over the T5. Some of the most significant in terms of safety include a Driver Alert System, Brake Assist, an Automotive Post-Collision Braking System and so on. In short, it’s the best VW Transporter to date: it’s more powerful, more economical, quieter, better equipped, sturdier and safer. Yes, it’s more expensive. But the overall dimensions remain exactly the same as those of the T5. In T6 guise, there are two flavours: Beach and Ocean. Here we have the latter and the higher-trim Ocean is a standard-bearer for the entire class of T6-based ’vans, and a great indicator of the characteristics you can expect when a carmaker turns its attention to campervan production. The furniture and mouldings are of superior quality. Volkswagen also retains the premium dashboard for its own product. Integral blinds for the side and rear windows, all-LED rear lights, twin chrome strips on the front grille (rivals just get the single ones) and other details are reminders that the Ocean is a cut above the rest of the fleet. It is by no means perfect, though. Practicality may not always have been at the forefront of its designers’ thoughts. The gas cylinder surrounded by the fresh water tank isn’t liked by everyone. And while overall storage is decent, it lacks the imaginative ideas that other converters can offer. Moreover, despite being able to call upon lots of optional extras, the majority of these focus on the base vehicle rather than enhancing the camping side of things. The conversion isn’t switched to right-hand drive, either; hence, the sliding door is on our offside (we appreciate its power latch, but that doesn’t compensate). The small, top-loading fridge is definitely a love-it/loathe-it item. In addition, interior lighting is acceptable, rather than generous. Nevertheless, the majority would agree that here is a campervan that is head-and-shoulders above its contemporaries. It needn’t cost more, either. Spec-for-spec comparisons actually favour the California – especially because the standard equipment includes clever features, for example, the electrically operated aluminium elevating roof, an outdoor table that is stowed in the sliding door, folding lounge chairs in the tailgate and a programmable diesel heating system. It’s a full four-berth from the start, too, and the better bed is the one in the roof. The rear seat is automotive quality and boasts fold-away head restraints. There’s an option to add a fifth, removable, travel seat, too. Volkswagen only offers the California Ocean with two choices of engine – the 150PS and 204PS – albeit along with a range of DSG automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel driving configurations. The ’van tested has the larger engine and the automatic gearbox. Here is a campervan that is head-and-shoulders above its contemporaries Technical Specifications Payload402 kgShipping m Even those not previously taken with the idea of camping have loved spending time in the clever Volkswagen California. We’ll miss its versatility; so long, old friend!Mileage: 10,041Economy: the keys landed on my desk back in April, I never dreamt that our Volkswagen California – which is now a pre-facelift model, since an updated version launched recently – would prove so popular with my colleagues. Here, we’ve pulled together some of the experiences that the Auto Express team (and their families, of course) have had during the past six months and 10,000 Cali has been everywhere, from the south coast to Norfolk, Wales and France. It’s also doubled as my daily driver, ferrying me to work in central London, as well as to the airport and my parents’ home in Devon. It’s carried lots of rubbish to the tip during our house renovation, and even doubled as a mobile office on road test shoots.• New Volkswagen Grand California reviewThe response from my workmates has been overwhelmingly positive. Whether it was being used as a place of solace on a damp Devon campsite, or somewhere to cook up some eggs on a sunny Saturday, the versatile van proved perfect for any occasion. More reviews It was especially good at swaying those not previously taken by the idea of camping. A couple of my colleagues actively disliked the idea of pitching up in a flooded field only to be battered by the best our wet and windy weather could throw at them. And who could blame them? Yet all who tried the Cali returned (at least partially) converted. It was interesting how many people commented on the Cali’s countless clever features; everyone loved the chairs hidden in the bootlid, the fold-out table in the sliding door and the hanging rail in the cupboard. The bulky bike rack was used a handful of times – although I’d think twice before speccing it, as it severely restricts rearward visibility and makes the tailgate very Cali’s compact footprint makes it easy to drive on UK roads, although the jerky gearbox raised a few eyebrows. It was investigated, but after an extensive road test, VW insisted there was nothing my biggest complaint lay with the light-coloured seats. A car (or van) in which you’re able to eat and sleep should offer a more durable fabric; the slightest spillage left marks on the rear seats. Thankfully, a bottle of Autoglym’s interior shampoo quickly had the chairs looking good as for all its quirks, the Cali will leave a gaping hole in the Auto Express car park. The most popular test car on our fleet in recent times will be sorely MilneVisited: Southwold, SuffolkThis was the second time I’d used a California. The best part of 10 years separates the two, but little has changed. The layout felt familiar, and we came away as impressed by the Cali’s ingenuity this summer as we did all those years ago: aplace for everything, and everything in its place. It sparks conversations like few other cars, too; ‘Veedubbers’ are a very friendly things resonated with us, though. As obvious as it sounds, turning up to a campsite then setting off on adventures each day doesn’t play to a camper van’s strengths. Our family break to Suffolk required too much stowing, unloading and setting up; a few days of touring would have been better. Plus, there’s nowhere to store child seats and associated kit when you’re WalkerVisited: Paddock Wood, KentFor me, the appeal of the California rested in the promise of hassle-free camping without the need to go 10 rounds with a heavyweight tent. There’s nothing like rolling up to a campsite to seamlessly assemble your accommodation in seconds, without puncturing your air bed with a tent pole, or smacking yourself in the toe with a mallet. And the reality proved to be pretty close. We visited a campsite in Kent; two adults with two kids in tow. If you’re only staying for one or two nights, or are comically inept at erecting tents, the plug-and-play nature of a camper van is a godsend. I had some trouble getting the awning poles to lock, which at least allowed the neighbours a smirk – but otherwise it was plain sailing. The kids (six and three) found the pop-up roof irresistible, while us adults loved the high-quality fixtures and fittings. There’s a predictable question mark over the Cali’s body control in corners, but no sane camper is going to drive it with much vigour and risk their baked bean tins crushing their BaidenVisited: Hastings, East SussexI’ll admit that, like Ben (left), I don’t much like camping. I hate the thought of pitching a tent and the prospect of going without the creature comforts of a hotel when I go away. So, when our friends Greg and Magda tried to tempt us into a camping trip near Hastings, I was hesitant – until I realised I could take the VW of the biggest reservations I had about camping involved my young son; the thought of having him in a tent with us, wriggling around and making a racket wasn’t exactly appealing. But in the Cali there was enough space to put his travel cot downstairs while we slept up top. It worked perfectly, and we woke up feeling refreshed the next California also proved extremely popular with Greg and Magda’s kids. They seemed to spend more time inside it than outside in the sunshine, fiddling with all the clever and crafty features, many of which we hadn’t discovered ourselves. That’s the beauty of the California – most of the best bits are hidden away out of sight, and only come to the fore when you really need not about to go and buy a tent, yet just like Ben, the California has definitely improved my perception of camping. But at more than £60,000, I’m not BatchelorVisited: Croyde Bay, DevonNothing can prepare you for the contempt dished out by other campers as you rock up in a £60k red and white VW van. We chose Croyde Bay in North Devon for our holiday, and as we crept into the campsite on a gorgeous sunny evening, we felt a little uncomfortable as others rolled up their sleeves and constructed their fabric homes. The contempt turned into ridicule as we wound out the awning and lounged in the Cali’s chairs, sipping Riesling and watching the sun set. The next four days, however, were a washout. One morning we woke to the sound of ‘Oh god, no!’ as our neighbours chased their tent in gale force winds. By the end of the week we were glad to not be wet, cold – the auxiliary heater is fabulous – and hated by our fellow campers. One night we even invited a sopping wet woman round for a drink!Ben HodgesVisited: Isle of Sheppey, KentTaking the California to the Isle of Sheppey for the weekend was possibly more exciting for my family than for me, with my two boys bouncing with excitement at the being far from seasoned campers, we found the Cali easy to set up, with the helpful reversing camera making it simple to pitch. From here on, the boys took up residence in the pop-up roof, only being bribed out with the offer of food and drink. When it came to making dinner, though, interior space became tight, with the very noticeable slope I’d parked on making cooking a bit difficult. Being a typical English summer, we were forced to eat inside – although the excellent on-board heater kept us nice and used the campsite as our home for the weekend, and while we did venture out to the beach in the afternoon, heading back to the van was never a chore. After a long day walking on the beach and exploring in the great outdoors, returning to the Cali as the weather closed in confirmed its greatest strengths. It’s infinitely better than a tent at night – with two comfortable beds, and blinds on every window to block out the early-morning sun. Did it convert me to camping? Not quite, but now I dislike it a tiny bit McIlroyVisited: Hampshire/Wales Rally GBMy family enjoyed a couple of trips in the Auto Express California. The first was an extended stay at Wellington Country Park, Hampshire, which allowed my six-year-old to show off glamping to his school mates as they enjoyed sleepovers on a rota basis, while the second included a run to the depths of Wales (in early October) to watch the world’s top rally drivers on Rally Cali is a cracking day base. As we sat in a sodden Welsh forest, eating lunch and drying out ahead of the afternoon’s action, I heard more than one rally fan comment, “That’s what you need for a day like this.”General cleverness aside, I noticed that the upstairs bed is more comfortable than the slightly lumpy downstairs mattress, and the gearbox seems to like building up a lot of revs before pulling away from rest. The light-grey seat fabric marks a bit too easily for a vehicle that has a kitchen and a washable floor, too. All-in-all, though, I’m going to miss having it Wilson Visited: Suffolk & Norfolk coastal road tripI was instantly won over by the space-saving ingenuity of our VW California. I spent over an hour playing with all the switches, levers and on-board tech before even heading off on holiday. Only once I’d finished fiddling were we able to start along the Suffolk and Norfolk coastline, stopping at various pre-booked sites and beaches en route. Personal highlights included the super-quick pop-up roof, making arrival and departure simple. We also loved the built-in fridge, which we packed with cider for the evenings, and bacon and eggs for breakfast. Every bit of internal space was used, from pull-out blinds in the A-pillars to a mini dustbin in the driver’s door. I was converted. My wife sensibly reminded me that we could afford a fair few Airbnb weekends for the £62k price tag, GriffithsVisited: Hastings, East SussexI took my family to Hastings, East Sussex, in the heat of June, and my two sons couldn’t have been more excited by the prospect. The California had no difficulty in swallowing child seats, duvets, and the associated kit required for a night’s camping (or glamping, let’s be honest), while all occupants were impressed with its hushed refinement on the positive impressions continued upon pitching up at our campsite. The motor-driven pop-up-roof proved a popular hangout for my boys, and the table and chairs hidden in the sliding doors were the perfect accessories for mum and dad to relax with a glass of wine and some nibbles. We did come across a couple of issues, however; turning the driver’s seat around 180 degrees to face the rear bench was tricky due to it catching on the handbrake and steering wheel, while the light-coloured seats were prone to staining, with the slightest spillage leaving water marks. Joe HoldingVisited: WalesMy then-fiancée-now-wife and I enjoyed a week exploring Wales in the Cali. Living out of the camper made the trip feel like an adventure, and we’ll be buying one the moment we win the lottery. Perhaps a dealer would take our tent as a part-ex?My colleagues had raved about the Cali’s versatility, but we were grateful for something more fundamental: the brakes. They brought the three-tonne camper to a sharp stop on the Great Orme, helping to avoid a head-on collision with a motorcyclist who’d overcooked a blind bend. Both van and biker were California: Fourth reportTwo-thousand-mile road trip gives VW California camper van a chance to shine over a fortnight in FranceMileage: 8,717Economy: I heard I’d be running a Volkswagen California as my next Auto Express test car, my wife, Anna, and I immediately began exploring where we might take it for a two-week started as a few days in Scotland quickly morphed into a mega European trip – extending as far as northern Italy, Slovenia and the stunning Lake Bled. Yet we soon realised that a route like this wouldn’t leave a lot of time for rest or relaxation, and as much as I love a good road trip, we didn’t want to spend the whole time we slimmed things down and chose to focus on France. However, it still covers an area of just over 547,000 sq km and has almost one million kilometres of paved roads, so we weren’t likely to run out of things to Caravan and Motorhome Club helped us organise our ferry crossings and offered advice on camping in France. We decided to avoid booking too much in advance, because we wanted our itinerary to remain flexible. Camping is big business in France, so we assumed this wouldn’t be penned a rough route, from Calais through Giverny, Chablis, Avignon and Annecy, covering around 2,900km (1,800 miles). There were plenty of other things we wanted to do en route – such as wine tasting in Champagne and hiking in Fontainebleau – but we’d leave most of it to chance. Packing for our excursion was easy. It was just the two of us, so we had no trouble fitting everything we needed in the VW’s various cupboards and cubbyholes. As sometime campers, we had most of the kit already, including cups, cutlery and crockery, plus a set of ping-pong bats and three bottles of mosquito repellent. We cooked up some veggie meals to see us through the first few nights, and stocked the cupboards with we arrived at Dover, throngs of holiday goers flooded into the terminal café to buy their expensive Costa coffee and soggy croissants. But because we had the van, we simply hopped in the back, boiled the kettle for a cuppa and ate bowls of cereal while we were waiting to real beauty of the California is that it’s no larger than the VW Transporter on which it is based, and only a few millimetres longer than a BMW X5. That makes it easy to manoeuvre and simple to park, and its size prevented us from being forced in alongside the bigger vans and trucks for the 90-minute trip across the Channel. We made it to France without any issues, and arrived at our first stop feeling as fresh as when we left; the VW’s two armchair-like front seats proving comfortable even on journeys of 250 miles or the trip progressed we learned ever more about VW’s top-spec California Ocean, not least the fact that you can rely on the built-in fridge. It’s powered by a battery that tops itself up on the move, and meant we were often able to avoid paying extra for a powered campsite pitch – giving us more freedom as to the sites we chose. A secluded pitch by the river in the Gorges du Tarn was a particularly sweet spot and somewhere we ended up staying for a couple of after day (and night after night) the California continued to impress. We tended to sleep in the roof, so as not to disturb the cabin too much. It worked well, and despite consisting of little more than a small covering of foam, the mattress was comfortable. We struggled with cold temperatures at times; the auxiliary heater unfortunately doesn’t double as an air-conditioning unit. • Best family cars to buy 2019While we spent a lot of time driving, we ticked off a few must-see places, including the incredible Millau Viaduct, which spans a valley almost wide and 270m deep. Being something of an engineering geek, it’s somewhere I’d wanted to visit for years, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We eventually had to begin the trek home, albeit via Strasbourg and Champagne; and we stocked up on wine in Calais, before boarding the boat for the return crossing. The total distance at the end of the trip stood at 2,043 miles, but at almost 32mpg the Cali had proved remarkably efficient – even when fully laden with people and California: updateHow does our Volkswagen California compare to a similarly priced Mercedes GLE? Mileage: 5,755Economy: more than £68,000 (as tested), our Volkswagen California is an expensive bit of kit. You get loads of space and a long list of equipment, but that kind of cash gives you access to a wide range of high-end if you have nearly £70k to spend, where should your money go? We had a Mercedes GLE 400 d in the Auto Express car park recently, which isn’t far off our VW’s price, so I thought I’d compare and contrast initial glance at the kit lists may push you towards the Mercedes. It comes with LED lights, Nappa leather, keyless go and a high-resolution infotainment display. These features are either optional on the VW, or not available at all. Look at the extras fitted to this GLE, and the gulf grows: 22-inch wheels (five inches larger than the Cali’s), a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and Burmester our California comes with plenty of kit that cannot be found on the GLE – not least the kitchen cupboards and two-ring gas hob. Then there’s the sink, fridge, wardrobe, detachable shower and two double beds. As if that’s not enough reason to trade your off-roader for a four-berth camper, then just take a look at the costs. Far stronger residual values mean that, on identical terms (three-year PCP, 10,000 miles per year and a £6,200 deposit), the California costs considerably less than a top-spec GLE. VW asks a sizeable £793 per month, yet that pales in comparison to the £960 you’ll need for the Mercedes. Granted, the Cali doesn’t have the same level of interior quality, but it doesn’t feel cheap. Our camper is designed to withstand family life, and after nearly 6,000 miles it feels as solid as ever. The light-coloured fabric seats aren’t the most practical option, but the grey carpets are proving California: second reportOur Volkswagen California Ocean proves to be a big hit on last minute break to DevonMileage: 2,795Economy: Volkswagen California is in high demand as summer sets in, with every weekend until late August already allocated to various members of the Auto Express before the rush began, my wife, Anna, and I packed our bags and filled the van for an impulsive weekend away in Devon. The great thing about the California (as opposed to travelling by plane or train) is that you can just throw anything and everything in the with our wellies washed and the fridge full, we set off for the south coast. The scenic route took us down the A303 right past Stonehenge, and beyond. We spent two nights camping near Dartmoor, and due to the hot weather, we barely touched the two-ring gas hob inside the van. While it proved useful for our morning tea and coffee, most of our cooking was done over was just the two of us, so we raised the roof and slept on the double bed up top. This allowed us to use the lower area as intended; by swivelling the two front seats we could both eat and play card games around the table, without having to tidy it all away before going to thing we noticed was that while the longer evenings meant we could spend more time outside, leaving the VW’s interior lights on and the doors open meant we returned to find a few unwelcome insect ability to simply throw everything in the back and not worry about what you might or might not need made this a holiday like few others. Just before returning home we picked up a gigantic six-foot wooden pigeonhole that we’d spotted online earlier in the week. It slid neatly in the back of the van with the seats folded flat, and will fit perfectly in our new kitchen. We’ll have more on that – and the benefits of driving a California while undergoing extensive house renovations – in a future California Ocean: first reportReviews and features editor Rich fulfils a childhood dream with his very own Hotel CaliforniaMileage: 1,889Economy: always been a bit of a fair-weather camper. The prospect of setting up a tent in the pouring rain, or traipsing up a mountain in the biting wind, isn’t my idea of fun. Having somewhere warm and dry to retreat to is a top priority, so visiting pubs is a particularly pleasing pastime of concept of a camper van had always seemed like an ideal solution. While I’d never been able to explore the idea of owning one, you can trace back the obsession to my childhood bedroom, where a sixties VW Type 2 money box nestled itself among a vast array of 1:18-scale diecast still got the model, and while it isn’t as full of cold, hard cash as you’d hope after 20 years of saving, I can finally claim the dream has become reality – albeit with a little help from right, I’ve just picked up the keys to my very own VW California. I’ll be running it for the next six months or so, to see if that boyhood fantasy is as rosy in real life, or whether I should stick to surfing the south coast with my sopping wet are currently two models to choose from: the California Beach or the California Ocean. We’re testing the latter, which is the more expensive of the two, thanks to the addition of a sink, fridge and two-ring gas hob. It’s beautifully laid out, with cupboards and drawers running the length of the after a few weeks and a long weekend away in Wales, my wife Anna and I are still discovering hidden treasures, such as the picnic seats in the tailgate, or the small mirror in the wardrobe. Every window has a built-in blind, and the front chairs swivel 180 degrees to accommodate four people around the only will it seat two couples, the California Ocean will also sleep four people. The roof raises electronically in around 30 seconds to reveal a raised bed up top; the rear seats then fold flat to provide space for your friends. We’ve yet to discover quite how tight it is with four on board; Anna and I shamelessly forced my brother-in-law and his pregnant wife into an adjoining tent during our Bank Holiday trip to van isn’t cheap, but for a smidge over £60k you get an equipment list to rival the latest luxury SUVs. Fit and finish isn’t quite on par, but this is a functional vehicle designed to withstand years of abuse from impatient children and mucky dogs. We’ve got a set of waterproof seat covers in the drawer under the back seats, but luckily we’ve not had to use them California Ocean gets 17-inch alloys, automatic lights, three-zone climate control, heated seats, Bluetooth and USB connectivity and a five-inch touchscreen. The kitchen and associated gubbins are included, of added a few options to our van, the most expensive of which is the eye-catching two-tone paint. We couldn’t resist speccing our camper in Auto Express red and white, despite the hefty £2,604 bill. Elsewhere, we went for the more accomplished Discover Media Nav system (£1,602), Adaptive Cruise Control (£414) and front and rear parking sensors with a camera (£714).Our van has the VW Group’s TDI diesel which, due to WLTP constraints, now produces 196bhp. It’s linked to the tried-and-tested seven-speed DSG gearbox, which works wonders on fuel economy, thanks to a clever coasting function. Given the van’s bluff shape and the power on offer, I’m not too disappointed by a average over the first 1,900 miles. As the engine loosens, there’s a very real possibility that figure will improve.*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.

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