Volkswagen California Review 2025

You only have to look around a campsite to see that Volkswagen is the brand of choice when it comes to compact camper vans. Converted T6 vans are certainly a popular choice, but the more desirable option is the Volkswagen California - the brand's bespoke camper van.  

While the formula in the past has been evolution rather than revolution - the T6 California was an update to the T5 California, the new VW T7 California is quite a step-change. No longer based on a van like its predecessors, the T7 California shares the same platform as the long-wheelbase Multivan, an MPV that uses VW's car platform for its underpinnings. 

The most obvious change is the exterior design - gone is the more rugged design of the T6 to be replaced by a more sloping design that might not sit well with purists. Spec it right - and that includes upgrading from a single-tone paint finish to a more striking two-tone colour scheme and it does look the part.

It doesn't just look different, with the Multivan base resulting in some of the functionality changing as well. The most obvious is that the T7 California now gets dual sliding rear doors, as opposed to a single one on the righthand side. This means that there's now an all-new take on the VW 'house on wheels' concept on the inside, with the kitchen area moving further back to allow access on the left. It also means that the kitchen (and perhaps most importantly, the fridge with beer or wine inside) can be accessed from outside the camper van. The compromise is that you're now down to one gas hob rather than two. 

Now it should be said that is configuration is only on Coast and Ocean versions of the California, with the entry-level Beach Camper forgoing a kitchen inside in favour of a third seat. You can still brew up a coffee or cook some bacon as there's a neat pullout gas stove in the boot area, with space for cutlery and other cooking bits. You'll have to make do without a fridge and sink though. 

There's still a diesel offered with the California, but you now also get the option of a 2.0-litre petrol or PHEV if you prefer (though engine choice is dependent on the trim you opt for). It might sound obvious, but now its transitioned to a car platform, it's better to drive, while those stepping behind the wheel of something this large for the first time shouldn't find it overwhelming, with good visibility and a high driving position.  

With prices for the California Beach Camper starting at just over £63,000 and rising upwards to beyond £77,000 for the California Ocean, there's no getting away from the fact that is a big investment, but how does it compare to rivals.

We're still to test the new Citroen Holiday, but it looks a bit of a bargain at £56,000. Compared to the California's long-running rivals, the Mercedes Marco Polo and Ford Transit Custom Nugget, the California has always undercut them on price. There's a caveat here though - both have recently been updated and prices are still to be confirmed. It also means that at the time of writing, you can't get your hands on a new one. 

It might not be perfect, but the latest Volkswagen California is a quality camper van that sets the standard by which all others are judged. We're sure it will soon become an incredibly popular sight on a campsite near you.

Despite it no longer being based on a van, you're still perched up nice and high in the T7 California. Sitting in comfy captain's chairs you get decent all-around visibility that'll help manoeuvring at lower speeds, while both Coast and Ocean trims come with a rear parking camera. The Beach Camper comes with rear parking sensors as standard, but you might want to consider selecting a rear camera from the options list.

The driving position on the new T7 California is more refined than the van-based T6, while the steering is  precise and not too heavy. As we've found with the Multivan, the ride can be bit on the firm side on some surfaces, but you'll still be able to comfortably eat through the miles. 

As we've touched on, there are three engines to choose from with the VW California. The 150PS diesel will be a popular choice thanks to its frugal nature and decent lowdown torque. A 12.6 second time to 62mph might seem a bit sluggish, but it suits the more sedate driving that the California encourages. 

If you do fancy something a bit quicker, then the 204PS petrol shaves a couple of seconds off that 0-62mph time, but you'll be spending more time stopping at filling stations to brim up the tank. It's more refined under acceleration though, but we'd still plump for the diesel - it's not only cheaper to buy, but running costs should be a bit better on your bank balance.

Finally, there's a plug-in hybrid option that sees a 1.5-litre petrol engine working with a battery and motor to deliver 245PS. The only model to deliver four-wheel drive, the PHEV promises an electric-only range up to 56 miles - if you're going to be using your California for shorter, non-camping trips, this might be a tempting proposition. It'll also make those late night campsite arrivals or departures a little less antisocial. 

Compared to the outgoing California, there's certainly more safety tech as standard - you'll find things like front assist autonomous emergency braking, lane assist departure warning, swerve support, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and numerous airbags for both the driver and other occupants. We're not quite sure what you'd do with the child seats once you've pitched up, but the rear seats get ISOFIX fittings. 

The Volkswagen T7 California is still to be crash tested, but as a guide when the Multivan was tested a couple of years ago it scored a full five stars in the Euro NCAP tests. 

You've got the choice of three trims with the California - Beach Camper, Coast and Ocean. Of the three, it's the entry-level Beach Camper that does things a little differently. It shuns the internal kitchen and cupboards in favour of a third seat in the rear, though as we've mentioned, there's a small gas stove that pulls out in the boot area. For some, the larger sleeping area 'downstairs' will be preferable to the cooking space, while the extra seat might be handy when not camping. The pop-up roof is manually operated, but with the bed downstairs as well, it'll sleep four. 

Sitting in the middle of the range is the Coast, which comes with the new kitchen layout and folding side table, while the pop-up roof now raises with the touch of a button. The California in Coast trim also benefits from better thermal blinds upfront and a outdoor shower connection. There are two additional camping batteries and with two seats in the rear, it seats and sleeps four.

The most desirable California is the top-of-the-range Ocean. The layout is identical to the Coast, but things get a little more luxurious, with slick ambient lighting round the California, plenty of little extras and a more premium finish on the cabinets and flooring. 

Whichever trim you choose, those comfy front seats easily swivel round to face into the cabin once parked up, with the rear seats on a sliding mechanism so they can be moved easily forward and back. Unlike the T6 that saw the rear seating as a single bench seat configuration, the T7's rear seats can be moved independently. It does mean you lose the large storage compartment underneath the seat, replaced by smaller drawers on each seat, but you can be a bit more selective on how you have the seating. 

If you want to avoid being hunched over when you're inside, you can raise the roof and then pop the 'ceiling' up so you can stand up. At night and if a couple of you are sleeping up top, you can just drop the ceiling back down. Speaking of nighttime, the rear windows have pullout blinds, with the front windows needing the supplied blackout blinds put in place. The side two easily snap into place magnetically, with the larger one requiring metal poles slid into the fabric to help it stay in place. 

The beds are easy to set up as well - the lower bed requires you to fold out the seats and pull out the mattress that's in the boot, with the second bed already to go once you've raised the roof. The mattresses on each are different, with the top one thinner and sitting on plastic springs. As you might expect, they're on the firm side of comfy, but fine for a few nights sleep. There are a number of third-party options out there, such as self-inflating mattresses, if you want a little more comfort at night. 

Both beds on the Coast and Ocean are smaller than a double, so things can get pretty cosy, so if space at night is more important to you than storage, then the larger bed in the bottom of the Beach Camper might be for you. 

We've talked a lot about the bed in the pop roof, but how do you get to it? Access is via an opening above the driver and passenger seats, which act like a mini climbing frame to help you get in and out - there's no ladder, but it'll give your kids hours of fun.

The change to Multivan from Transporter means that the overall quality up front feels a bit less workmanlike (though the T6.1 California was a noticeable step up in quality from the van it was based around). There are plenty of soft-touch materials and it just feels that bit more refined. Moving to the back and the fit and finish is very good - the cabinets and draws slide smoothly and snap shut, with the ambient lighting adding an extra layer of sophistication, making it feel really cosy once the light levels drop. 

Moving round to the back and both the Coast and Ocean have good sized boots, though it's split in half horizontally with the base of the bed and storage for the picnic table cutting through the middle of it. There's plenty of space underneath this for camping bits and luggage, while there's no reason why you can't stack stuff on the folded mattress, just make sure you've got somewhere to put it once you fold the bed out. 

Thanks to the different configuration of the Beach Camper that sees a pull-out kitchen stowed in the bottom of the boot, you've got a bit less storage space. 

Along with a picnic table there are two camping chairs stowed away neatly in the boot door, while there is a handy window-mounted storage solution (ideal for clothes and other stuff). The table and chairs are really nice quality - no Go Outdoors bargain bin stuff here, while the fridge in the Coast and Ocean is made by posh camping brand Dometic.

To go with your table and chairs is a roll-out awning. This by default is fitted on the left side, but it can be swapped over to the right - there's fittings on either side. There also an external power inlet so you can hook it up to a campsite's electricity supply, while there's a fresh-water and waste tank and another waste tank. There's also a parking heater if you're camping when the temperatures drops in the evening. 

All VW California trims enjoy a digital instrument display and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, though the slight disappoint is that it doesn't use VW's latest operating system. It can feel a bit clunky to use, with the touch-sensitive sliders underneath the display (controlling volume and temperature) not even illuminated at night. 

Alongside the 10-inch display is a dedicated interface for the California's camping controls, with various buttons for things like electric sliding doors (if optioned) and popping the roof. We found that they need a firm jab to instigate a response, sometimes needing a couple of presses. 

As well as this, the California comes with a  5-inch control unit that's located in the C-pillar of the camper. Not only can you mirror the camping controls that are upfront, but it also provides information and controls for things like fresh water and wastewater levels, interior lighting functions, power supply status, cool box controls, and the auxiliary heater. There's even a dedicated camping mode that will deactivate the external lights when the camper.