Volkswagen California reinvents itself: More convenience, same iconic charm

Building a delivery van is costly, so Volkswagen teamed up with Ford on the new Transporter project. It will also be available in a Caravelle version (a well-equipped business van), but the Germans were somewhat reluctant to share the California version, developed over the years, with Ford. This is not surprising, as the Transit also has a camping-ready version called the Nugget, with previous incarnations prepared by Westfalia.

A radical decision was made to build the new California on the Multivan, which uses a "passenger" chassis. Although it might seem narrower visually, it is actually 5 centimetres wider. Most importantly, even with a roof bed, it stands at nearly 2 metres, so it should handle underground car parks without any issues. This means, like its predecessor, the California can be used daily.

The biggest change, which also influenced the interior design, is the installation of two sliding doors. This significantly increased the cabin's usability and makes it easier to find a convenient spot at campsites. Interestingly, you can order two awnings, or depending on your preference, mount one on the chosen side. The Germans claim it’s not possible (because unlocking it with a key must be done from the front of the vehicle), but it's the same part with the same serial number.

The kitchen itself has been shortened to allow exiting the vehicle, and the refrigerator is located at the very bottom of the module. A small table can be opened outside, but if it rains, there's no problem attaching it at a right angle to the burner inside the cabin, similar to the large table hidden in the boot. By eliminating the handbrake lever, the front row seats are easier to rotate – but you still have to "hide" the steering wheel.

The cabinets, previously a wardrobe, are smaller, but apparently, they utilised the experience of previous California users by installing a cloth storage compartment in the right rear corner, as well as a large compartment on the rear window. The clean water inlet (with a funnel) and the gas bottle compartment, located on the left side of the boot, are also easier to handle. The camping system display (lighting, battery status, water) is on the right C-pillar – but the vehicle levelling is still accessible from the front, now on the multimedia display.

One of the problems for lighter individuals was closing the boot lid. Now you can't mount a bicycle rack there (it will go on the hitch instead), but the boot lid with a compartment for chairs (which now have a lock to prevent folding) will require just pressing one button to latch.

And another important point: the rear two-person bench has been replaced by individual seats, each weighing 24 kilogrammes. So if you want, for example, to transport skis or an electric bike but still have the option to set up a bed below, you just need to remove the middle seat. No more nightmare of hauling an entire bench out of the car and losing usability at the campsite.

No matter how advanced the changes, it’s still the good old California. The build quality is top-notch, nothing creaks, and details such as double-clicking any LED lamp to completely turn off the lighting in the vehicle are very useful features. The Multivan doesn't have double windows, but the soundproofing level is on par with its predecessor. The weight has also dropped: from 2443 to 2371 kilogrammes in the case of the Ocean version.

From an engine standpoint, it’s interesting. The most logical option is the 2-litre diesel with 150 HP. I had a chance to drive this version, and although it requires some planning when overtaking, it can achieve about 6 litres per 100 kilometres at a speed of 90 kilometres per hour. An alternative is the petrol version with 204 HP, which is already known to be a rather fuel-hungry variant.

These engines drive only the front axle. If you want all-wheel drive, you have to make a rather surprising choice. 4Motion is only available in the plug-in hybrid version, with a 1.5-litre engine and a system power of 245 HP. Although electric support in such a heavy vehicle may make sense, the MQB platform provides a tank that holds 40 litres of petrol. The electric range won’t be particularly large.

The Polish importer has not yet announced prices for the new California, but it's already known that it will be available in Beach (with a pop-up roof only), Beach Tour/Camper, Coast, and Ocean versions – the latter being the car in the photos.