Used Volkswagen California 2005-2015 review

The Beach model can be had with either four or five seats as standard, and two extra swivel chairs at extra cost. Whichever way you configure it, the rear bench folds flat to create a large, fully padded double bed for those sleeping on the ground floor. Meanwhile, there’s also a fold-out roof bed accessible via a hatch above the front seats, where you’ll find room for a couple of growing kids or one large adult to stretch out in.

Barring some neat storage solutions, though, that’s all the camping equipment you get at entry level. You can have a parking heater, a wardrobe, a fitted fridge, a gas cooker, a sink and an awning if you want ‘em, but you’ll have to spend more.

The California’s dynamics aren’t car-like, but they’re quite impressive viewed in the right context. This isn’t a drive to savour, it’s a functional vehicle, but it rides smoothly and quietly, it’s decently mechanically refined, directionally easy to manage and performs well enough. 

The 113bhp Beach model is quite slow. As a towcar it’d be slower still, and probably quite an effort to keep rolling at a consistent motorway pace — although the standard cruise control would certainly help. Performance for the 138bhp Beach model is more respectable, which takes a smidge over 14sec to get to 62mph. The BiTDi front-driver will hit the same mark in a more authoritative 12.4sec. 

The fewer fixtures and fittings you have, the better the California’s rolling refinement will be. Cars fitted out with lots of internal closures can rattle a bit over ruts and bumps, and the rear-mounted pushbike rack can also clang and vibrate when stowed. But over smooth roads — gently undulating ones, even— the ride is pleasingly supple and compliant, while lateral grip and body control is good enough to make you feel confident and secure at the wheel.

To camp in, the California is surprisingly flexible and generally easy to use, with one or two exceptions. The swiveling ‘captain’s chair’ front seats are a good idea, but want a better execution. As it is, it’s too easy to foul them on the cabin’s internal pillar plastics and handbrake mid-swivel - and you’ll leave ugly trim scuffs when you do. There’s also no easy way to access the roof bed without standing on those front seats; a stowable ladder or step would be a welcome addition.