Volkswagen California 2021 review: Beach

Our test vehicle is the five-seat California Beach TDI 340, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, seven-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $86,990 (plus on-road costs). 

Our test vehicle has a few extra options over standard – including the Appearance package ($5760), Two-tone paint ($3990), electric pop-top roof ($2990), and the off-road package ($1600).

The appearance package includes art velour micro-fleece seat-covering with leather seat bolsters, seat heating for driver and front passenger seat, LED headlamps with separate LED daytime running lights and LED tail-lights, headlight range-adjustment (automatic), high-beam light assist, and the digital cockpit (more about that later).

The California Beach has LED headlamps with separate LED daytime running lights.

The two-tone paint is described as “Candy White with Bay Leaf Green”.

The electric pop-top roof has two side windows and a panorama front opening window.

The off-road package consists of a mechanical rear differential lock and hill descent control.

Our test vehicle was finished in “Candy White with Bay Leaf Green”.

All of those add-ons push the price as tested to $101,330 (plus on-road costs).

Available options that aren’t on our test vehicle include a Driver Assistance Package (with adaptive chassis control and parking assist, for $2290), and an Electric Door Package ($2590).

Standard features on the California Beach include (take a breath) 180° swivel seats (the driver's seat and the front passenger) with armrests and lumbar supports, the full-length rail system to rearrange or remove seats, a power latching sliding door on the left and right, power latching tailgate, Discovery Media 8.0-inch navigation system, colour touch display (with easily initiated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), USB-C/AUX/SD input, six speakers, FM frequency, wireless app-connect, electrically folding heated exterior door mirrors, automatic headlights with rain-sensing wipers and dimmable rear view mirror, privacy glass in the passenger compartment, Climatronic air-conditioning system, fully sprung loft bed (1200mm x 2000mm) with comfortable-sprung base and mattress, bed extension for rear bench seat with comfort sleeping mattress, camping table and two folding chairs, camper control unit with touchscreen, pull-out awning with housing and rail in black or silver, programmable auxiliary air parking heater, second battery, 17-inch Aracaju wheels (with a steel spare), and trailer-wiring preparation.

Up front at two 180° swivel seats.

The seats have “Quadratic” cloth upholstery in Titanium Black as standard; our test vehicle, as mentioned, had the appearance package’s art velour micro-fleece seat-covering with leather seat bolsters. 

Exterior colour options include Candy White, Ascot Grey, Cherry Red, Pure Grey (all solid); and 

Bay Leaf Green, Copper Bronze, Fortana Red, Indium Grey, Mojave Beige, Ravenna Blue, Reflex Silver, Starlight Blue. Pearlescent: Deep Black (all metallic:); or two-tone options such as Candy White with Copper Bronze, Candy White with Bay Leaf Green (on our test vehicle), or Candy White with Ascot Grey.

It has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (producing 110kW at 3250-3750rpm and 340Nm at 1500-3000rpm), a seven-speed dual-clutch auto (or DSG, direct shift gearbox) and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. 

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel produces 110kW/340Nm. 

The California’s interior is nice and comfortable – a blend of life-friendly hard plastic and soft-touch surfaces – with a solid build quality to it all, as well as superior fit and finish. 

This camper seats five (two at the front, and three on the rear bench seat), can sleep up to four, and is a very functional space. All controls are easy to find and operate, and our test vehicle's appearance package option includes the 10.25-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen, so that was even better than the standard 8.0-inch screen.

The appearance package adds a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen.

The 180° swivel front seats are simple enough to manipulate into position, as long as you adjust the seat-backs so they don’t hit or rub against other surfaces on the way around.

The second row bench seat has child-seat anchor points, and two ISOFIX points.

That rearrangeable/removeable rear seat (which slides fore and aft on the camper’s full-length rail system) gives California users the ability to turn that pew into a bed or to position it in order to maximise the space inside for meals, entertaining etc.

The rear seats are on rails, which can slide forwards and backwards.

The van has a camp table (tucked away inside the right-hand sliding door), two camp chairs (stowed away in the rear door), and a magnetic rechargeable torch.

The van has two camp chairs stowed away in the rear door.

The awning, stored and extended from above the sliding door on the camper’s right-hand side, is easy enough to set up and pack away – it only takes a few minutes – but even though it can be done by one person, I recommend two people do it because that makes it an easier and faster job.

The awning is easy enough to set up and pack away.

Beyond all of those things, what is crucial to this camper van is the hub of the California’s operating system: the camper control panel, a touchscreen mounted upfront above the rear-view mirror. Using it, you can operate the pop-top roof, monitor the camper’s battery levels, and even make sure the camper van is level, so you don’t end up trying to sleep on a slight gradient.

The camper control panel is mounted upfront above the rear-view mirror.

The California Beach is 4904mm long with a 3000mm long wheelbase. It is 1990mm high, 1904mm wide, and has a listed kerb weight of 2457kg. 

Once the electric pop-top roof is fully upright, easily done via the camper control panel, the California is an extra 1050mm taller than when that pop-top is not extended. (Note: check for any obstacles above the camper (eg, a tree branch) before you try to raise the roof.)

With the pop-top open, the California is an extra 1050mm taller.

When that roof is up – and the bed base is lifted – there is a claimed 2300mm standing room inside the California, giving you a bit more flexibility in terms of moving around inside the vehicle while it is stationary, e.g. during meal preparation or while setting up the rear-seat bed etc.

The van also has block-out blinds – roller blinds on the windscreen and magnetic curtains on the side windows – to help the occupants get a good night’s sleep.

In terms of cargo space, this California has 4.3 square metres in total; and the load compartment is 2532mm long (without the rear seats); 1627mm wide (1220mm between the wheel arches); and 1320mm high. Load height at the rear is 571mm from the ground.

The California Beach is not an unsubstantial vehicle – at 4904mm long with a 3000mm long wheelbase, 1990mm high, 1904mm wide, and a 2457kg kerb weight – but if you’ve spent any time in a mid- to large SUV or wagon, or a ute then you’ll be fine. Even if you’ve only ever driven a hot hatch, it won’t take long to become accustomed to driving this camper.

Steering is natural, well weighted and precise and that means a lot for a camper van like this, because, while it's not gigantic, the California can feel a tad weighty through sharper corners. Turning circle is an estimated 11.9m. 

The California Beach is a well-behaved and smooth-driving vehicle. 

The California's turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed dual-clutch auto work well together: it’s a nice, smooth pairing that gives this camper a bit of welcome pep about it and generally makes for an unfussed drive.

Bonus: there is ample visibility in the California: you have glass everywhere, and that makes for a relaxed, almost open-to-the-elements driving experience. 

The California's turbo-diesel and dual-clutch auto make for an unfussed drive.

The camper’s suspension set-up – independent McPherson struts, with coil springs and gas-filled dampers (at the front), and semi-trailing independent rear axle with coli springs and anti-roll bar at the rear – helps to yield composed ride and assured handling.

Even if your blacktop route becomes a bit twisty, or even very hilly this is generally a well-behaved and smooth-driving vehicle. 

Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.5L/100km on a combined cycle. 

Actual fuel consumption on this test was 9.9L/100km. 

It has an 80-litre fuel tank, and a 13-litre AdBlue tank.

It has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. 

Pricing for service intervals, every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first), is yet to be confirmed but expect to pay in the vicinity of $1450 for a three-year service plan, and approximately $2300 for a five-year service plan.