Volkswagen California vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

What's the difference?

While a global pandemic was busy wreaking havoc on the international travel industry, Australians overwhelmingly turned inward to the realm of 4x4s, camper trailers, and campervans to explore the corners of our massive continent.

It’s a trend which has existed here long before the pandemic, though, with local outfits like Trakka already cashing in on the momentum of modified vans to suit all sorts of long-distance tourers, old and new.

It is a ripe time then, for Volkswagen’s own first-party camper creations, to enter the Australian market, as the latest versions of the Caddy, Multivan, and Transporter.

In such a competitive space, though, are there good reasons to consider the Transporter-based California over its home-grown rivals from the likes of Trakka? Let’s take a look.

The Mahindra Scorpio is back – but now it has upgraded safety tech (including AEB) and it’s only available in one variant: the Z8L+.

This is a 4WD wagon with a fair bit of appeal: seven seats, a stack of standard features, a low-range transfer case, an automatic rear diff lock and its price-tag – at just under $50 grand – won’t kick you in the space near the pocket where you keep your wallet.

It hasn’t undergone any mechanical changes so is the Scorpio any good off-road?

Read on.