Volkswagen California vs Renault Megane

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 Renault Megane RS is still here, in case you were wondering. 

You may have let it slip your mind in recent times, because there’s been a lot of action in the hot hatch scene with the release of the new-generation Ford Focus ST, a fond farewell to the VW Golf R, and consistent talk of the upcoming Toyota Corolla GR hot hatch.

The Megane RS is more than just ‘here’, though. The RenaultSport Megane hatch range has expanded in recent times, and we’ve just spent some time with the Trophy model which first arrived in Australia late in 2019.

It is certainly keeping its presence known in 2020 Renault Megane RS Trophy spec, which represents the most powerful and fastest version of the standard model range before you get to the rip-snorting (and eye-wateringly expensive) Trophy R. 

So what’s it like? Read on and you’ll find out all about it.