Volkswagen Grand California review: a 161bhp studio flat on wheels

What’s this giant van on my screen?

Ah yes, well in another life it could have just been a bog-standard Volkswagen Crafter panel van, but this particular one got lucky along the line and was selected for transformation into the really rather premium and recently facelifted Grand California 600 campervan.

Fancy! So what happens to it to make it a camper?

Well, the Grand Cali gets two swivelling captain’s chairs up front for the driver and front seat passenger. Behind that you’ve got a moveable table and then seating for two more passengers, after which follows a proper little bathroom with a toilet, a sink and a shower.

A kitchen unit runs down the other side of the van, with a 70-litre fridge, a twin-ring gas hob and even a kitchen sink. Out back there’s a properly sprung double bed with loads of storage above and what VW calls the ‘garage’ below. That’s basically a giant boot for all of your outdoor activity wares.

Hang on, you only mentioned one bed. Can it only sleep two people?!

Given the smaller California has space to sleep four with its pop-top roof and converted seating area below, you might expect the Grand Cali to feature even more beds. Not the case. The double out back is large and luxurious, but it’s all you get as standard. You can spec an optional loft bed that fits under the bulging forehead of the 600, but that’ll cost you an extra £2,754. A tent for the kids would be cheaper.

You can actually get an even larger Grand California – the 6.8m long 680 – but that one does without the swollen roof and so gets no option at all of a secondary sleeping arrangement. Strange.

How is this facelifted one different from the first Grand Cali?

Well, in rather worrying news for something as large as a London studio flat, power has actually dropped from 175bhp to just 161bhp. That’s so that the 2.0-litre turbodiesel can continue to comply with ever stricter emissions regulations.

The exterior changes are extremely subtle, with a slightly redesigned front bumper and a grille that loses its chrome finish. Inside you get new bamboo trim for the floors, countertops and table. Oh, and when the sliding side door is open that table can now be moved outside thanks to the addition of a rail on the back of the kitchen unit. Neat.

Another practical little addition is new netting in the many cupboards above the bed, and there’s a redesigned touchscreen in the rear for controlling all the camping functions. Keen campers will note that it’s the same unit as found in the back of the current Multivan-based California.

The dash up front has also been redesigned, with digital dials and a new, much-improved touchscreen for all of your infotainment needs. That’s a 10.4in unit as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you can upgrade to a 12.9in system for £882 in the UK.

What’s this big boy like to drive?

Let’s start with the engine. It drives the front wheels with that slightly reduced power but the same 302lb ft of torque as before. We’d like a little more grunt to get off the mark with a bit more urgency, but it’s responsive enough while on the move. Don’t expect too much refinement though, it’s fairly obvious that this clattery diesel also powers workhorse Crafters.

Handily the eight-speed auto gearbox is smooth and responsive, and you get wheel-mounted paddles to take control if you want to drop it down a couple gears on steep hills. This is a big old bus to take down the narrow winding roads that campsites tend to hide down (it’s over 2m wide), but the steering is super light and it’s relatively easy to place.

There’s also not too much body roll which comes as a welcome surprise given how soft the suspension seems to be over bumps. The GC doesn’t drive as well as the regular California now that that’s based on a proper car platform (MQB Evo, same as the Golf), but it’s very well judged for something that’ll be carrying so much crockery.

At just under 3m tall the 600 is also buffeted by crosswinds, although VW does include an assist system that works the brakes to limit their impact. Adaptive cruise control is also standard and useful for covering big distances. Over 600 miles, we averaged 26mpg.

Okay, what is it like to live in?

That’s what you’re really here for, isn’t it? We’ve spent a couple of nights in the updated Grand Cali, and it really is a freeing way to travel given you’ve got every possible amenity on board. You’re not wild camping when you go away in one of these, you’re taking a very nice hotel room with you to some exceptionally beautiful places. You will have to make your own breakfast, though.

The bed is comfortable, there are loads of windows and skylights with trick blinds, and you’ve plenty of standing room inside. Even someone that’s 6ft tall has plenty of space to shower too. Slightly less space on the cassette loo, but we won’t go any further with that.

There’s a 110-litre freshwater storage tank and gas or electric heating/hot water is standard, but you can upgrade to a diesel heater for £720. It is a shame that the rear touchscreen isn’t more responsive though. It feels outdated already and the menus to control the interior lighting and heating can be confusing.

You get outdoor furniture stored in the rear doors, while the optional awnings give you shade for just over £1k.

Sounds like I might be spending quite a lot of cash?

Ah yes, here’s the main issue with the GC. It certainly ain’t cheap. Prices start at just over £85,000 for the 600 in the UK and £88,186 for the 680. Worth noting that only the entry-level 600 can be driven on a regular Category B licence in the UK as it’s rated for 3.5 tonnes. All other Grand Californias are rated for over 3.8 tonnes, including the all-wheel drive variants.

That start price isn’t what you’ll pay though, because start ticking a few boxes on the configurator and the options really start to add up. We’d want the two-tone paint (£3,102), LED headlights (£1,248), reversing camera (£306 on a 6m long van!), heated front seats (£318), the extendable awning (£1,008), larger central touchscreen (£882), diesel heater (£720) and the second bed (£2,754). Time to break out the calculator. Speccing black steel wheels will save you £858 though.

Any final thoughts?

With a few choice updates, this remains one of the finest campers that money can buy, but you will need a lot of cash to take the leap. It’s a wonderful way to holiday though and perhaps the ultimate road trip vehicle. You need never visit a motorway service station ever again.