VW California 6.1 | The Ultimate Car Camping Experience
Volkswagen made me do something I thought I’d never do, I went camping! I’m not the type of person who goes camping but I got the opportunity to test the brand-new Volkswagen California 6.1 in the Ocean spec, so it was all up to Volkswagen to make me a real outdoorsy person after this review. My girlfriend Yanah, Beau, and I decided to make a little trip to Cap Gris-Nez in France to experience what this great car is known for.
Is It Just A Van?
Well, let me tell you it’s not just a van. The Volkswagen California is an iconic campervan that has its origins in the Volkswagen T1 in the late 50s. Back then the model was well known for its bi-color exterior and a bit later the T2 for its “flower-power” themed look. The current California has the same bi-color paint and It still suits the California 6.1 van really well. You’ll notice that this one is nicely curved and is a lot more streamlined than its predecessors. When we take a closer look we’ll see the 16” Clayton wheels which can optionally be upgraded to 18”. It’s nice but I would definitely go for the 18” ones to make it look more car-like/luxurious and less “van”. We also got good-looking modern headlights with, by extension, matching California badges on the side.
When we take a look at the entry points of the car, you’ll immediately notice the gigantic trunk door, and sliding door on the side. No worries, they both have soft close, so it’s easy to make sure they’re closed. Right above the sliding door, you will see a rail, that’s the canopy. It’s well hidden and because of the matching exterior color, it blends perfectly into the car. But that’s not the only thing that’s hidden. When you want to chill a bit outside and enjoy breakfast or read the latest article on Car Journalism, you can take the table that’s hidden on the inside of the door and place it outside. Okay, we have a table now but do we need to sit on the ground? No, just open the trunk and the inside the door, you’ll find a hidden compartment with 2 chairs in it! Voilà, take a seat and relax..
A Tiny-House On Wheels
This car truly has everything you need for a camping trip. It’s like having a real camper but not as big and space-taking as one. You’re just driving a pocket-sized camper and a really positive thing about that size is that you can park in normal parking spots, enter parking lots or park in public places where larger campers aren’t allowed. When you take a look at the inside you see it’s like a Tiny-House. There’s a cooking plate with two fire pits on gas, a mini fridge, and a sink with a tap. A lot of compartments are created to get rid of all your stuff and there’s even the possibility to take a little shower! Sadly enough only cold water will come out of that little shower but you can use it to rinse your feet after a walk on the beach for example.
When everyone is a little bit hungry and you want to make dinner you need more space. To create this they made the backseat completely adjustable. You can either choose to slide it to the front, right behind the front seats or completely to the back of the car to create a maximum of space. Okay, but do I need to cook while sitting on my knees? No, to create the possibility to stand up in the car you can deploy the roof. Once that’s open you can push the ceiling up which creates more than enough room to stand upright. When you finished cooking you want something to place the food on so you can enjoy that delicious meal, right?. Well, right next to the backseat you’ll find a table that can be folded out. Problem solved! To maximize the living room experience, the driver and passenger seat can turn 180° so everyone can sit together around the table and enjoy the dinner you just made.
When night falls and everyone gets a bit tired and wants to go to sleep, you can transform the living room you just created into the bedroom. You just slide the backseat completely to the front of the car and fold it open. With the optional mattress in the trunk, you can make the bed a lot more comfortable. But that's not the only bed you can create, when the roof is deployed and the ceiling is down there’s a tent-like room with a mattress and integrated lights in the second sealing. Just make sure when you go camping, you go with someone who doesn’t move the whole time, because the van is moving with you and it can make you a bit sick. Sorry Yanah!
Sleeping in a car or tent can be cold, but not in the California. Just put the car in camping mode and use the heating, cooling or lights as much as you want. You can even charge your phone because the car keeps providing you with power. There’s a little screen on the roof, right above the rear mirror where you can control every function related to camping. With this screen, you can open/close the roof tent, switch on the lights, control the heating, check the battery or even check if the car is leveled correctly to make sure you can sleep comfortably instead of rolling to a specific side.
Drive To Relax
Traveling should always be relaxing and with the quality Belgian roads, relaxing isn’t such an easy thing to do. But with the California, it’s a bit easier. This car drives excellently, smoothly and very comfortably. The front seats are made for comfort and they have armrests on both sides. The backseat, on the other hand, is a bit less comfortable. They sit very comfortably but because they have to transform into a bed, they’re really flat. So, when taking a corner you just roll to a side and you don’t have something to hold onto. When it comes down to technology, adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane assist and a rearview camera are making your trip with the Volkswagen California 6.1 even more relaxing. I drove the 2.0 TDI DSG version with 150hp and it drives better than I expected. Although I would personally go for the 2.0 TDI DSG 4 Motion with 204hp. Having that little bit of more power will make a huge difference when you want to take a trailer with you.
The Cali Wrapped Up
This car is really amazing for people who love to go on camping trips and love the extra bit of luxury without having to buy a big camper. But of course, luxury has its price. The California Ocean with the DSG and 150hp has a starting price of €76.899 (BE). There are cheaper versions, like the Beach edition which starts at €61.791 (BE). It's a lot of money but you get a lot in return.
