Volkswagen California T6.1 Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Still the definitive small campervan
- Excellent driver and passenger comfort
- Refined and easy to drive
Cons
- Expensive to buy, even second-hand
- Limited range of engines and only one gearbox offered
- Top sleeping area isn’t for everyone
Overall verdict on the Volkswagen California T6.1
"Volkswagen has a proud history of campervans and the Volkswagen California ensures that the brand’s association with overnight adventuring is very much in the present too."

Our Volkswagen California T6.1 review looks at the latest iteration - based on the Volkswagen Transporter panel van and shares many elements with the commercial vehicle but with much more tech and touches to make it more relaxing to drive. It’s quieter on the motorway, gets a more car-like dashboard, upgraded infotainment screens and a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox as standard.
There are various versions of the Volkswagen California available, the Beach Tour, Beach Camper, Coast and the Ocean, plus two versions of the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine that appears in multiple Volkswagen models, including the Volkswagen Transporter.
The newer cheapest version - the Beach Tour - has five seats as standard, with the option to increase to six or seven seats while the Beach Camper gets four seats as standard with an option to increase to five, as well as a pull-out mini kitchen with a single gas hob, and pull-out awning.
All models come with space for four, both in terms of seats and sleeping areas. The lower bed is created by folding down the rear bench seat while the upper sleeping area is created by opening up a roof awning. The 2019 facelift brought updates to both of these, with the upper bed getting an enhanced, sprung mattress and the lower bed getting a lounge function, which enables you to raise the headrest in several steps so you can sit up and read in bed.
The engines are two of the more powerful versions of the 2.0-litre range, with a 150PS and 199PS model on offer. Both of them offer more than enough power to carry the Volkswagen California around without ever really feeling too stressed. Previous versions of the camper have come with lower-powered engines, which struggled with the combination of the van’s weight and hills. You can only get the lower-powered version on the Coast, while the Ocean comes with the choice of both.
The official economy figures for the two engines are practically identical – both average around 33mpg and there is less than 0.5mpg between the two. Both are only available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox as standard, and the only other option is the 4Motion four-wheel drive system. If you are still struggling to decide between the two then the lesser-powered version takes 14.3 seconds to get from 0-62mph while the 199PS model takes just under 12 seconds.
There is little difference in weight between models, so the handling is much the same, which is to say that it is a vehicle that is relatively easy to drive but still needs a little care and consideration. This is particularly the case in the corners, where the amount of weight high up on the Volkswagen California means it is more likely to lean over a little than the van on which it is based. That said, the comfortable suspension and responsive steering make it a relaxing vehicle on the move.
Buying a Volkswagen California looks like an expensive undertaking when you look at purchase price alone, but there is more to it than that. You get great value for money when you consider the amount it costs to create your own camper to a similar spec, and the fact that the Volkswagen California holds its value remarkably well.
There’s also the reassurance that this is a camper that is built in-house by a manufacturer that has been turning out similar vehicles for years. It’s a great buy if you can stretch to the cost.
Looking for a campervan for sale? We've got 100s of Volkswagen Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of VW California vans campervans for sale.
Is the Volkswagen California T6.1 right for you?
What other cars are similar to the Volkswagen California T6.1?
Comfort and design: Volkswagen California T6.1 interior
"The front part of the Volkswagen California has been given as much attention as the sleeping quarters when it comes to comfort and the seats for the front passengers are among the best of any car or van when it comes to comfort and support. They provide plenty of padding for your lower back and upper legs, which means that you should be able to cover long distances with ease."

The dashboard design was upgraded at the most recent facelift and the Volkswagen California T6.1 gets the same digital cockpit as several of Volkswagen’s passenger cars, which lifts the look of the interior above the commercial vehicle on which the camper is based.
Some of the basic van-like elements remain, though, which is a good thing when it comes to maximising space. The gear lever sits high up on the dash, which means it is not only easy to reach but it also frees up more space between the two front seats. As all Californias are automatic, you won’t be reaching for it too often anyway.
The rest of the cabin is just as comfortable, which you would hope for given those seats have to double as sofas when you park up. The front seats swivel around to face backwards and then the rear pair of seats are set on a pair of runners. They are just as supportive and comfortable as the front two, if slightly firmer.
The beds are the other areas where comfort is key, and they have been upgraded as part of the most recent facelift. The rear one is created by laying the bench seat flat and then popping a mattress on top of it. You can now set the headrest at various angles to give you the ability to read while propped up in bed.
The top bunk, which is accessed through a small hatch and sits under an extendable pop-up roof, has a revised mattress as of 2019. Where it was on wooden slats before it now sits on plastic springs. This boosts comfort levels slightly, although the access point means that you have to be relatively energetic to get up into the top bed in the first place.
Quality and finish
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Volkswagen California T6.1
Space and practicality: Volkswagen California T6.1 boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Volkswagen California T6.1 like to drive?
"With all the camping and cooking gear on board, the California is not the briskest of vehicles, but it’s highly unlikely that that will be top of the list of priorities for anyone in the market for one. It is, however, a relaxed long-distance cruiser with suspension that is set up for comfort rather than dynamism."

You have to be relatively careful going around corners as a result, which is down to the large amount of weight that the Volkswagen California T6.1 carries up top as much as anything else. The pop-up roof, top bunk and extra camping kit means that the California is a little top heavy compared to a standard Volkswagen Transporter or Volkswagen Caravelle. However, you’d probably want to take it a little easy due to the crockery and cutlery stashed in the kitchen anyway. Take it easy and this shouldn’t be an issue, though.
The steering is geared towards this sensible nature, too, being well balanced and not over sharp or too vague. The steering system changed at the 2019 facelift, moving from a hydraulic system to a more modern electro-mechanical version, but this is the case for both and they feel much the same in normal driving situations.
The compact nature of the California is a real boost when it comes to its manoeuvrability, as it measures in at just under two metres tall. This means it should be able to make it under the average urban height restrictor, while its short wheelbase means it has as turning circle of 11.9m, which is the same as the Transporter and should aid with town trips too.
There are three wheel sizes on offer, but due to that comfortable suspension there isn’t a payoff in terms of ride quality if you go for the biggest, 18-inch, alloys. The Coast comes with 16-inch rims while the Ocean steps up to 17s with the 18-inch versions all optional.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Volkswagen California T6.1?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the Volkswagen California T6.1?
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Volkswagen California T6.1 cost to run?
"The latest round of engines are all much the same as one another when it comes to fuel economy, thanks in part to the fact that all of them come with the same seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox."

The Volkswagen California Coast model claims an average economy of up to 33.6mpg for the 150PS 2.0-litre diesel while the Ocean claims up to 33.2mpg for both the 150PS and 199PS models. This will be because it is slightly heavier and has slightly larger alloy wheels. The 4Motion 4WD version is marginally less economical with an official economy of 31.4mpg.
It will be of little surprise that the petrol models were not the most efficient versions – they only claimed 29-30mpg on the older, more lenient NEDC test. Expect mid 20s at best, which might mean that you always have half a mind on finding a filling station on your touring holidays.
How reliable is the Volkswagen California T6.1?
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Volkswagen California T6.1?
How much should you be paying for a used Volkswagen California T6.1?
"The normal rules don’t really apply when it comes to depreciation and used-car bargains in the case of the Volkswagen California. The desirable nature of the camper means that it holds it value remarkably well, which is good news if you are buying and plan on selling it on after a few years, but not such great news if you are after a second-hand bargain."

Nearly new models will only have around £2000-£3000 off the list price, which isn’t much given it is a vehicle that starts at around £60,000. Even three-year-old high-spec models are likely to start at or around £50,000. It’s also likely that these vehicles will have covered a fair few miles, with 10,000 miles or more a year a possibility.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
Does the Volkswagen California T6.1 have a toilet?
Do Volkswagen Californias hold their value?
Can you stand up in a Volkswagen California?
Volkswagen California cars for sale on heycar
Volkswagen California2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Beach 150 5dr
201759,130 milesDiesel£38,993
RG75JFVolkswagen California2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Ocean 204 5dr 4MOTION DSG
201715,209 milesDiesel£1,276 mo£57,950
HR11LQVolkswagen California2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Beach 150 5dr
201828,888 milesDiesel£43,995
RG75JFVolkswagen California2.0 TDI Beach Tour 5dr DSG
20245,114 milesDiesel£579 mo£53,691
OX144FPVolkswagen California2.0 TDI Ocean 204 4dr DSG
202125,540 milesDiesel£58,990
NR24LX
Volkswagen California Alternatives
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