2022 Volkswagen California Beach new car review

The German brand’s cool new campervan has arrived in Australia carrying on the tradition of the beloved ‘60s icon.

2022 Volkswagen California Beach.

Price is a matter of perspective. The Volkswagen California Beach is not cheap, but it is more affordable than a second home, or a new caravan and tow-car combination.

Priced from about $99,000 drive-away in basic front-wheel-drive form, our test car with all-wheel-drive and roughly $20,000 in options is closer to $125,000 drive-away.

That is big money for something that started life as a work van for plumbers and electricians.

But the Beach is much more than a box on wheels. Pitched as “the ultimate camping van”, the Beach bridges the gap between a regular vehicle and motor home.

Volkswagen’s California Beach sleeps four.

It has a pop-top roof with a twin bed and zip-open windows, while there’s another flip-over bed below in the load space.

A camping table tucked into the side door joins camping chairs stowed in the tailgate, and a roller side awning that provides shelter from the elements.

There are clever blinds for the windows, a beefed-up electrical system with twin batteries and a roof-mounted control panel for key features that allows you to control electronic elements such as a programmable heater to keep you warm on chilly nights.

The front chairs are heated, have armrests and can swivel on their bases to turn the load space into a lounge room.

You can add a little kitchen for about $7000.

Our test car’s long list of optional extras included two-tone paint ($4050), a digital cockpit ($3690), a powered roof ($3050), LED headlights ($2050), multi-mode suspension ($2010), power sliding doors ($1640), an off-road pack with a rear differential lock ($1720) and much more.

It doesn’t have a kitchen sink, though.

In Australia, red tape prevents VW from selling the Transporter with a kitchen set found in overseas models. You can fix that with a fridge, cabinets and stovetop burners that cost about $7000 plus fitment.

There are also toilet modules that range from a few hundred dollars to $3500 or so.

You need a big car to hold all of that stuff and the California certainly qualifies in that regard. It’s a huge machine that doesn’t feel cramped.

It’s a big machine that doesn't feel cramped.

The camping gear is easy to work with and it’s an uncomplicated process to pull out the seats, beds and tables to use the car as a cargo van. We put both its camping and carrying credentials to the test with a trip to the Bathurst 1000 and the collection of a new dishwasher, coming away impressed by its versatility.

While diesel engines aren’t particularly fashionable these days, the Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre, 110kW and 340Nm unit combines 7.5L/100km efficiency with an 80-litre tank to deliver more than 1000 kilometres of cruising range.

A seven-speed gearbox delivers smooth shifts on the move (but can be a little lumpy when parking), and optional all-wheel-drive ($4000) reduces the likelihood of getting bogged at a campsite.

It’s a strong performer on the road, too.

Strong brakes and accurate steering combine with a high driving position that offers a commanding view of the road, though the van isn’t as polished to drive as more powerful SUVs.

The suspension is comfortable enough but its huge load space serves as an echo chamber for rough roads.

We found ourselves tapping into the 8-inch infotainment screen to crank up the volume on music or podcasts, also frustrated by the placement of cupholders in a car designed to be liveable.

You could also argue that safety is a shortcoming. Though it has auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts, the van only has airbag coverage for the driver and front passenger – kids in the back go unprotected.

That might not bother grey nomads but it should give families pause for concern.

As should the car’s high asking price.

VERDICT 3/5

Impressive but expensive, the California Beach is a wagon with niche appeal.

VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA BEACH

PRICE About $103,000 drive-away

ENGINE 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 110kW and 340Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE 5-yr/u’ltd km, $1850 for 5 yrs

SAFETY Four airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert

THIRST 7.5L/100km

SPARE Full size

SPACE 4300 litres