Typical “poster cars” are usually a Porsche 911, a Ferrari or perhaps something from McLaren.
But there are exceptions.
The vehicle we are going to talk about today has appeared on T-shirts, posters, graffiti walls and countless other places. It is slow, there is nothing particularly sporty about its shape, and without further suspense I will say it — it is the classic Volkswagen van.
Well, not exactly. Today we will talk about its modern successor — the Volkswagen California 6.1.
This is a compact camper van based on the Volkswagen Transporter. Does this concept actually work, and who is it best suited for? Let’s find out.
Design
Well… it’s a van.
Boxy proportions, four wheels and a standard silhouette. At its core, there is nothing particularly remarkable about the California’s shape, which is perfectly normal.
Looking closer at the details, however, we arrive at the typical restrained Volkswagen design language and numerous references to previous generations of the Transporter. It seems to me that since the Volkswagen Transporter T4 — meaning since 1990 — the design has evolved slowly and without dramatic changes.
That is not a bad thing, because the T4 turned out very well. I remember seeing green T4 vans in the 1990s (they might have been Californias), which in my eyes looked very cool back then.
Let’s focus on the elements that distinguish the California from the standard van. These include the black rails for attaching an awning above the side windows, the Beach, Coast or Ocean badges at the rear, and the slightly higher roof — which is actually the mechanism that opens up.
Once that mechanism is raised, the silhouette becomes instantly recognisable, and the vehicle’s purpose changes — from a means of transport to a place to live.
The particular California featured here is the Beach trim level in the special Edition version. It adds a black roof, two-tone alloy wheels, gloss-black B-pillars and black mirrors. The package also includes LED headlights, tinted LED rear lights and decorative side decals.
Interior
nside, we once again enter a familiar Volkswagen atmosphere. The design is restrained but practical, and the build quality is good.
From the driver’s seat I find conveniences similar to those in many passenger cars. There is an infotainment system with wireless smartphone integration and a digital instrument cluster. The buttons on the centre console are identical — or at least very similar — to those found across the brand’s passenger car range.
The biggest difference lies in the seating position and steering wheel angle. In the seat you sit more like on a chair, while the steering wheel is positioned at quite a steep angle. As a result, what would be the correct seating position in a passenger car is simply not achievable here.
You get used to it, but it takes some time.
On the positive side, the seats are comfortable and I really like the integrated armrests, whose height can be adjusted.
When it comes to materials, things are quite utilitarian. The van’s working roots are clearly visible because plastic is everywhere — and most of it is hard. Despite this, the dashboard and door panels feel very solidly assembled, and considering that the California exists in a class of its own, it is not really a problem.
Still, I would personally appreciate the use of slightly more refined materials.
Is there any point in talking about space? There is a huge amount of it.
In principle, this body configuration can accommodate three fully functional rows of seats. In this particular version the second row is removed, while the third row has extensive longitudinal adjustment.
Even if you slide the rear bench all the way forward, passengers will still be able to stretch their legs without touching the front seats. In that configuration the luggage compartment becomes absolutely enormous, and I can easily imagine the California serving as a family van for people who struggle to prioritise what to pack — or how many suitcases to take.
No SUV offers space like this.
Interior when parked
Did you really think I would present the interior of a vehicle like this so briefly?
What happens to the California once you stop and switch into camping mode is far more interesting.
[vr url=http://roadhunter.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/gs__0135.jpg view=360]
*The image above is a 360-degree view. Click on it to explore it.
There are numerous clever solutions here that I will try to describe, although if you are interested you will probably understand them better by watching the series of videos on our YouTube channel.
One of the most interesting features is the gas stove with a metal surface, which pops out from the side wall of the vehicle. Feeling sleepy during a road trip? You can pull over, make yourself a coffee and continue.
Inside the sliding door there is also a table with folding legs. You can open two of them and hook the table onto the stove surface or the side wall using the built-in hooks. Open all four legs and you have a regular picnic table. The front seats rotate 180 degrees, allowing you to create something like a living room and dining area in one.
Then there are the countless pockets and storage compartments. In the video where I showed them I mentioned that I would probably lose my belongings in them.
Well, I was right — after the test I realised I had forgotten my camera charger in the California. It was sitting in the side pocket of the front seat.
Side pocket? Under the rear bench you will find three drawers, and there are numerous additional compartments throughout the cabin.
The most interesting feature, however, is the second floor.
The van’s roof lifts up to reveal a bed measuring 2.0 × 1.2 metres. To do this you slide the plastic cover above the front seats, release four latches (two functional and two additional safety ones), and gently push the roof upward.
From there, gas struts take over.
There is also an option for electric opening and closing, but it costs nearly €2,000, or requires stepping up to the top-spec Ocean version. Personally, I would simply open the roof manually.
Climbing up is quite easy, and in my opinion the bed is surprisingly comfortable — more than I expected. The fabric walls at this level feature windows with mosquito nets, which you can open, creating a cosy and pleasant sleeping space surrounded by nature.
The rear bench of the camper can also turn into a bed, but if there are only two of you, the upper level is clearly the better option.
Another interesting feature is the control panel. This is a capacitive screen located behind the rear-view mirror, from which you control the California’s camping functions. It shows information about the vehicle’s tilt, the auxiliary battery, and allows you to control the diesel heater, lighting, alarm, timer and camping mode. In the Coast and Ocean versions it also displays information about the fridge and the fresh and waste water tanks. Everything is easy and intuitive to operate. Occasionally the system is a bit slow when saving certain settings, but not enough to become annoying.
The California’s living space also extends outside, where you will find an awning and two folding chairs, stored in a compartment inside the tailgate.
On the road
The Volkswagen California 6.1 I was about to take on a journey was equipped with a 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 150 hp, paired with the optional seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel drive. Performance is hardly the main topic here, but for the record the van accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 14.6 seconds, while the top speed is 179 km/h. Combined fuel consumption is expected to be between 8.7 and 9.9 l/100 km.
I inevitably covered the first kilometres in the California within the city of Sofia. It may seem that driving something like this in Sofia would be madness, but in reality it is no worse than any large sedan or SUV. In fact, it is often easier. Visibility is excellent, the California is very manoeuvrable with a turning circle of 11.9 metres, and at 4.90 metres long it is actually shorter than many cars on the road.
Naturally, I did not intend to stay in the city for too long. Shortly after picking up the vehicle I filled the luggage compartment and soon found myself on the Hemus Motorway.
Power is sufficient for relaxed motorway cruising, where the vehicle feels stable and comfortable. Most of the noise comes from air turbulence and from the engine and turbocharger, which could certainly be better insulated.
Interestingly, I noticed one unexpected advantage of driving a van in traffic. Whenever I began overtaking, not once did someone start pushing aggressively from behind. I suspect the “commercial vehicle” appearance of the California makes other drivers slightly more tolerant.
The more interesting part of the journey came after leaving the motorway. The lower speeds on Bulgaria’s primary roads make travelling more relaxed, and the elevated driving position opens views beyond the roadside bushes that you would otherwise never see.
It is a pleasant way to enjoy the countryside — although it can also be slightly depressing when you notice the countless pieces of rubbish and improvised dumping sites scattered along the road. Here the 2.0-litre diesel finally revealed that it is actually a bit underpowered for this vehicle. Even though I was travelling alone with a moderate amount of luggage, overtaking required more preparation and a little stronger nerves. If someone plans to use the California not only for holidays but also for everyday travel, I believe the 204 hp version of the engine would be a wise investment.
Apart from that weakness, travelling on roads like this with the California is very enjoyable. But the camper became even more appealing once I left the main roads and wandered through the small villages around Veliko Tarnovo. On the quiet roads I could drive more calmly, enjoy the scenery and truly relax. The very fact that I was travelling in a California naturally put me in a laid-back mood. Interestingly, despite its height, the van remains stable in corners without excessive body roll. I would even dare to say that at times driving it can be surprisingly fun.
Eventually the end of the day approached and I reached the place where I planned to test the camping abilities of the California.
Transforming the vehicle from a means of transport into a living space is very quick and easy. The whole process took me less than ten minutes, including:
Lowering all the window blinds — for the rear, front and four side windows. Most are integrated and simply need to be pulled down, while the ones for the front doors attach magnetically and are just as easy to install.
Opening the roof — a few latches and a gentle push are enough to lift it and reveal the bed, allowing me to stand upright inside the van.
Extending the awning — with a quick turn of the crank I created a pleasant shaded area (even though it was already sunset).
Setting up the picnic table and folding chairs.
Opening the stove and making myself a coffee — and just like that my life as a camper had begun.
Not bad at all… although something was missing. The sea.
Of course, with a camper you can go anywhere, but personally I associate them strongly with the seaside — apparently Volkswagen does as well, judging by the trim names Beach, Coast and Ocean.
So after spending a night in the Stara Planina I headed towards the southern Black Sea coast.
The adventurous mood the California created made me choose smaller, quieter roads. It turned out to be the right decision. I passed through unfamiliar places, met people for whom a random visitor passing through their hamlet seemed to be a small event, and overall turned the journey into a genuinely pleasant experience.
Eventually I reached the Black Sea coast — only to discover that my hope of finding something to eat at 8 p.m. on a Sunday evening in February during a pandemic was unrealistic.
My options were simple: drive 40 km north, eat a croissant from a supermarket, or buy a pot and cook pasta myself.
I chose the third option.
Originally I expected to use the California’s stove only for making coffee, just to see how it works. But circumstances gave me the chance to use the full potential of the small kitchen area. I parked near the pier and, accompanied by the sound of wind and waves, prepared a simple dinner that was far better than a supermarket croissant.
In fact, I discovered that the California works surprisingly well as a restaurant with a view.
Monday morning found me on the cliffs near Lozenets, Burgas Province, where after a pleasant breakfast the California transformed from a café into an office.
The presence of a 230V socket, a good mobile signal and a comfortable working surface makes this entirely possible. For me personally, this may actually be one of the car’s most valuable qualities — the ability to turn a home office into a remote office and even escape to somewhere like Vitosha Mountain during the working day.
I spent several unexpectedly warm days along the coast doing exactly that.
За цялото ми пътуване средният разход на гориво бе 8.8 литра за 100 км. ПриInterestingly, on the way back to Sofia I got a flat tyre on the motorway. Interesting because in fifteen years of driving it was my first flat tyre, and because after stopping, marking the location in Waze, putting on my safety vest, placing the warning triangle and changing the wheel, I realised something.
The California had put me in such a relaxed mood that I perceived the incident more as an adventure than an annoyance.
For the entire trip the average fuel consumption was 8.8 l/100 km. During economical driving between Sliven and Burgas (on the old road) I even managed 7.3 l/100 km for that particular stretch.
Conclusion
The Volkswagen California 6.1 impresses with the functionality it offers. It is a passenger van that can comfortably serve in everyday life, unlike larger campers.
At the same time it enables semi-independent travel, thanks to the generous interior space, comfortable bed and the quick transformation from van to camper.
Before spending time with the California I often said that I did not really understand the point of it. Why not choose a “real” camper like the Volkswagen Grand California, which with its bathroom and toilet allows full independence?
This trip opened my eyes to some of the possibilities the California offers, although personally I am still not entirely convinced by the concept. I will not go into detail here, but you can follow the California in Bulgaria section where I plan to discuss the people and needs this model serves.
For our market, however, the biggest issue is the price. A reasonably equipped California easily exceeds €60,000, and the figure can climb even higher.
In addition, while in some Western markets people use camper vans as everyday vehicles, here such cases would likely remain rare exceptions.
Still, I was genuinely impressed by the countless clever solutions for maximising space, comfort and practicality. More importantly, each of these solutions feels carefully engineered and works exactly as intended.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
