BIGGER CALIFORNIA DREAMS (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Here, Volkswagen has set itself the target of producing the ultimate motorhome. Jonathan Crouch tries the Grand California and looks at the most recent updates to this model.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 53

Volkswagen's Grand California brought car and LCV manufacturer expertise for the first time to the business of building a really large motorhome. It's based on the Crafter large van and designed to give the kind of travelling freedom a typical owner would crave. There's nothing quite like it. Here's the usefully updated version.

Backgroundword count: 183

By and large, motorhomes are built by companies that borrow van manufacturer engineering, then build luxury quarters around it. Or at least some of them do. Since 1988, Volkswagen has been offering the California, a four-berth motorhome based on the Transporter van, which in more recent years has been challenged by two van-based contenders of the same size, the Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo and the Ford Transit Custom Nugget. Many motorhome buyers though, want something larger than any of these models. And you'd certainly need something bigger if you wanted a proper bathroom in your motorhome, a feature that would give you real go-anywhere freedom in using a vehicle like this. That's what this model, the Volkswagen Grand California, provides. Launched in 2019, it's only direct rivals come from motorhome companies basing a living structure on third-party large van - usually a Fiat Ducato or a Peugeot Boxer. Volkswagen reckons that designing and producing the complete vehicle itself produces a much more complete end product. And updated this Grand California in Spring 2025 to create the model we're going to look at here.

Driving Experienceword count: 306

Because of its sheer size, the Grand California is a more challenging thing to drive than Volkswagen's regular California model - and of course it's much heavier too, so you might be a touch concerned that as part of this update, the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine this motorhome has to have has been reduced in output from 177PS to 163PS, as part of a switch to Euro VI HD emissions regulations. But it still puts out the same gutsy 410Nm of torque, so the performance figures remain unchanged. This model takes nearly 16 seconds to reach 60mph from rest and longer still to get itself through the gears. Overtakes will need to be planned well in advance but once you're up to speed, the plump torque figure keeps you there without undue bother. All derivatives use an 8-speed DSG automatic gearbox which changes sweetly through the ratios and facilitates quiet cruising. Body roll is actually pretty well kept in check for a vehicle of this size but of course you won't be wanting to throw any sort of motorhome about and the stability system here is programmed to make sure that you don't. On the biggest '680' variant, there's the continuing option of Volkswagen's 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system, which might be well worth having for slippery campsites or if you're venturing to rural destinations. The suspension set-up achieves a good balance of ride quality. And your view out and ahead is excellent thanks to the high seating position. Manoeuvring of course can be difficult with a motorhome this big; we think you'll certainly need the optional rear view camera. Bear in mind too, that to drive this Volkswagen, your driving licence will need a C1 rating allowing you to pilot something this heavy. If you passed your test after 1st January 1997, that might be a problem.

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