VW California Beach

Price from: £34,970 As tested: £36,660 Type Approval: European Whole Vehicle Berths: 4 Travel Seats: 4 (up to 7 optional)

We first saw the California Beach nearly three years ago (see Which Motorhome November 2009). Now it’s finally on sale here, at an eye-catching figure of under £35,000, but what have they left off to save over £8500 compared with the cheapest California SE?

The elevating roof is still standard, the Miyato alloy wheels and colour-coded bumpers add a touch of glamour, and the optional awning and privacy glass complete the look. Open the door, though, and you’re in for a bit of a shock. Gone is the California’s stylish nearside kitchen unit with sink, hob, glass top and fitted fridge. Gone. Not down-spec’d, just gone!

Clever storage

In its place this Beach has a low-level cupboard with a cushion on top, though you can also order (at no extra cost) a full-width rear seat with three seatbelts and lose the side storage unit. In the format shown it’s possible to add an extra (removable) swivel seat between the rear bench and the cab as an alternative way of making a five-seater. Go for the wider rear bench and you can add two more swivel seats to make a seven-seat MPV – those extra pews costing £350 apiece.

Equipment

I half expected a compressor fridge, so an empty cupboard (even one with a gas strut-equipped lid) is something of a disappointment. At least the adjacent 12V socket (still live when the ignition is off) provides power for a portable fridge or coolbox, and there’s a hook in the floor to which you can secure it.

So let’s recap. No fridge, no cooker, no sink. There’s no mains hook-up, either, though VW do fit a leisure battery. Reimo has a solution – a slot-in mini-galley with sink, water carrier and single-burner cooker. Designed for the Caravelle people-carrier, it’ll attach to the seat rails in the floor and cost around £1000. It’s sure to be a popular addition and you’re still saving £7500 against a full-spec California.

Engine

There’s a new entry-level option of a 114PS BlueMotion engine, well-established in the Volkswagen car range but new to motorhomes. It comes with stop/start system – it cuts the engine when you stop and release the clutch. It’s worth remembering that you’re paying car rates, so the California SE gets away with a £215 road fund licence.

Bedroom

There’s a huge boot area under the rear mattress, with masses more room on top if you get too carried away with the weekly shop and buy a new TV while you’re in Tesco. And if a trip to Ikea is on the cards then the rear section of bed simply unbolts, while the bench seat slides forward. And a vinyl floor means you won’t be regretting that trip to the tip for months to come.

The roof goes up in seconds, although it uses gas struts rather than the California’s electric motor. This roof has to be the best in the business, not least as it still incorporates the superb slatted base 6ft 6in double bed. There’s no window in the roof, though, as you can only get extra daylight with fresh air too, via the flyscreen panels in the sides.

Seating

Down below, the cab seats quickly swivel (best done from outside if it’s dry) and now you’re ready to relax. The rear seat not only slides but reclines too, and at night it folds flat to create the biggest VW camper bed around – a full 6ft 6in by almost 5ft. It’s rather firm but VW offer a Comfort Mattress overlay for £290.

There’s a free-standing table (which cleverly stores on the inside of the sliding door). If the weather’s good, you can use it outside with the pair of chairs secreted on the inside of the tailgate.

Features like these, the quality of build and the sophistication of it all make the Beach seem like a classy vehicle, in contrast to its ultra-basic approach to camping.

This Weekend Away motorhome review of the VW California Beach was published in the August 2012 issue of Which Motorhome. You can download the full magazine by clicking HERE
 

It’s a back to basics campervan that can sleep four with ease. The build quality is great and there are lots of thoughtful touches (like the folding outside table and chairs that store in the sliding door), but you’ll need to tick a few option boxes to get a fridge or electric hook-up.