Volkswagen California Coast 2.0 BiTDi SWB - Road Trip Review

Fast Facts:

• 2.0 BiTDi turbodiesel engine
• 7-speed DSG
• 4Motion AWD
• 147 kW
• 450 Nm
• 8.2 l/100km (claimed)
  
  
• Kitted out by VW Commercial for camping
• Gas stove
• Fresh water tank
• Sleeps 4
• Built-in kitchenette

Pros:

• Effortless camping - simply load and go!
• Fatigue-free driving experience
• Easy to pack up

Cons:

• Dated T6.1 equipment levels
• Missing a few autonomous driving systems
  
• DSG gearbox programming

A good vehicle will get you from A to B, but a great vehicle will get you away from your desk, your home, and exploring the countryside. Or, something like that.

We usually have a few weeks' lead time when vehicles are dropped off with us to review. It allows us time to formulate a concept for the review or video. Some vehicles only require a fairly basic overview of the specs and what it's like to drive, while others demand a little more attention. When the Volkswagen California Coast arrived as a rather last-minute booking, it caught me by surprise: This was going to need something a little special.

The Volkswagen California Coast is what happens when Volkswagen's Commercial division gets hold of a T6.1 Transporter and decides to kit it out with camping accoutrements. This isn't your run-of-the-mill Transporter. It would have been a crime to simply rattle off the list of features that the California has, throw in some photos, and leave it at that. No, I had to make the most of my time with the California Coast and what better way than to actually test it out with an impromptu camping trip.

A quick Google search and I was able to secure a booking at a camping site out in the Freestate, nestled between Fouriesburg and Clarens, one of my favourite areas in the country. Oranje Gasteplaas, nestled between the Red mountain range and the Malutis, was chosen at a whim mainly due to its proximity to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Clarens, and for the amenities. Fouriesburg is only 3.5 hours away from Johannesburg, but we elected to leave early on the Saturday morning, rather than fight with traffic and setting up in the dark by leaving on the Friday afternoon. This also allowed some time to pack.

Feature-packed camper

The California features a number of convenience features that centre around camping, one of which is the double bed in the lower section. The single row behind the driver and passenger seats is mounted on rails, allowing for tons of legroom and creating a living room area in the mid-section of the California. This bench can also slide forward and then fold flat, joining up with a deck in the rear to offer up a full-length double bed. This deck does eat into the cargo space and dictates what size items you're able to store below it. As a result, the cooler box was forced to go on top of it instead.

Loaded up, we set off bright-eyed but not so busy-tailed as we would have liked. I elected to avoid the N3 and take the R59 past Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, and hooking a left onto the R57 as we approached Sasolburg. A quick leg stretch near the bus-stop that is Heilbron offered up possibly the worst cup of coffee known to man. I won't name and shame, but it had the desired effect of waking us up - jarringly so.

On the open road, the VW California Coast offers up an effortless drive. Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre BiTDi turbodiesel that produces 147 kW and 450 Nm torque. While this would ordinarily be stout, in the heavily-laden California, it simply performs adequately. It's not the fastest out there, but you will still be able to overtake safely. The 7-speed DSG gearbox has a slight delay (a common DSG trait), and one has to preempt this, especially when crossing intersections.

The upright and command driving position helps avoid fatigue and gives the driver an excellent view over the road and surroundings. The dual arm rests are a boon on a long trip, allowing the driver and front passenger to rest their arms and doing away with the fatigue that one picks up in the shoulders when driving long distances.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are complemented by onboard navigation.

Dated design

Yes, I know what you're thinking: The T6.1 is a little dated now and has since been replaced. It has yes, but you're still able to get the California Coast in T6.1 configuration. In time, a T7 variant will undoubtedly make its way here.

As such, the California Coast does have to make do without certain luxuries. There's no keyless entry, but remote central locking is available with a dedicated button to open the electric sliding side door. You still have to place a key in the ignition, but this makes sense as without it, you're unable to start the California. Better suited when kids are clambering in and out of the vehicle while it is parked up.

It also only offers cruise control and doesn't have adaptive cruise control or lane keep assist. You do get trailer sway control, crosswind assist, and blind spot monitoring, though. The tailgate is also a manual item, presumably because of the roof tent, but being larger in size, and a bit heavier, it's a little more difficult to lift and close.

The electric sliding door offers easy access into the rear.

Brunch in Clarens

Before checking into the campsite, we stopped in Clarens for a bite to eat. Anyone that has been to Clarens will know of the town square and the street parking that is available there. Parallel parking the California was a cinch, with ample-sized mirrors, a reverse camera, and a setting for making the steering lighter. The steering of the California does differ from the regular T6.1, and it employs a fly-by-wire system to help with manoeuvrability.

Taking a slight detour into the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the California was as comfortable tootling along at 60 km/h as it was highway speeds. A venture off to the Blesbok Loop to take in the sights and a trundle down the Oribi Loop allowed us to make use of the 4Motion all-wheel-drive as we ventured over some rougher, unpaved sections to reach the various viewpoints. It won't traverse Sani Pass, but for getting to slightly remote campsites, fishing spots, or hideaways, it's perfect.

The picturesque campsite of Oranje Gasteplaas.

Camper convenience

Arriving at Oranje Gasteplaas, we were greeted with manicured lawns and a warm reception. As it was out of season, we were able to choose any of the 13 cap sites they have on offer. We chose one with a beautiful view of the mountains, and some of the farm animals on the property, and set up 'camp'. This is effortless with the California Coast; simply choose the direction you want to face and open it up. The side awning cranks out easily, spanning up to 2.5-meters. The included telescopic legs give it the necessary support, but don't expect it to withstand hurricane-force winds.

The camping display houses all the info and controls you want while camping.

Two camp chairs are stored in the tailgate and, along with the removable camping table located in the door of the California, form a quaint and comfortable lounging area under the awning as you enjoy a snack. While the site did offer 220V power, the California is equipped with two AGM batteries and an inverter to provide you with 230V power wherever you are. We set it to charge when we departed, and the camping display showed that we had 60hrs of power reserve (naturally, this would change depending on your usage). 

The camping display mounted on the roof panel is a handy interface for all things camping in the California. From here you can check your battery level, fresh and waste water levels, set and adjust lighting, amongst several other, handy features. From this panel you're also able to switch on or off the 42-litre fridge in the kitchenette. We did this just before departing and probably should have run it for a few hours before departing, but by day 2 it was properly chilled inside the fridge.

A 42-litre fridge is run off of the inverter to keep your food fresh.

A dual gas burner stove forms part of the kitchenette, nestled between the fridge and the sink that has a cold water faucet and a washing-up bowl. Under these you get more storage for pots and pans, and even food. A cutlery drawer is installed below the sink as well. This sink is fed from a 25-litre fresh water tank and disposes of the water in a 25-litre waste/grey water tank, ensuring that your environment isn't soiled with your waste. This water system also feeds a detatchable, hand-held shower head that is great for rinsing off your feet after a walk on teh beach, or even a cold shower in a pinch - there's no water heater in the California Coast.

A quick cup of coffee, thanks to the gas stove.

While it would have been easy to bring the electric kettle, the gas burner makes light work of a manual kettle, and allowed us to enjoy a nice cup of coffee before our stomachs protested. It was approaching dinner time, and we were hungry. 

While it would have been easy enough to rustle something up on the gas stove, we decided to head into Clarens again for dinner. Striking the California took no more than 5 minutes. We rolled in the awning, folded and stored the chairs and table, and before long, we were using the California again to head out from the campsite.

The second row folds flat to offer up a comfortable double bed

Settling in for the night

Now that we were more familiar with the California Coast, we didn't mind setting things up at night. Upon our return, the van was parked up and the double bed folded out and fitted with bedding. Purely for the air quality and volume in the cabin, I raised the roof tent, pleasantly surprised at how generous the space is inside. This area has a hard shell and side vents, and will support 200kg, making it perfect for the kids. There are even LED nightlights to help you manoeuvre in the dark up there.

Before crawling in for the night, we trundled off to the ablutions for the nightly ritual. We were briefly distracted by the large, heated indoor pool on offer to all guests at Oranje Gasteplaas and couldn't resist going for a late-night swim. However, that wasn't the biggest surprise. Heading into the communal bathrooms I was taken aback. I stay in a lot of hotels, and their bathrooms are usually exquisite - it was no different here. Immaculately clean and modern bathrooms were presented to us, allowing us to shower and clean up in the same, if not better, comfort of home. This alone is reason enough to visit Oranje Gasteplaas. The ladies will revel in it!

In colder climates, one can set the heating in the California, but we were a little concerned as the air conditioning is only available while the engine is running, naturally, not something one wants to do all night. Despite this, the cabin temperature and air remained pleasant throughout the night, the roller blinds on all the windows blocking out all the external light.

All good things come to an end

As the millions of stars and the Milky Way made way for the morning sun, the heat of the day started approaching. Coffee and a bite to eat ranked highly on our priorities, so the gas stove was fired up again, and the bacon and eggs were whipped out. The kitchenette includes a folding table to expand the food preparation area, and when you swivel the two front seats around (yes, they do that), you create a wonderful breakfast nook for you and the family to eat around. 

The laminated floor that replicates wood panelling ties in beautifully with the rest of the cupboards and fittings in the kitchenette. Washing up is as simple, with the sink doing exactly what it is designed to do.

There was time for one last swim and shower before packing it in and starting to head back home. Again, the heated pool at Oranje is a total boon for someone like me who is cold-water adverse. It impressed me yet again how quickly everything was stowed and soon we were ready for departure. 

The scenic route back saw us stop in at the relatively new KgoDumoDumo archaeological centre. This facility is based less than 300-meters from where fossil eggs were discovered. It dives into the history of the earth and the area in the national park, giving a great explanation as to why the rock has the different layers it does. There are even replica dinosaur fossils as well as some real ones, all discovered in the area - a stop on your route worth making.

Verdict

The California didn't miss a single beat the entire weekend. I averaged approximately 9 l/100km on this trip, generally sticking to the national speed limit. The 80-litre fuel tank means that at that rate, you can expect a range of around 888 km, and if you drop that speed a little to 110 km/h, you should be able to get close to 1000 km from a full tank. For reference, VW claims a combined cycle consumption of 8.2 l/100km and an extra urban of 6.4. So a little off the mark there.

It's a wonderful companion that may only seat 4 people, but what it allows you to do with those 4 people is nothing short of brilliant. It's exceptionally convenient if you like getting away often and don't want the hassle of a caravan, which requires an EB-code license. This Volkswagen California Coast can be driven even if you only have a regular B-code license.

I can easily imagine taking the California on my annual leave and simply driving from one small town to the next, venturing off the main drag and simply camping wherever you feel like (it's safe. This is South Africa, after all).

It's not the cheapest exercise, but it's ready to rock and roll with next to no additional investment required on your part. The Volkswagen California Coast will cost you R1,720,700 before options, of which our test model only had the wood-look flooring and bright-oak finish to the cupboards with the shower connection, an additional R24,410.

The Volkswagen California Coast is something special. It allows you to create memories, see the countryside, and escape from the drudgery of city life, all while making the experience effortless. I'll remember this vehicle for many years to come now - and doesn't that make it great?