By Nick Harding
Here at Caravan Times, our mission is to bring you reviews like no others. Here’s the first in our series of motorhome reports – where we tell it like it is
What are we looking at this week?
Volkswagen has just announced the Grand California. Two high-top conversions – 600 and 680; 6m and 6.8m long respectively – based on its Crafter van. They were unveiled at September 2018’s Caravan Salon, click here, and go on sale in the UK from the start of next year.
Why so special?
Californias are the only motorhomes actually produced by Volkswagen (the rest are made by independent specialists, some with VW’s blessing, some not). With the Grand California, however, Volkswagen has produced their first motorhomes with washrooms – toilet and shower are now on board! Grand Californias will be made alongside Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art, dedicated Crafter production plant in Wrzesnia, Poland.
What’s The Crafter?
It’s the next size up van from the Transporter, doyen of the campervan sector. Its most obvious rival is Fiat’s Ducato, which – along with its Peugeot Boxer cousin – dominates in the motorhome market. Greater authorities than me have decreed the Crafter is “excellent”. It’s also won plenty of major Van of the Year-type awards since its introduction in 2016. Engine upgrades, DSG automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive are among the options.
So what can we expect in a Grand California?
Conversion work of the highest order, for starters. Best quality components. Sturdy fittings. Superior plastic mouldings. No cheapskate carpet lining. And there’s a greater attention to safety, eg proper rear travel seat (with Isofix).
Slightly strangely, the 680 is a two-berth, while the shorter 600 offers the option of a clever slide-out roof bed system for two children. Both models have a four-seater lounge up front, rear double bed and central,washroom and kitchen.
Don’t confuse it with.
.the Grand Californian. That’s the hotel at Disneyland, California. Do look out for Crafter-based alternatives from Westfalia and Knaus/Weinsberg, though. As well as the UK’s Hillside Leisure.
So, what do you really think, Nick?
These are superb. I always think the lockers are a good indicator of the overall quality of any conversion. Here, the doors are solid, the positive catches are easy to operate, the hinges are superb, and you won’t find any loose wiring lurking at the back.
The Crafter base vehicle is streets ahead of its closest rivals in terms of build
quality, driveability, safety. probably long-term reliability, too. There are signs, also, that Volkswagen is looking to make Grand California prices very keen. And, because it’s a Volkswagen product, it will hold its value better than other motorhomes.
Will Grand California van conversions become icons, like the Transporter- based California campers? No. Well, not for a few decades, at least.
There must be things we won’t like.
OK, so the conversion won’t be “switched” for the UK – which means the sliding door stays on our driver’s side. The kitchen facilities are basic. No microwave, no oven, no way of making toast may not endear the Grand Cali to UK camper-chefs.
The roof profile of the 600 is a bit Marmite. The all-white furniture certainly
won’t appeal to traditionalists.
Above all, someone needs to have a word with the California design team: we prefer end lounge layouts in our van conversions over here.
Details, details
Grand Californias are set to go on sale in the UK next spring, via Volkswagen’s own Van Centres. Prices are still to be confirmed, but over on the mainland the 600 with top-of-the-range 177PS engine and DSG transmission will start at 55,000 euros. That’s about £49,500 – in other words, highly competitive in the van conversion sector.
Are you just biased?
Of course I am. I currently own a five-year-old California SE. But, see also the notes below.
Who is Nick Harding, anyway?
Nick grew up with motorhomes, tested his first vehicle over 30 years ago and has reviewed literally thousands since then. You might not always like what he says.
Lets’ have a Grand debate
Agree with Nick? Disagree? Feel free to add to the discussion, below.
