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Volkswagen Caddy California

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Volkswagen's Caddy California small camper's in a class of its own, thinks Jonathan Crouch.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 47

Volkswagen's Caddy California delivers the motorhome vibe in a smaller, more accessible package. There's a double bed from which you can survey the stars, you can have a kitchenette and with an awning, maybe even sleep up to four people. It's a unique proposition for its size.

Backgroundword count: 151

Staycations. You can't beat them can you? If you're of that mind set, Volkswagen wants you to consider this, the Caddy California. 'California' is the Wolfsburg maker's designation for 'motorhome'. Once, it just designated a camper version of the Transporter van. Then in 2020, a bigger Grand California model based on the larger Crafter LCV was introduced. And a year later, the Caddy van got a motorhome variant too. This one. Given that the Caddy is a commercial vehicle with roughly the dimensions of a Golf, you might think that what it could offer to motorhome folk would be fairly limited. But this is no ordinary Caddy, converted to incorporate a double bed, a mini kitchen and a chair and table package - all have been squeezed in. Basically, there's the convenience of a car for weekdays and the versatility of tent for the weekends. If that sounds appealing, read on.

Driving Experienceword count: 192

No surprises here: the Caddy California drives just like the Caddy MPV - which is a good thing. It wouldn't have been if this camper had been based on older Caddy generation models, which used crude leaf-sprung suspension. But the California takes as its starting point the current generation design, which utilises much more sophisticated car-like coil-sprung suspension. A much more sophisticated chassis also helps, the much stiffer Modular Transverse Matrix platform used on all Volkswagen's current Golf, Passat and Tiguan-sized car models. Plus there's an electrically assisted power steering rack with quite a direct feel. The engines on offer are the same as those in the Caddy MPV of course too. There are three - a 1.5-litre TSI petrol unit with 114PS, offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed DSG auto. Alternatively, there's a choice of 2.0-litre TDI diesels, one with 102PS only offered with that manual gearbox; and the other with 122PS which comes only in DSG auto form. At the time of this review in early 2022, Volkswagen wasn't offering this camper design with the optional 4MOTION 4WD system you can get with the Caddy Cargo van.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227

Pictures (high res disabled)

Statistics (subset of data only)

Min

Max

Price:

£33,962.00 (At 21 Oct 2022)

£38,558.00 (At 21 Oct 2022)

Insurance group 1-50:

11

14

CO2 (g/km):

131 (2.0 TDI 102PS SWB)

Max Speed (mph):

109 (2.0 TDI 102PS SWB)

0-62 mph (s):

13.5 (2.0 TDI 102PS SWB)

Length (mm):

4954

Width (mm):

1855

Height (mm):

1800

Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: MPV People Carriers

Performance
70%
Handling
60%
Comfort
60%
Space
80%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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