Freedom For All The Family

Volkswagen campervans evoke so much to so many. Its testament to the reach and reliability of the faithful old Kombi that, even down here in the antipodes thousands of miles from the highways and byways of Europe, so many Kiwis have enjoyed their own Kombi-shaped reminiscences through the years.

We reckon the fact Volkswagen still manufacturers dedicated campervans to this very day is something worth celebrating. Even better, that range has now grown to three distinct body styles offering all sorts of safety, comfort, and convenience features to suit anyone looking to hit the road in search of their next adventure.

Let’s meet the members of the California family.

Caddy California

Starting with the newest addition to the range first, the Caddy California is compact cleverness personified. We love the central idea behind Volkswagen’s decision to create a comfy camper out of the Caddy – after a long day, you’ll want to kick back and relax. So, the Caddy California has been designed for an easy set up and pack down so you can spend more time enjoying your recreational time.

When the holiday season arrives (or even just that opportunity for a quick weekend out of town), the Caddy California transforms from a five-seater family van into a versatile campervan. You can switch from one mode to the other easily, with the folding rear bed and stowable table and chairs creating the perfect home away from home in a matter of minutes once you reach your destination. There’s a heap of storage underneath the bed and plenty of options to choose from, such as the panoramic sunroof letting you stargaze at night away from the city lights, or clever solutions such as a slide-out ARB kitchenette unit, giving you everything you need including the kitchen sink.

California

Here’s the spiritual successor to the iconic Kombi. The California shares a lineage with Volkswagen’s original camper in a way no other manufacturer can claim. Seventy years in the making, the contemporary California gives you all the modern tech, driving comfort and practical life-on-the-road solutions you could hope for, while still effortlessly speaking to the heritage and solidity of what came before.

While the Volkswagen campervan has evolved over time, the classic layout that has worked so well for generations of Kiwi adventurers remains in place inside the spacious interior of the California. The van pulls off the rather clever trick of encompassing features such as a kitchenette and generous loft bed, along with a side-awning, camping table and chairs, yet it remains ‘city-friendly’ on the outside, with Volkswagen’s signature driver assistance systems and comfortable cabin making it easy to park and super smooth on the open road. The assured benefits of 4Motion all-wheel-drive add to the possibilities the go-anywhere California can deliver.

Grand California

If you really want to maximise space for your next camping trip and take all the comforts of home along with you, the Grand California is the campervan for you. This is dedicated self-contained motorhoming at its most marvellous, with a full suite of unique features and plenty of extra space.

The list of features the factory-built Grand California boasts is impressive, with a queen bed, separate wetroom/bathroom, a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge/freezer and two-burner gas hobs all giving Volkswagen’s biggest camper a true ‘apartment on wheels’ feel.

Extra luxuries such as a heated outdoor shower, swivelling captain’s chairs which add to the lounge ambience inside, panoramic skylights and 174W solar panels to supplement the power supply when you’re off the grid, make the Grand California the ultimate camping conveyance. And you really can go further too, with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system also present on the premium German brand’s ultimate campervan.

Built by Volkswagen to help make memories for generations of Kiwis, the modern California range has every adventure covered.