• Generous space for four
• Loads of space for stuff
• Parking can be a challenge

How much space is there?

The T5 Volkswagen California has a vast amount of space for the four passengers it can hold – but you’d expect that of a vehicle ultimately based on a van. Both the front ‘captain’s’ chairs and the rear bench can accommodate anyone of any size with room to spare. The bench also slides fore and aft, so you can tune the amount of back seat space to your needs.

It may seem like a demerit that a vehicle of the California’s size can only seat four, however that’s the number of berths it has. Plus, the kitchen unit takes up the area a fifth seat would occupy.

Boot space and storage

The California has a vast amount of boot space – VW didn’t quote exactly how much – but there are a few caveats. The built-in cupboards limit the boot’s width, and the bed platform can limit its height. The platform is removable, however packing to the roof when going on holiday could cause logistical issues come bed time. Fold the back seat down and you can better take advantage of the Cali’s commercial vehicle origins for carrying long loads.

The built-in cupboards provide quite a lot of storage for food, clothes and equipment. But a family holiday would necessitate clever packing or hitching up a trailer to carry the excess – towing capacity is over 2,000kg. There are many options for tailgate-mounted bike racks, as well. Plenty of odd and ends storage is found up front in the glovebox and door bins. There’s also a 30-litre on-board water tank and another for waste water.

Is it easy to park?

The T5 Cali is a very big vehicle though, in length and width, it’s actually no bigger than the latest large SUVs. You can see the exact dimensions at the bottom of this page, or by clicking through to the specs pages. Despite its size, parking isn’t especially difficult once you’ve got you’re eye in.

You can’t really see the front of the vehicle, but it’s only a couple of feet from the base of the windscreen. Huge door mirrors show you exactly where the bluff sides are. Rear parking sensors are fitted as standard. Just be wary of the height. It will fit under multi-storey height restrictions, but it’s uncomfortably close.

Safety

• Four-star Euro NCAP rating
• Standard ABS and stability control
• Careful how you pack

Car safety body Euro NCAP didn’t assess the California specifically, however it did put the virtually identical T5 Caravelle through its paces in 2008 and gave it a rating of four stars out of five. So we’re carrying that rating over here. The Caravelle provided four-star protection for both adult and child occupants, orders of magnitude better than any other van-based people carrier could manage at the time.

Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, plus front and side airbags are fitted to the California, enhancing safety on the move. Significantly, when it was launched the California was the only campervan to be rigorously crash tested. The elements of a camper conversion added to a vehicle’s interior can simply collapse and fly all over the place in a crash, but that’s not the case here. Even the cupboard doors should stay closed. Just be careful about how you pack to ensure your stuff stays put should a crash occur.