Overview

The regular Volkswagen California is one of the best campervans you can buy, but there was always a gap above it for those who wanted something larger – a van that you could stand up in, that you could cook dinner in – and that you could live in without requiring any outside facilities. Enter the Volkswagen Grand California, a Crafter-based campervan that satisfies just that requirement.

Big campervans are big business, but mostly they involve two very separate component parts. First, the company that builds the base vehicle, and then a second firm that fits out the interior with all the required furniture, appliances and upholstery. The Grand California, like all Californias, cuts out the middleman, with VW not only building the base vehicle but sorting all of the fitting out at a dedicated facility in Hannover, Germany.

The result is a motorhome that doesn’t feel like a collection of disparate parts,  but like a cohesive vehicle with OEM quality throughout.

Rivals are numerous – 11,000 motorhomes and campervans were sold in the UK in 2022, and a large proportion of them will be large models directly comparable to the Grand California. More than three-quarters of motorhomes of this size use the Fiat Ducato as a base, but you’ll also find plenty of Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter conversions from companies such as Burstner, Hymer, Adria and Swift.

There are two versions of the Grand California available – the 600 and the 680, named after their body lengths. The 600 is the ‘family’ van – despite being shorter, it’s taller, with a bulbous addition to the roof giving space for a second double bed. The 680 is longer, more luxurious, and prioritises the main bed, but as it just slides over 3.5t in weight you will need a special category on your licence to drive it.

Both models have four travel seats. There’s a 110-litre fresh water tank, 90-litre waste water tank, and space for two 11kg gas bottles in the rear compartment. Heating is gas blown air as standard, but can be upgraded to run on diesel or electric too.

Optional extras are numerous, and range from a roof-mounted air-conditioning system to heated seats in the cab. But all models come well-equipped from the factory – as they should, considering the Grand California’s £80,000+ price tag.

Over the next few pages we’ll take you through the Grand California, what it’s like to drive and to live in, how practical it is and how much it should cost to run.