Should you buy one?

If your pockets are deep enough and if you get on well with the layout, absolutely. There’s little choice in the Grand California range, and the arrangement of seating and beds may not suit you and your family – but if it does, you’ll be getting a seriously good motorhome with lots to recommend it.

The synergy of base vehicle and conversion here is what sets the Grand California apart, unique in the class and courtesy of VW’s own build process. It’s this which goes some way to justifying the van’s high price.

The Grand California gets most of the essentials bang on. It’s great to drive, beautifully screwed together and the beds in particular are very comfortable. Campervan chefs go elsewhere – the two gas hobs on offer will not a six-course meal make – but it’s fine for heating up a tin of beans.

Our best recommendation is to get yourself down to a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership and have a really good poke around a Grand California. If it suits your plans, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

What we like

The Grand California drives amazingly well for what’s essentially a studio flat on wheels. The conversion feels beautifully made, for the most part, and rattles and shudders are kept to a minimum.

What we don’t like

The rear travel seats are a little upright and uncomfortable, and the layout doesn’t encourage much flexibility. The longer Grand California 680 requires an upgraded licence to drive.