Volkswagen Grand California Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Volkswagen Grand California?

Volkswagen has dominated the small campervan market for decades. Most recently with the Transporter-based California, but as far back as the early 1950s when the iconic air-cooled VW buses began rolling out of factories in their millions.

For many, today’s California remains the default choice if you want a small, easy-to-park camper that can also double as a family car. But Volkswagen was missing out on the booming large campervan segment, dominated by much smaller coachbuilders and converters.

Enter the Grand California, a which arrived in 2019 based on the Volkswagen Crafter and did exactly what it says on the tin: offer the California ownership experience in a larger, more spacious package that, crucially, added an integrated bathroom.

In 2025, Volkswagen updated the Grand California to add a new features and cabin technology, along with some minor additions to the camping equipment. Has this improved the package? Our in-depth expert review tells you everything you need to know.

Verdict: is the Volkswagen Grand California a good campervan?

We reckon the updated Grand California is a great campervan for those who need a fixed bed and bathroom, and are willing to accept the compromised performance and manoeuvrability such a large van inevitably brings. It isn’t exactly cheap, and you’ll have to really want the bathroom given how much space it takes up, but you can’t get a more feature-packed manufacturer-backed van without looking at third-party conversions.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Prices for the VW Grand California kick off from £85,393 at the time of writing (early 2026). That’s for the 600 model, whereas you’ll need £88,180 for a Grand California 680 with its longer, lower body and larger rear bed.

While that might sound expensive in isolation, remember that it’s easily possible to spec the much smaller, bathroom-less California up to (and above) this price point.

It’s important to note that the bigger Grand California 680 is only available with a 3.88 tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), meaning that you need to hold a C1 driving licence category. Drivers who passed their test before 1997 will automatically have this.

You can option the Grand California 600 up from its 3.5-tonne GVW to 3.88 tonnes for a reasonable £700, giving you extra payload capacity if you intend on carrying lots of people and luggage.

Aside from that, 680 buyers have the option of adding 4MOTION all-wheel drive, but all Grand Californias have the same 163hp diesel engine and automatic gearbox.

There are plenty of equipment options to choose from in both models, from two-tone paint finishes to bike carriers, awnings, a diesel heater and hot water cylinder and even an extra bed on the 600 (more on that later). Some of the options, such as LED headlights and heated front seats, probably ought to be standard at this price point – and you can easily spend over £100k on one.  

Both Grand California models are broadly comparable to the countless number of similar-size coachbuilt motorhomes or van conversions available from companies such as Swift, Burstner, Auto-Trail and Hymer.

But the Grand California has the advantage of VW’s factory build quality and its comprehensive UK-wide dealer network support, along with better software integration and the more desirable Crafter base (the majority of conversion and coachbuilt campervans use the older, less refined Fiat Ducato as a base vehicle).

Rivals

In terms of factory conversions, no brands offer an alternative that’s the size of the Grand California. Models like the Ford Transit Custom Nugget and Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo are much smaller and do without a washroom.

Really, the Grand California competes with aftermarket van conversions. These are more usually based on the Fiat Ducato or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, leaving the factory as empty panel vans and being converted by a third-party company.

Another option is a coachbuilt motorhome, which leaves the factory as a chassis cab and has the living area built onto the back of it. It’s a bit like having a caravan ‘grafted’ onto the back of an empty van. These usually have more space inside, but are less easy to manoeuvre.

Cab comfort, quality & technology

Just like the Crafter on which it’s based, the Grand California has a comfortable and well laid-out cab that’s ideal for piling on the miles.

Key updates for 2025 are focused on in-car tech (below), but there’s also now a dash-mounted electronic handbrake in place of the old manual handbrake. Doing this allows the front seats to swivel round more easily, although it’s still a bit of a faff with the doors shut.

Unsurprisingly, the Crafter-based cab focuses on hard-wearing plastics rather than plush, soft-touch finishes, but it all feels solidly screwed together. There’s also loads of storage for items in the doors, on top of the dash and underneath the centre console.

Forward visibility is great, with a commanding view of the road ahead, loads of seat and wheel adjustment, deep side windows and big door mirrors. Things are obviously restricted in the rear view, but there is a couple of small windows in the back doors. You’ll be heavily reliant on the front and rear parking sensors, but it’s disappointing that the vital reversing camera isn’t standard.

Still, the interior itself is bright and airy thanks to a large opening sunroof, big side windows and neatly integrated LED ambient and overhead lighting.

All windows feature well-designed blinds that act as flyscreens when pulled one way and full blackout blinds the other. You also get a huge flyscreen covering the sliding door if you want to enjoy fresh air at night without the inevitable bug invasion.

Magnetic blinds for the side windows and a cover for the windscreen are both a bit fiddly, but do an okay job of blocking out light.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

A main part of the Grand California’s 2025 updates is a new 12.9in freestanding touchscreen infotainment system. It’s the same system that you’ll find in all VW passenger cars, and that brings with it some positives and negatives.

On the plus side, the screen’s graphics are brighter and clearer than the old system, with more features and customisable menus. It’s reasonably responsive, too.

However, usability has taken a clear backward step. The absence of physical climate controls and menu shortcut buttons makes things a good deal fiddlier than the old version, and that’s annoying in a vehicle that’s more about utility than style.

We do like the big digital dial display, with plenty of different views including the desired map view. We’re also happy that VW has kept the intuitive physical steering wheel buttons, too.

One of the key features that marks out the Grand California from most aftermarket camper conversions is a five-inch central control touchscreen that operates every key function inside. Everything from the interior lighting to the heating, cooling and water systems is controlled there, while certain functions are also accessible via a smartphone app.

In terms of power and connectivity, you’ll find four 12-volt sockets in the cab along with two USB-C ports and a pair of USB-A ports by the dinette. You’ll also get a two more in the rear bed area and another two in a flap in the kitchen unit that folds out when the side door is open. There are also four 230-volt sockets dotted about, along with a mains hook-up lead for campsite power.

The standard cab audio system delivers decent enough sound, but you’ll need to option speakers in the living room along with a Bluetooth connection to the cabin touchscreen. You do get a wireless phone charging pad up front as standard, though.

How practical is the Volkswagen Grand California?

The dimensions of the Grand California 600 give it a length of exactly six metres, a height of 2.97m and a width 2.04m.

That’s far larger than the regular California, particularly in terms of length and height. This means you need to consider campsite pitch sizes, car park height restrictions and even the size of your own driveway before buying.

The Grand California 680, meanwhile, is (as the name suggests) 6.8m long and identical in width, but slightly lower at 2.84m in height. It also has a massive 4.49m wheelbase compared to the 600’s 3.64m, but happily the ground clearance and turning circle are identical in both.

While neither Grand Californias sleep more people than the smaller California, there’s more internal space and no need to rely on a pop-up roof to expand headroom. It’s clear that the main benefit with the Grand is having a bathroom, though.

• Get RAC Caravan and Motorhome breakdown cover

Seating and sleeping layout

Both 600 and 680 models are identical in terms of the basic floor layout, but the 600 can sleep more people with its optional child’s double bed in the roof extension.

The 600 is ideal for a couple with one or two children, then. The rear double, which sees you sleeping across the width of the van, measures 193cm by 136cm. That’s a fraction larger than a standard double bed, but those well over six foot may miss being able to properly stretch out, and the bed height means a bit of a leap to get in and out of bed.

The optional second bed in the 600 measures 190cm by 122cm, making it a small double that could theoretically sleep adults. It’s much better for children, though, because headroom is extremely limited and it’s awkward to use the folding ladder if you’re large. At least the ladder doesn’t block the toilet.

The 680 sees you sleeping lengthways, with a larger bed measuring up to 200cm long and 167cm wide. This is larger than a king size bed at home and has a cutout at the base of the bed to make getting in easier.

Both beds appear to have thin mattresses, but comfort is impressive thanks to Froli plastic springs on the bed’s base. This means the bed is comfortable yet supportive, and even side-sleepers won’t complain.

As well as the swivelling front cab seats, there’s two belted seats directly behind the front passenger seat. While these are quite upright and hard, they’ll be fine for a couple of kids.

The internal table mounts to the side of the van on a bracket allowing it to slide back and forth, but space is certainly tighter than the roomy, plush rear seats in a smaller California. Another annoyance is that the table must be taken out and strapped to the rear bed if you plan to drive with any passengers on board.

Kitchen

The Grand California’s kitchen is less compromised than in the smaller California, but some way short of being as spacious and well-equipped as a full-size coachbuilt motorhome. Still, it’s perfectly serviceable.

You’ll find a twin-burner gas hob and sink hidden under glass lids on top of the kitchen unit, along with a big pull-out fridge drawer with a small freezer compartment at the end of the unit. The fridge runs solely off the leisure battery or a mains hookup.

Worktop space is limited in the 600 but should be enough for simple meals, with a couple of fold-out extenders to increase counter space. The one that folds out onto the rear bed is a bit awkward, however. The 680 model has much more usable kitchen worktop space thanks to its extra length.

We like that most of this kitchen area is accessible from the outside with the side door open. Even if it does halve the opening to get out of the door itself (a potential issue for broader passengers) having such easy access to the fridge when enjoying a summers evening outside is ideal.

One minor complaint with the kitchen unit is that the fridge takes up a large portion of cabinet storage. This leaves only a few compact drawers to store utensils and the like, so your room temperature food will spill over into other storage spaces.  

Cabin and rear storage

Happily, even if kitchen storage is limited, there’s plenty of compartments at head height to fill up. Over the rear seats and dinette you’ll find a couple of compartments with no doors – best for storing cushions or other items that won’t break if they fall out.

The rear bed area has eight chunky lockers above your head, which should be plenty for a couple to store food and clothing for a week away. Our only gripe is the stiff metal handles that take some mastering to open, clearly because they’ve been designed to never open of their own accord on the move.

You’ll find a proper wardrobe cabinet with hanging rail for clothes in the 680 model, although in the 600 you must make do with a tiny hanging rail above one corner of the bed. If you option the extra bed in the 600, you can store coats and other items within the over-cab area too.

The rear doors are quite bulky because that’s where you store the sturdy folding chairs and table for outdoor use, along with the awning winder if fitted. That’s even more of an issue with the optional bike rack, which can unlatch and hit your head if you’re not careful.

Once open, though, you’ll find a large under-bed storage area with space for a few suitcases, plus a few pop-open cabinets for things like muddy boots and a couple of large gas bottles.

Although the bed doesn’t stow away into a seating area like some campers, the centre section of the bed can be lifted. This would allow you to store, say, a bike in the cabin if you didn’t have the exterior bike rack installed.

Bathroom

No other manufacturer-built campervan other than the Grand California offers a bathroom. It’s a great addition if you’re not fond of campsite toilets or like wild camping, but you’ll want to make use of it because it takes up a sizeable chunk of the interior space.

It’s designed as a wetroom cubicle where all surfaces are waterproof, which is a good idea given the size of the shower space. Despite being compact, large adults can sit on the toilet or use the shower without much compromise.

The swivel bowl toilet has an electric flush and is easy to operate, while the sink tips up so it’s out of the way when not in use. It won’t hold water like a regular sink, however.

The sink tap also doubles as the shower head. It doesn’t exactly blast you with high pressure, but it’s sufficient to get clean. The substantial height of the Grand California means there’s ample room so even six-footers don’t need to bend down to wash their hair, while a pop-out roof vent gives some much-needed ventilation.

A nice detail is the dual drain holes, which means shower water won’t accumulate in a corner even if your campsite is on a slope. There’s a 100-litre fresh water tank and an 80-litre waste tank, plenty for a good few days of use.  

Performance & drive: What is the Volkswagen Grand California like on the road?

While the smaller VW California camper offers the choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines, the Grand California makes do with the tried-and-tested 2.0 TDI diesel unit.

In all versions of the Grand California it makes 163hp and 410Nm of torque, solely mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox powering either the front or all four wheels.

That might not sound like a lot of power for a vehicle weighing over three tonnes even in its lightest configuration. But, in practice, it’s plenty for a big van, and particularly one you’re not going to drive in a spirited fashion for fear of sending your camping kit flying across the cabin.

Volkswagen doesn’t quote a 0-62mph time for either version of the Grand California. But both versions are almost capable of reaching 100mph, which although irrelevant in the UK gives you some idea of the performance in reserve.

There are very few on-road situations where the Grand California feels underpowered. It’s perfectly happy sitting at 70mph and doesn’t make too much of a meal of getting there, either.

The eight-speed automatic is expertly paired with the engine, too, and among the best of any large van. It shifts quickly yet smoothly, and always seems to be in the right gear.

Power, top speed

• Volkswagen Grand California (all versions): 163hp, 98mph

Ride and handling

A lot of drivers mind find a van of this size a bit daunting on the road, but the Crafter makes things as effortless as possible. That excellent forward visibility makes it relatively easy to place on the road, while the light steering and smooth gearbox mean town driving is no chore once you’ve adjusted your spatial awareness.

On faster roads, there’s plenty of body lean and it isn’t exactly agile, but what would you expect? For what is essentially a small studio flat on wheels it handles tidily enough, and never feels wayward or lacking in grip.

Ride comfort (of more importance to campervan owners) is considerably better than in most Fiat Ducato-based campers. Large bumps make you a little aware of the sheer mass in motion, but the only noticeable issue is driving on the motorway in crosswinds, which the Grand California is susceptible to like most large campervans.

Noise and refinement

The base VW Crafter diesel engine is a touch noisier than a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s, but in all other respects the Grand California is a very refined travel companion.

While there’s a fair bit of wind noise compared to smaller campers, it’s not too bad for such a high-sided vehicle, while road noise is well-hushed too. The only intrusive noise will be your cutlery and plates rattling in the back, but when empty the Grand California is a lot less rattly and creaky over bumps than a typical coachbuilt motorhome.

Euro NCAP: is the Volkswagen Grand California a safe campervan?

While commercial vans are tested for crash safety by Euro NCAP, the process is different than it is in passenger cars. The rating also doesn’t apply to camper vans because there are too many variables - a loose piece of kitchen equipment could completely change the result.

Still, you’ll find all the modern safety assist technology on the Grand California you’d expect, including automatic emergency braking with vulnerable road user protection, lane keep assistance including semi-automatic control in a medical emergency  blind spot monitoring, crosswind assist and adaptive cruise control with VW’s Traffic Jam Assist.

Driver and front passenger airbags are standard fitment, but you’ll need to raid the options list for side and curtain airbags for both front occupants.

Running costs and fuel economy

The single diesel engine in the Grand California has a lot of weight to pull along compared to a regular unladen van, so it can’t match the Crafter’s fuel economy figures.

Nevertheless, its official 26.2mpg combined WLTP figure isn’t too bad, and in our experience 30mpg is entirely possible on a long motorway run. There’s little difference between the 600 and 680 models in this department, because the higher roof of the 600 is offset by the 680’s extra weight.

You lose a couple of MPG by opting for the 4MOTION all-wheel drive variant of the 680, but that’s unlikely to be a deal breaker for those looking to enjoy more rugged campsites or off-road trails.

VED car tax is capped at £360 a year for 3.5-tonne GVW versions of the Grand California, which is the same as key rivals. Option for the 3.88-tonne version reduces this to £171 a year, oddly, but neither version is liable for the Expensive Car Supplement as this only applies to cars.

How much does the Volkswagen Grand California cost to insure?

Volkswagen doesn’t provide insurance group data for the Grand California, unlike its smaller camper vans. Expect insurance costs to be in line with similar sized coachbuilt campervans or van conversions.