VW Caddy California – minimalism is the key
(Photo: vw)
Fladungen California – a sonorous name in the motorhome community. For over three decades it has stood for Volkswagen’s bestselling campervan. But the current version T6.1 is no longer alone. Two years ago, the Grand California based on the great Crafters was added, and the VW camper family is now being completed with the Caddy California.
After the short version of the mini camper, which is available from around 30,000 euros, the version with a long wheelbase is now also available. Although this is in the price list from just under 33,000 euros, the fully equipped version made available to us for a test drive, the most powerful version of the 2.0-liter diesel engine and 4Motion all-wheel drive with 90 kW / 122 PS, already beats with almost 55,000 Euros to book.
After the short version of the mini camper, which is available from around 30,000 euros, the version with a long wheelbase is now also available.
(Photo: vw)
Prices start at 33,000 euros.
(Photo: vw)
With the rush for mobile homes, which increased in times of the Corona, the customer base has also become significantly younger. According to a GFK study by the caravanning association CIVD, 20 to 30-year-olds are now the most caravanning-affine age group. Younger buyers are particularly interested in compact and manoeuvrable vehicles – with a strong urge for more minimalist fit-outs.
“The main thing is, bed on board” is the motto here. Because in addition to full suitability for everyday use, the short trip for biking, surfing, hiking, fishing or whatever, which is possible at any time, is always more in focus than the holiday of several weeks. And apart from space for equipment for sporting leisure activities, a comfortable bed in the dry is often enough for an overnight stay in the great outdoors.
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Volkswagen is targeting precisely this target group with the new Caddy California. The bed is in three parts folded to a third behind the second row of seats in the trunk. It is unfolded to the front together with the disc spring pad and the cold foam mattress with one grip and anchored in two side recesses in the B-pillar on the right and left. The conversion is actually done in no time, the sleeping comfort is excellent.
The bed is in three parts folded to a third behind the second row of seats in the trunk.
(Photo: vw)
The conversion is actually done in no time, the sleeping comfort is excellent.
(Photo: vw)
Since the second row of seats is no longer part of the bed construction as in the previous Caddy Beach, the 1.98 x 1.07 meter wide bed is either unfolded over the folded back seats, or – after all, that is the purpose of the new mechanism – the rear seats are also first expanded in a few simple steps and the space gained is used as additional storage space.
As with the larger California siblings, a camping table and two camping chairs, which are stored in a bag on the underside of the bed in the trunk, are part of the standard equipment of the caddy camper. And that already in the basic version. Optionally, for a surcharge of 1,410 euros, a kitchen that can be pulled out to the rear with a single-burner gas cooker and a 1.4 kilo gas bottle as well as a cutlery and storage compartment for other kitchen utensils can be ordered.
As with the larger California siblings, a camping table and two camping chairs, which are stored in a bag on the underside of the bed in the trunk, are part of the standard equipment of the caddy camper.
(Photo: vw)
Optionally, for a surcharge of 1,410 euros, a kitchen that can be pulled out to the rear with a single-burner gas cooker and a 1.4 kilo gas bottle as well as a cutlery and storage compartment for other kitchen utensils can be ordered.
(Photo: vw)
While the kitchen block in the short caddy ends with the bed above it directly at the tailgate, in the long version there is additional load space between the headboard of the bed and the tailgate next to the kitchen pull-out.
(Photo: vw)
The increase in length of 35 centimeters in the variant with a long wheelbase only benefits the storage space. While the kitchen block in the short caddy closes at the back with the bed above it directly on the tailgate, the long version creates additional load space between the headboard of the bed and the tailgate next to the kitchen pull-out, which can also be used as a bedside table. On the left (kitchen) side, the space gained is noticeable in the footwell behind the driver’s seat.
In order to bring order to the many little things that are taken on a vacation trip, VW has designed two large pockets for each of the two rear side windows, which are attached with Velcro. They can also be carried as a shoulder bag with a shoulder strap. Disadvantage of the mobile storage options: When used in the vehicle, they significantly impair the view to the rear.
In order to bring order to the many little things that are taken on a vacation trip, VW has designed two large bags each for the two rear side windows.
(Photo: vw)
An external power connection is not provided for the Caddy California, nor is a water supply. The camper has to make do with canisters himself.
The fifth generation of the Caddy uses the Group’s so-called Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) for the first time and offers excellent passenger car comfort. It actually has nothing to do with a commercial vehicle. An impression that is reinforced by the digital cockpit and a wide range of assistance systems that extend to automatic parking with a trailer (“Trailer Assist”) or even partially autonomous driving with “Travel Assist” – most of them for an extra charge, understood.
The chic appearance including the neat rear and the large panoramic roof complete the whole thing. The most powerful diesel variant with 90 kW / 122 PS and 320 Nm torque impresses with superior driving performance (top 185 km / h), does not fail even when fully loaded on the slopes of the Rhön, is barely audible and should have an average fuel consumption of 6 , 4 l / 100 km on the mountain and valley stages will delight every camper fan.
There is also nothing to complain about on the chassis of the 4.85 meter long version. The price range for the short Caddy California (4.50 meters in length) starts at 29,886 euros in conjunction with a 55 kW / 75 PS 2.0-liter TDI engine and front-wheel drive. Alternatively there are diesel engines with 75 kW / 102 PS and 90 kW / 122 PS and – in contrast to the larger California brothers – also a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with 84 kW / 114 PS.
Since the small diesel is not offered in the maxi version with a long wheelbase, the entry-level price with the gasoline engine starts at around 33,000 euros. The price driver for the top variant we drive is primarily the Caddy itself, as the list of options is long, from the engines to the assistance systems, 7-speed DSG and 4Motion all-wheel drive to infotainment, automatic air conditioning and much more. The California equipment itself remains minimalist.
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