VW California Coast a Caravelle and caravan in one

South Africans love the great outdoors as the ever-increasing popularity in camping would suggest.

For those preferring the old-fashioned way of setting up their home away from home there will always be caravans and tents. These days there are also plenty of alternatives ranging from roof tents fitted to almost any vehicle or trailer to seriously kitted out bush-ready camping trailers.

There is yet another alternative in the camper van. As this option is not as popular in South Africa as elsewhere, pickings are slim though. The ones that do exist, were built as standard vans and then modified afterwards.

In a league of its own

One camper van that can be bought fully equipped from the showroom floor with manufacturer warranty intact is the R1 280 500 Volkswagen California Coast.

Based on the R1 230 100 Caravelle, this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill standard specification van with some additional fittings for camping.

The California Coast offers all the goodies from the plush T6.1 Caravelle, plus serious camping modifications that offers a complete home excluding a bathroom.

The Caravelle credentials mean that the California Coast is powered by a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine producing 146 kW of power and a healthy 450 Nm of torque. The grunt is sent to all four wheels via seven-speed DSG transmission.

Our test car also had a proper Caravelle-look to it by virtue of the two-colour paint finish in Candy White and Copper Bronze Metallic. Rounding off the package were 17-inch allow wheels in black finish with silver trim.

In the cabin, the front passengers have access to all the creature comforts found in the Caravelle. The California Coast offers heated front seats with lumbar support and armrests, rear view camera, a comfort dashboard, wired and wireless App-Connect, mobile phone interface, multi-function display/trip computer and navigation system.

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The comprehensive set of safety specification includes six airbags, cross wind assist, hill start assist/hill descent control, lane change assist, driver alert system and dynamic headlight range control.

Now for the part that sets the California Coast apart from any other production van in South Africa. The camping-ready equipment.

Home away from home

The Calfornia Coast offers bedding for four adults; two on top of the roof and two in the cabin.

This camper van’s pop-up roof tent is quite unique. When folded flat the tent is entirely concealed. In fact, you’ll have trouble differentiating between the roof of the California Coast and a standard Caravelle or Kombi.

The roof tent is accessed by opening a roller shutter positioned similar to a sunroof in the roof above the front seats. After releasing the two safety clips, the tent is so easy to erect via extending hydraulic arms that a child can do it. Pulling it down again via a strap handle attached to a steel beam on top is just as easy.

The roof tent comes standard with two pillows and a mattress lying on a clever plastic spring system. There is zip window with insect screen on either side which, when opened, adds to the sense of space already created by the high-rising roof at the front.

To set up the double bed inside the cabin, the rear bench seat moves forward and folds flat. This bed is extended by virtue of a mattress which lies on a board over the luggage area at the back. Privacy for the cabin bed comes in the form of dark tinted glass in the rear and roll up blinds for the windscreen and front side windows.

Breakfast nook

Once morning comes, the cabin can be converted into a kitchen along with dining room for four is just a few minutes. This happens by lifting the rear bench seat’s backrest and sliding the seat back, swiveling the front seats around and folding out the table.

Food preparation happens on the left side, a side that is equipped with all the kitchen essentials and is closed off unlike the Caravelle that features another sliding door.

The California Coast has a built-in fridge/freezer, two-burner gas stove and basin with tap with a cupboard below the sink for storage. Water and gas inlets are found on the outside of the van alongside the standard external power socket.

The living space is further extended by opening the sliding door and extending the side awning which is mounted permanently on the right-hand side of the roof.

Again, it very simple to operate the awning, which unfolds complete with legs by rotating a mechanism on the side of the awning housing with the provided spanner.

Two chairs for the “stoep” are provided and stow neatly away in a zipper canvas holder attached to the inside of the tailgate.

Loads of storage space

Additional storage space come in the form of a three-door cupboard behind the kitchen on the left-hand hand side, one of which comes complete with clothes hanger rail.

Another clever storage solution is the drop-down roof drawer found above the luggage area and can be accessed from the rear seat, along with additional drawer the bench seat and front seats.

Event though equipped with four-wheel-drive to wander into the unknown, the California Coast isn’t a complete bushwhacker in terms of living quarters.

You would still require external ablution facilities and the various external sources to provide electricity, water and to a lesser extent, gas. In order to make this ride a self-sustainable camper would require additional equipment which takes up space and will probably require the use of a trailer.

Conclusion

Overall, we found the California Coast a very well thought out concept with a lot of features through loads of innovation.

Many old school campers will argue that you can buy a double cab bakkie and caravan/camping trailer for less than the camper van’s price tag. But not everyone wants to camp or experience the outdoors in the same way and albeit very niche, the California Coast offers an enticing alternative.

It is a true get-in-and-go camper which requires no towing, leveling, tent pitching or any other of the usual hassles associated with camping. Setting it up is ridiculously easy and quick, while you have the comfort of a serious machine getting you to your destination and back.

The two things we did not like about the camper van is the fact that it only offers seating for four and that the kitchen section has many fittings prone to rattling over even the slightest bump. But like most things offering the best of both worlds, a compromise here and there is unavoidable.

The California Coast comes standard with a five year/60 000 km maintenance plan and a three year/120 000 km warranty.

For more information on the California Coast and Caravelle range, click here.