New 2025 Volkswagen California camper available to order now, ready for next summer

Order books have opened for the new Volkswagen California camper, just in time to start planning next summer’s getaways. Prices start from £63,376, rising to more than £80,000 for the range-topping model with all the trimmings, and there’s currently a choice of diesel or petrol power.

There are also three trim levels on offer, each bringing varying levels of standard kit. Base Camper models act more like a big van with five individual seats and a manually operated pop-up roof, while Coast and Ocean variants throw in plenty of gear, including a kitchen sink. All versions now come with two sliding doors – one on each side.

The entry-level Volkswagen California Camper features 16-inch alloy wheels, a side awning, all-round parking sensors and a mini kitchen that pulls out from a drawer in the tailgate. Inside, you’ll find VW’s 10-inch ‘Discover’ infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus six USB-C slots. This model also gets a full set of magnetic curtains and roller blinds for the interior windows, plus a small touchscreen panel in the C-pillar that controls many of the vehicle’s functions.

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Stepping up to the California Coast (from £70,576) brings 17-inch wheels, three-zone climate control and a rear view camera. Coast models get just four seats – again, these are all individual – but boast a proper kitchen with a pull-out fridge, plus a shower connection that’s fed from the fresh water tank. The roof is electrically operated on these versions, too. 

At the top of the range sits the familiar California Ocean, which starts from £77,476. It has 18-inch wheels, matrix-LED headlights and a full-width front lightbar, plus 30-colour ambient lighting inside. Buyers also get heated front seats, keyless entry and the upgraded Discover Pro infotainment system with built-in sat-nav.

The California is once again available with a choice of single and two-tone paint finishes, as well as three colour options for the fabric within the pop-up roof. There are also seven alloy wheel designs, ranging from 16 to 19 inches.

Every California comes with VW’s ‘5+ Promise’ extended warranty and service plan, which includes a five-year warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five services.

The standard engine is a 2.0-litre TDI diesel that produces 148bhp and 360Nm of torque, or for about £3,000 extra, Coast and Ocean models can be fitted with a punchier 201bhp 2.0-litre TSI petrol motor. Both send all their power to the front wheels via a DSG automatic gearbox.

The ‘eHybrid’ plug-in hybrid will join the line-up in 2025 with a total output of 242bhp, 4Motion all-wheel drive and a pure-electric range of up to 56 miles, thanks to a 19.7kWh battery. The California is only the second Volkswagen to feature this new eHybrid 4Motion powertrain after the Multivan MPV, as the two models share the same platform.

There’s 50kW charging ability, and while recharging figures have yet to be revealed, a 20 to 80 per cent top-up will probably take around 30 minutes. Fuel economy figures haven’t been announced yet either, and nor has pricing for the plug-in hybrid California camper – although we expect it to command a significant premium over the diesel and petrol models.

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