The Volkswagen Grand California represents something fascinating in the world of recreational vehicles. It’s essentially a luxury apartment on wheels that happens to be marketed to camping enthusiasts. For someone like me who finds the idea of sleeping in tents or roughing it outdoors about as appealing as a root canal, this German engineering achievement presents an intriguing proposition. The question becomes whether this mobile home can bridge the gap between outdoor adventure and indoor comfort. Can it transform the camping experience into something that doesn’t actually feel like camping? The Grand California seems designed to answer exactly that question, offering a level of sophistication that might just convert camping-averse people like me.
Designer: VW
Interior Design That Actually Makes Sense
The Grand California’s interior showcases space optimization that would make my Manhattan apartment dweller friends weep with envy. Unlike traditional campers that feel like cramped metal boxes with fold-out everything, this vehicle offers genuine livability. Clear zones for different activities don’t require constant furniture rearrangement. The layout feels intentional rather than apologetic.
What really stands out is the wet bathroom – this separate wet room includes a proper shower, toilet, and space-saving fold-out wash basin. Motion sensor lighting kicks in automatically. Proper ventilation through a skylight keeps things fresh, while integrated shelving holds actual toiletries rather than travel-sized compromises. This isn’t the plastic portable toilet experience that haunts my camping nightmares.
The kitchen deserves serious consideration for its practical approach to meal preparation. Both models feature proper appliances rather than camping equipment masquerading as cooking tools. The Grand California 680 offers an extended kitchen with additional storage and worktop space. Meanwhile, the 600 model includes two expandable panels for extending kitchen space when needed. That 70-litre fridge with freezer compartment slides out on runners, operating like the high-end residential kitchens I actually want to cook in. No more upward-opening coolers found in lesser vehicles.
Storage solutions throughout demonstrate German engineering at its finest. High-level cabinets provide substantial storage capacity. Floor-level cabinets offer additional organization options. The design eliminates that constant game of Tetris defining most camping experiences, where finding anything requires unpacking everything else. Reading lights are strategically placed in sleeping and living areas, creating genuine ambiance rather than harsh utility lighting. Interior height reaches 2,180mm, providing genuine headroom that eliminates the hunched-over existence I associate with traditional campers.
The Two Models: Choosing My Level of Comfort
The Grand California comes in two distinct configurations catering to different lifestyle preferences and group sizes. The 600 model measures 5.98 meters in length. It offers sleeping for up to four people through a rear bed designed for transverse sleeping, plus an optional upper bunk bed that VW markets as suitable for children.
This configuration includes the distinctive high roof providing additional sleeping space above the cab area. The 680 model stretches to 6.8 meters in length, dedicating that extra space to adult comfort rather than additional sleeping capacity. Its rear sleeping area allows for longitudinal sleeping arrangements that feel more like an actual bedroom. This model eliminates the upper bunk option entirely, presenting a cleaner exterior profile. It looks more like a sophisticated van than a traditional motorhome.
My choice between models essentially comes down to whether I prioritize sleeping capacity or individual comfort. The 600 works for families willing to embrace the bunk bed concept. The 680 caters to people like me who refuse to compromise on sleeping arrangements. Both models include the full wet bathroom that sets the Grand California apart from smaller California variants. My basic human dignity remains intact regardless of location.
The 680 model particularly appeals to my sensibilities because it prioritizes comfort over cramming in extra people. I’d rather travel with fewer companions and maintain civilized sleeping arrangements. No recreating summer camp experiences I didn’t enjoy the first time around.
Power and Performance That Doesn’t Disappoint
The Grand California comes equipped with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine producing 177 horsepower and 410 Nm of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission pairs with this setup. This powertrain combination provides more than adequate performance for highway driving and mountain passes. Reserve power handles overtaking slower traffic with confidence.
The engine delivers its torque at just 1,400 rpm, ensuring responsive acceleration even when fully loaded. That eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and includes manual override for those who prefer more control over gear selection. While the engine can sound somewhat gruff under hard acceleration, it settles into quiet operation during steady cruising. Real-world fuel economy averages around 30 mpg on highway driving, which actually exceeds the official combined figure of 23.7-26.2 mpg.
The Crafter-based chassis provides stability and confidence-inspiring handling despite the vehicle’s size and height. Standard driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and electronic stability control. These systems work together to make driving the Grand California feel manageable rather than intimidating. Even someone like me who’s unaccustomed to large vehicles can handle it comfortably.
The 3,500kg maximum weight provides a 417kg payload capacity, sufficient for extended trips without careful weight management that makes traditional camping feel like a logistics exercise. Twin 11kg gas bottles supply the cooker and heating system. The 110-litre fresh water tank and 90-litre waste water capacity provide genuine independence from campground facilities I’d rather avoid.
Technology Integration That Actually Works
The refreshed Grand California incorporates technology in ways that enhance rather than complicate my experience. The eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system provides intuitive control over vehicle functions without requiring a computer science degree to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration ensures seamless smartphone connectivity. DAB radio and voice control add convenience I actually appreciate.
Camper-specific functions can be controlled through multiple interfaces, including displays in the living area and smartphone apps. This redundancy ensures that essential functions remain accessible even when technology inevitably misbehaves. The digital control panels manage lights, temperature, and water levels with interfaces that suggest actual user testing rather than engineering assumptions.
The electrical system includes four 230V sockets and a 92Ah leisure battery supporting my modern connectivity needs. Optional features like wireless charging cradles and Bluetooth speakers can operate independently of the main systems. The motorized step extends automatically when the sliding door opens and retracts during driving. Indicators ensure safe operation.
Optional features like the roll-out awning create covered outdoor space extending the living area without requiring setup skills or weather-dependent timing. The awning deploys easily and provides shelter transforming any parking spot into a comfortable outdoor room. These technological integrations work together to eliminate the traditional camping learning curve. The Grand California becomes accessible to people like me who prefer adventures with minimal hassle.
My Anti-Camping Camping Experience
For someone like me who finds traditional camping about as appealing as voluntary food poisoning, the Grand California offers something entirely different. This isn’t about roughing it or getting back to nature through discomfort and inconvenience. Instead, it represents a mobile luxury base that happens to park in scenic locations. My experience becomes less about camping and more about relocating my comfortable lifestyle to interesting places.
The wet bathroom alone eliminates my primary horror of camping: questionable sanitation facilities. No more campground bathrooms of dubious cleanliness or midnight walks through dark campsites that I dread. The Grand California provides private facilities maintaining civilized standards regardless of location. The proper shower with hot water heated through gas or electricity means I can maintain personal hygiene without compromise.
Climate control systems ensure comfortable sleeping temperatures without the tent-based roulette of weather-dependent comfort I despise. The Truma heating system and insulated construction create a controlled environment responding to my preferences rather than weather conditions. Sleeping arrangements in both models appeal to my refusal to compromise on rest quality, offering proper beds rather than camping substitutes I’d never accept.
The kitchen facilities enable actual cooking rather than campfire improvisation or processed food survival tactics I want no part of. Proper appliances, adequate counter space, and sufficient storage mean meal preparation can maintain my home standards. The refrigeration system keeps food fresh and beverages cold without the ice-based logistics defining traditional camping experiences I avoid. This approach transforms outdoor experiences from endurance tests into luxury relocations that I might actually enjoy.
Practical Considerations for My Comfort-Minded Lifestyle
The Grand California’s engineering addresses practical concerns that often deter comfort-oriented people like me from embracing mobile adventures. The vehicle’s size requires careful consideration of my driving capabilities and parking limitations. However, the automatic transmission and driver assistance features minimize the learning curve for someone like me who’s accustomed to standard vehicles.
Maintenance requirements exceed those of my standard vehicles due to complex systems integration. The water systems, electrical components, and specialized appliances require regular attention and professional servicing. However, this complexity also provides reliability and functionality justifying the additional care requirements for someone like me who values dependable systems. The vehicle’s Crafter van foundation provides access to Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle service network, ensuring support availability across most markets where I might travel.
Storage capacity, while impressive for a vehicle, requires adjustment for someone like me who’s accustomed to unlimited closet space. The various cabinets and storage areas demand efficient packing and organization skills I’d need to develop. However, the thoughtful design eliminates the constant unpacking and repacking characterizing traditional camping equipment management I want to avoid. The Grand California encourages a curated approach to possessions that I might actually find liberating rather than limiting.
The Grand California includes thoughtful touches like camping chairs and a picnic table stored in the rear doors, ready for immediate use upon my arrival. These details demonstrate the vehicle’s focus on eliminating the preparation and setup time making traditional camping feel like work rather than the relaxation I’m seeking.
The Volkswagen Grand California succeeds in creating something that transcends traditional camping by eliminating most elements making camping unpleasant for comfort-oriented individuals like me. It offers genuine luxury and convenience in a mobile package that happens to park in beautiful locations I’d actually want to visit. For those of us who appreciate the idea of scenic destinations but reject the discomfort traditionally associated with reaching them, the Grand California presents a compelling alternative speaking to my preferences. The vehicle transforms outdoor adventures from tests of endurance into extensions of comfortable living. This makes it possible for me to experience natural beauty without sacrificing the civilized amenities I require. This approach to mobile luxury might just convert camping-averse people like me into enthusiastic travelers, proving that sometimes the best way for me to enjoy the outdoors is from the comfort of a well-designed indoor space.
The post The Volkswagen Grand California: When Luxury Meets the Open Road (And I Still Hate Camping) first appeared on Yanko Design.