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VW California Campervan Gets a Spring Upgrade for the UK, With the £68K Surf Trim

Spring is already here, and with it, the camping season is open (in countries with seasons that involve winter-time heating, at least). Volkswagen is an early bird and launched its Transporter 6.1 California Surf, a fourth trim level in the campervan family for the UK market.
Volkswagen California Surf 29 photos
Photo: Volkswagen UK
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With prices starting at £68,234 / $82.5K (Retail Recommended Price, VAT included), the new variant is just four grand below the tier-one Ocean trim, but seven thousand more than the next (in descending order) offer, the California Beach Tour. For proper reference, note that the base model's (Beach Camper) price list opens at £60,398 ($73K).

The new entry includes all the bare necessities for camping trips with the family, meaning two adults and two children have a place to sit, eat, and sleep “easily and comfortably” (manufacturer’s claim) in the pricey VW van.

Stepping up from the low-end Beach variants, the Surf trim features a two-burner gas hob and a stainless steel sink with a removable washing-up bowl. The accommodation upgrades are included in the standard price; the same goes for the heated front seats.

Volkswagen California Surf
Photo: Volkswagen UK
The loft bed is doubled by the rear bench that extends into the second sleeping space, which – in theory – should suffice for the statistically-standard family of “two-plus-two.”

The van is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel, which delivers 150 PS (148 hp) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque. That score should prove enough to pull along a 2.5-ton trailer (the maximum admissible towing capacity for all vehicles in the 6.1 California range).

The engine has a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG) linked to the front wheels (only the ultimate-spec California Ocean can be optioned with the 19hp/1999 PS powerplant and four-wheel drive). While it’s not the top-end performance version, it offers a good mix of strength and fuel economy – 35.3 mpg combined. That’s 8 liters/100 km. The fuel consumption is expressed in imperial units, so one gallon is 4.54 liters).

Volkswagen California Surf
Photo: Volkswagen UK
Motoring details aside, the van is fitted with three-zone climate control, including a second evaporator, an auxiliary heater, an air-conditioned headliner, and additional passenger control. The We Connect service is the digital soul of this gadgetarian-friendly automobile, and offers plenty of on- and off-line features, from Automatic Accident Notification to Filling and Charging Stations network availability. Be warned, the service is subscription-based (one- or three-year plan) and is a standard feature on California’s upmost configuration (that’s Ocean).

The VW Transporter 6.1 campers put up minimal wind resistance (for this type of vehicle, obviously) thanks to its 1,99-meter height (78.3 inches). Even so, the driver receives the Crosswind Assist feature – again, standard on any California VW. In short, at speeds exceeding 50 mph (80 kph), the brakes engage automatically if the wind blows too hard from the side.

Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, Lane Assist, Driver Steer Recommendation, and Trailer Assist make camping safer – and more enjoyable for the designated driver. With the latter function, the driver is notified of proximity obstacles regardless of whether the camper is towing a trailer behind it, thanks to an array of front and rear parking sensors.

Volkswagen California Surf
Photo: Volkswagen UK
The California range is based on the short wheelbase Volkswagen Transporter commercial vehicle adapted to harmonize day-to-day practicality and at-a-moment’s-notice camping trips. With a choice of seating varying from four to seven (trim level-dependant), the California has established itself as a popular camper. According to the manufacturer, over 175,000 sold over four generations make the German van “the most successful vehicle of its kind ever.”

Standard equipped with a mini-kitchen, camping table, and pop-up canvas roof, the Beach Camper is what VW recommends as a beginner’s first try on camping. The Beach Tour is a level-up designed for everyday utility (with the option of up to seven seats) and versatility that makes it suitable for spontaneous excursions.

The high-end Ocean trim features a digital cockpit and a fully functional kitchen – with a gas hob, sink, and fridge, the whole nine yards. The push-button electro-hydraulic elevating roof and canvas awning are also a no-cost add-on (compared to the aforementioned versions).

Volkswagen California Surf
Photo: Volkswagen UK
Every camper functionality of the van is easily accessible via the roof console touchscreen control unit, which tells the driver whether the roof is raised or stowed, displays the vehicle’s inclination angles, and other various camping-related information (like the battery charge status or freshwater levels).

Judging by the small price gap (at base level) between the Ocean and newly-introduced Surf trim levels, the latter should include a long list of standard equipment, especially in the camping section. Overall, the Surf is a well-equipped camper, covering all basic needs for motoring wanderers and a broad pick of extra comfort and safety options.
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About the author: Razvan Calin
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After nearly two decades in news television, Răzvan turned to a different medium. He’s been a field journalist, a TV producer, and a seafarer but found that he feels right at home among petrolheads.
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