Hotel California on wheels? Watch as Jonny gets hold of Volkswagen’s latest campervan.

We’re off on holiday with The Late Brake Show host Jonny Smith as he takes a closer look at the new Volkswagen California.

Following our recent report on Volkswagen’s latest campervan release, Jonny has got his hands on the new California for a taste of van life escapism.

The latest California has swapped out the Transporter framework found on previous renditions for the Multivan foundation. Ditching the commercial van underpinnings, and the handling characteristics they entailed, VW’s updated camper now shows off a sleeker exterior which still fits in standard sized parking spaces.

Now, you can’t have car-like handling without right tyres, and although Jonny isn’t a fan of the wheels themselves, there are no complaints about the Bridgestone Turanza T005s they are dressed in — doing their bit to provide a responsive, enjoyable drive.

Under the hood, the California is now available with petrol, diesel, or — piquing Jonny’s interest — a plug-in hybrid powertrain, boasting 100 km of pure-electric range. Our host agrees with our theory that campsite charging simply makes sense, but does this make the PHEV his favourite option? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.

Embarking on a tour of the California’s ‘zones’, there is awe over the awning which can be mounted on either side (or both sides, with a little aftermarket trickery), and the complimentary bi-directional kitchen, fridge, and tables.

That aside, there are a slightly confusing number of California variants. From the kitchen-less Beach edition, to the extended sleeping space of the Beach Camper — we’ll leave it best summed up as “loads of different options”. However, with options comes versatility, and thanks to its spacious, storage loaded interior, the new California handily doubles as a family car when the pop-up roof and hidden camping gadgets are folded away. 

There are plenty of cleverly hidden outdoorsman features and cubby-holes to tune in and see, but *spoiler alert* we got a laugh out of Jonny’s short fight with the tailgate stowed camping chairs (we’ve all been there), followed by a clothes-on shower.

Of course, no campervan is complete without somewhere to hit the hay, and the reviewed California has two options. There is a convenient downstairs double bed which may be a little cosier than you’d expect, surrounded by USB ports and the new techy control panel. However, Jonny’s choice seems to be in the roof, as he soon clambers up and disappears into the pop-up area which houses the larger main bed.

Rated as an evolution rather than a revolution, with a considerable price tag and some interior quality concerns, is this camper enough to tempt you to open your wallet? Or would you rather wait for the inevitable ID Buzz California? Watch along and let us know.