What is the difference between the VW California and the ocean?
What is the difference between VW California Beach and Ocean? Both are great vehicles from the VW Lifestyle range. The main obvious difference Is the Ocean comes with a sink, fridge and kitchen cupboards. The VW California is based on the VW Transporter and with the new 6. Cali trim level, the Coast. In the past the choice was between the top of the line Ocean or the Beach, which had no kitchen facilities on board; so, you really can’t make a bad choice!Better to drive than the previous version and very well-thought out inside. VW’s vast experience with camper vans is very obvious and employed brilliantly. The platform swap has worked wonders for the California’s ride, handling and general on-road civility.The Volkswagen California has long been the go-to camper van for those who want a mobile home without committing to the full ‘van life’ aesthetic of dreadlocks and an acoustic guitar. Now, for 2025, the all-new T7 California Coast aims to improve on the formula.However, the VW California has a smaller living space than the Transporter Camper, making it feel cramped if more than two people travel. With its wider seating area and more room for storage, the Transporter Camper is better suited for longer journeys or for families with kids.The VW California is based on the VW Transporter and with the new 6. Cali trim level, the Coast. In the past the choice was between the top of the line Ocean or the Beach, which had no kitchen facilities on board; so, you really can’t make a bad choice!
Is it worth buying a VW California?
Buying a California looks like an expensive undertaking when you look at the purchase price alone, but there is more to it than that. You get great value for money when you consider the amount it costs to create your own camper to a similar spec, and the fact that the California holds its value remarkably well. The Volkswagen Grand California might look pricey on paper, with prices starting at £80,000, but it is worth comparing to an aftermarket Crafter conversion – the latter might not work out too different.New 2025 Volkswagen California: price and release date Prices start at £71,295 for the California Beach Camper, £78,495 for the California Coast and £85,395 for the California Ocean.This makes rivals like the Citroen Holiday look like a bargain at £56,000, but Californias are notoriously good at holding their value – you just have to look at the used market to see even three-year-old high-spec models not dipping much below £60,000.