Volkswagen Caddy California: Perfect for the 2021 staycation

Are you planning a staycation in the UK over the coming months? Then you might want to have a look at the new Caddy California – the latest luxury campervan from Volkswagen.

With order books opening in May, here’s what you need to know about this compact home from home.

Priced from £29,965, the Caddy California is based on the regular Caddy Cargo, but the biggest similarity is the name. On the outside, you’ll notice that it’s very similar to the Caddy people carrier, using the same up market alloy wheels, light units and featuring a large panoramic sunroof.

The big change is on the inside, where you’ll find the rear bench seat has been swapped out for a clever folding bed that’s almost two metres long. A closer look reveals that all the windows include blinds, preventing daylight waking up the happy campers.

Under the bed, you’ll find a pull out kitchen. It gets a gas hob and a host of storage options for food and utensils, while the rear door has been designed to double up as a shelter to provide the chef with some weather protection as they cook.

The biggest addition is arguably the huge tent that has been designed specifically for the Caddy. You can set it up independent of the vehicle, or connect it to the rear of the van to massively increase usable space. VW says it’ll give you enough room for four people to sleep and live comfortably.

Aside from the camping element, the Caddy features VW’s latest tech including the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8in touchscreen, air conditioning, cruise control, lane assist and a trailer assist system too.

Two models are available – a standard wheelbase and an extra long one. Both are available with either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine. The latter comes with an automatic gearbox as standard.

With travel abroad still uncertain and families planning to keep things local, we reckon the Caddy California couldn’t have arrived at a better time. If you fancy yourself in one of these home from homes, order books will open in May.