Category: Large MPV 
Price Range: £36,780 to £40,680
Sturdy and hard wearing; quieter, more powerful engines; comfy cabin.
Expensive.
Whether for carrying a lot of people or for comfy camping, the Caravelle and California are great lifestyle choices.
Six years after the original launch of the T5 range of vans and 'lifestyle vehicles', Volkswagen has given it a facelift. We're not interested in the vans, though: for us it's all about the Caravelle people-carrier (a former 4Car long-termer) and the California camper van.
The mild facelift delivers a new grille and headlights, bringing its looks more in line with the latest Golf and Polo models. Other new features include an upgraded equipment list and four new 2.0-litre four-cylinder Euro5 standard diesel engines that boast more power and increased efficiency.
The models fulfil different functions: the Caravelle is a spacious, eight-seat minibus-cum-MPV, while the California is the ultimate camping accessory, with an integrated kitchen and pop-up roof, which is perfect for those who like to hit the road and sleep wherever they stop.
Neither is especially cheap. Prices for these new versions are expected to be higher than previous models due to inflation and higher specifications. If you want one you pay £29,200 for a base Caravelle and more than £40,000 for a top-spec California.
But with smaller engines than before, can the Caravelle and California still do the business on the road? Read on to find out.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen California
wrote on 24 08 2007