Reviewed: 2024 Volkswagen California 6.1 Ocean campervan

The  VW California 6.1 Ocean is now priced from $$159,990. Photos: Matt Chapman/VW

Van living has become a big craze since Covid and nowhere is this more apparent than New Zealand.

Many of my friends have or live in vans and they have convinced me that happiness comes from simple living. As I sell my home of the last decade, the incredible Parihoa Estate, I am looking to put ‘Parihoa’ into a van.  

My parents had a 1970’s Volkswagen Beetle so it’s no surprise I like the idea of a VW California campervan range, especially the 6.1 Ocean, which is the smallest in the line-up. 

The 7th generation (T7)  is now available in Europe and the UK.  According to VW NZ Commercial,  it will arrive here later in 2025. The first two versions are diesel and petrol. The one I’d like would be the e-Hybrid and it will come with 4Motion (AWD) but it won’t be an option until mid-2026.

But I wanted to test the new “Kombi” myself so was offered a test of the California Ocean/T6.1 for a weekend at the Shipwrecked music and wellbeing festival near Mangawhai.  

Powered by a  2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder that produces 146kW of power and 450Nm of torque, the Ocean is paired with a seven-speed DSG transmission and that all-important 4Motion system.

It also has had a price reduction of now $159,990, down from $171,500.

The Ocean is less than five metres in length but can sleep four adults.

Along with 3000 goers, I would camp my way through the festival but in the VIP crew area with largely tents and caravans, and one pristine California Ocean.   

The California is Swiss Army knife-like and I must say initially I was overwhelmed with a few aspects of how it would turn into a camper. With the help of a mechanically minded friend we got everything working and best of all, I was able to pack it all up myself at the end. 

In all honesty I was unprepared for how much I would like the California. The T6.1 might be officially outdated but it’s still very on point.  The 6.1 was a final facelift for the T6 in its final year and it’s very well done.

The electrically inflatable roof tent like structure has a double bed in it.

At less than five metres it was easy to park and navigate on the road. The diesel engine 146KW was refined and effortless on the road. 

The interior was an uplifting shade of grey matched with a beige roof.  I would probably prefer leather seats to keep clean, but the cloth looked hardly.

The floor, with its teak-like finish, was easy to wipe or sweep clean (although may scratch easily).

I liked the blinds that could cover the windows (the wind screen blind took a little to get the hang of).

It also has a bench seat for rear passengers, or you can use it as a sofa.

The swivel driver and passenger seats combined with the bench seat and a pop-out table turned into a dining room. I was also impressed with the interior storage, which could be enough for me to happily live in.

The first night I configured the bed by popping down the back of the bench seat and overlaying it with a nest swivel cushion which pulled out from the back compartment.  I found it a little firm but totally liveable.

My second and third nights were spent up top in the “attic” (an electrically inflatable roof tent-like structure) and it was more comfortable. A simple memory foam mattress atop what looked like springs worked great, especially with the airy side flaps opened.  

Access to the top was easy, climbing up via the top of the driver’s seat. The beauty of “the attic” was I could keep the bottom level all setup.

The Ocean has a small cool box fridge.

The music at Shipwrecked went all night and I was right next to the main stage but the California proved to be a pleasant place to sleep lightly.   

The California naturally attracted many visitors. The common view was: “Matt this really suits you; we can see you adding this to your vehicle collection.”

Plus it was easy to entertain in the van, and I cooked breakfast and dinner for guests from the two-hob stove.  Ventilation was fine from the sliding window adjoining the kitchen and the door open. 

The Ocean’s kitchenette has two hobs, a sink and a fold out table.

Personally I would prefer to use a small BBQ outside or even a Thermomix inside but I wasn’t  plugged into the mains so over the weekend the backup battery understandibly drained. 

I loved the VW lighting with an abundance of different lights and switches in many places.  Oh, and I mustn’t forget the fridge, which kept all my groceries until the second battery ran out.

I would like to try it with the aircon going and music through the speakers all night, but that will have to wait for the future. 

I appreciated touches like the pull-out awning and deck chairs. I didn’t use the outdoor shower, instead opting for the crew facilities. 

The VW switchgear and dashboard are  all very logical and don’t date plus it felt familiar and car-like.  The driving position is higher than a car and the seats were comfortable.  

You can fold down the bench seats to make a bed.

I particularly like the ease to “walk” (slide) between the two front seats into the back. I also liked how the bench seat could slide back creating a limo-like experience in the back with plenty of space.  I also like how easy it was to access possessions from the cupboard at the rear. 

As I was flying to the US after Shipwrecked, my two large suitcases stowed nicely in the luggage compartment.   

The boxy van-like shape, whilst not the sexiest vehicle around, is practical and utilises maximum space capacity. In a weird way it reminded me of the boxy Volvo estates of the 1990’s. 

The Ocean (right) is the baby of the California line-up.

I liked the two-tone colour combo of the blue and silver combo that had a retro twist to it while bi-xenon headlights made it look modern.

All in all, I was a California convert for sure.  It absolutely impressed me and really made me look forward to the T7.   The T7 is based on the new MultiVan (passenger) as opposed to the T6.1 which is more the commercial van, so it will be better to drive. 

But it’s narrower and has only one cooking hob, plus less interior storage space. Interior materials look to be upgraded and the styling is newer. 

All that said though, I think given the T6.1 has all the whistles and AWD, I would potentially be tempted to one of these and then maybe upgrade to my ideal T7 late next year. 

I’m based now in the South Island so my rationalisation of “Parihoa in a van” for when I am in the North Island makes a lot of sense.  I’ll be able to join all my mates in their van lifestyles, albeit with a business class twist.  I am really excited at the thought of simplification.