The New T7 California can be ordered from today in Germany + configurator.

[Californication69]

Sounds like a BMW....

Yep the Hybrid X5 does 32-37mpg on a run with a flat battery / AWD.....

A 1.4 TSI in a Cali....nope. Wouldn't touch a defender PHEV with the 4 pot 2.0l

FFRR P400 SWB SE

 

[pjm-84]

That's impressive.....the 2.0l in the full fat was a little bit juicy, particularly in the Defender, so nice to see the straight 6...... assume I had this engine in the P400 and it did sound good. But I flipped it after it turned up 11.5months late and I had bought the BMW instead

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Apart from the BIK tax relief there’s no logical reason (to me) for purchasing a PHEV. Worst of both worlds, normal ICE serving costs and problems, battery range of 10-30 miles, still needs plugging in and no fast charge capability, so realistically can only be done at home, Multivan takes 3 hours 36 minutes according to VW spec sheet.The multivan has a reduced size fuel tank too, only 45 litres. To me they’re a complete waste of time, I’ve delivered quite a few PHEV and the the mpg on a long journey is abysmal, I often get customers complaining that the battery is empty when I handover, hardly surprising as I’ve just driven it 150 miles, 120 miles of which was lugging an empty battery around.

View attachment 130397

Very much sums up my experience of owning (leading), a PHEV.

BIK was the driver. Real world EV range 20 miles on average. Worked fir local runs.

Massively expensive on journeys over 60 miles where I couldn’t charge in between legs.

 

[pjm-84]

Opposite. The Outlander would do 38/40mpg all day long with zero battery but performance was woeful at 120hp.

Volvo XC40 mild hybrid has averaged 45mpg from a 2.0l petrol....over 31,600miles

The BMW is just silly. 32-37mpg from a 2.5 ton / AWD 3.0l petrol that can still dash 0-60 well below 6 seconds and march on to 149mph.

 

[Skorn]

It looks like the new 4motion PHEV California is available for order in Germany. Still not open for orders in the UK yet but hopefully all 3 engine options are released at once when it becomes available here.

 

[2haw]

Multvan California opens for UK order’s tomorrow apparently.

 

[pluc99]

It looks like the new 4motion PHEV California is available for order in Germany. Still not open for orders in the UK yet but hopefully all 3 engine options are released at once when it becomes available here.

It's also not available in Switzerland, at least via the configurator, but I'm told it should be available as of December.

 

[nickyboy83]

The configurator’s now live…

 

[larrylamb]

New brochure and price list on this thread.

New 2024 California (Multivan) Brochure & Price List

2024 New Multivan based California brochure.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Skorn]

I think the T7 Ocean seems like the car for me. Leasing on my work green car scheme so it will need to be the PHEV. I think the main things will be price and payload of the PHEV. I already have an EV charger at home so it would suit as a daily driver. I can take my family away for long weekends, or trailer my kit car to track days around the country.

 

[CALI FATE]

Just looking through the new T7 multivan california brochure - it suggests the pop top on the Coast is manual ? (as per existing T6 specs) - my previous investigations suggested it was powered like the Ocean - if this is the case i would opt for a Coast just to avoid the powered roof - i wonder if they will allow you to add the rear locker on the config as an option -

 

[pluc99]

Just looking through the new T7 multivan california brochure - it suggests the pop top on the Coast is manual ? (as per existing T6 specs) - my previous investigations suggested it was powered like the Ocean - if this is the case i would opt for a Coast just to avoid the powered roof - i wonder if they will allow you to add the rear locker on the config as an option -

I was about to disagree with you because all of the T7 variants in Germany and Switzerland have a manual roof as standard with electric always as an option. Checking the UK online configurator, I see both the Coast and the Ocean with the electric roof with only the Beach having a manual one.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I wonder if the van converters will now start converting Sharan’s, or will they go straight to the new van based T7 Transporter…?
Might be an interesting battle this.

I want the multivan California to do well, it has some nice touches but many flaws.

 

[Jay586]

I think the converters will want to go straight to the T7 commercial van as it's bigger. Will depend on supply tho. There are some that convert ID Buzzes too.

 

[pjm-84]

Well I was in at Breeze today for a middle box and rear box on my 9.5yr old California and spotted a T7..... hmmmm. VW cracked the Buzz, but the T7 is a blanchamage on looks . The T7 was parked next to a later 6.1. Not as high but looked wider.??

 

[Jay586]

I think from memory it's a lot wider, basically has Transit heritage now, which is a bigger van generally.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I watched a few videos on the T7 last night. I think it will do quite well.
Don’t get me wrong, it has draw backs. But for most busy families they want an everyday driver, with the benefit of a stove, heating and space.
As a family man, who navigates football, tennis tournaments and kids with dirty clothes and a heap of rubbish they carry. You need space and a few onboard facilities to make life easier.
The camping side, will be used about 15% of the time. But it’s there in a package.

My bigger van, is a far better camping experience than any version of California. No question…!!!
However it’s a far worse daily driver than any California version.
So as a balanced package, I think the T7 multi will sell, especially if Volkswagen continues to offer the 5 year warranty and is sensible with the price point.

Proper camper

 

[Kayleigh]

I watched a few videos on the T7 last night. I think it will do quite well.
Don’t get me wrong, it has draw backs. But for most busy families they want an everyday driver, with the benefit of a stove, heating and space.
As a family man, who navigates football, tennis tournaments and kids with dirty clothes and a heap of rubbish they carry. You need space and a few onboard facilities to make life easier.
The camping side, will be used about 15% of the time. But it’s there in a package.

My bigger van, is a far better camping experience than any version of California. No question…!!!
However it’s a far worse daily driver than any California version.
So as a balanced package, I think the T7 multi will sell, especially if Volkswagen continues to offer the 5 year warranty and is sensible with the price point.

Proper camper
View attachment 131394

This is the next step up for sure. But as a daily driver for lugging the kids and their kit around you could always get one of these…

 

[soulstyledevon]

This is the next step up for sure. But as a daily driver for lugging the kids and their kit around you could always get one of these…
View attachment 131397

I don’t get the second sliding door to the new T7 setup. It sacrifices storage and useable worktop space.
I also find the Beach version, boot filled with the sink and stove is a major flaw.

Depending on how the multivan aircon pipework to the rear is plumbed.
I wonder, if a poptop roof could be retro fitted to a standard multivan…?

Then converters could make modular cupboard fittings using the existing seat rails and adopt the California tailgate seat storage, they could be onto a real winner…

Volkswagen, should have thought of this. Lightweight removable cabinets. 4-5 units with semi fast clips to assemble together.

My view, is that the California was always a Swiss Army knife. It did many things well. Not brilliant, but overall, workable.
That was its key selling feature.

 

[Stuart]

I also find the Beach version, boot filled with the sink and stove is a major flaw.

I believe there are simpler Beach versions without that junk, but we don't get them in the UK.

Also the Beach bed doesn't seem great. IIRC you have turn a chair around to make up the bed.

I'm still tempted as 95% of our use is as a family vehicle and not camping, but my biggest issue is I just think it's ugly compared to the T6.