{"id":1773860,"date":"2026-02-16T11:38:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T08:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773860"},"modified":"2026-02-16T11:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T08:38:51","slug":"build-your-own-california-vw-launches-multivan-camper-as-base-vehicle-for-conversions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773860","title":{"rendered":"Build your own California: VW launches Multivan Camper as base vehicle for conversions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”Article”,”image”:”https:\/\/car-images.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/252461\/099-vw-multivan-camper-side-red-pop-roof-raised.jpg”,”mainEntityOfPage”:{“@type”:”WebPage”,”@id”:”https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/first-official-pictures\/volkswagen\/multivan-camper\/”},”url”:”https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/car-news\/first-official-pictures\/volkswagen\/multivan-camper\/”,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”CJ Hubbard”,”description”:”CJ is a former Associate Editor of CAR, and now runs parent company Bauer Mediau2019s Digital Automotive Hub u2013 the in-house team that provides much of the online content for CAR and sister site Parkers.co.uk as well as helping out with CAR magazine. Heu2019s been writing about cars professionally (if thatu2019s the right word) for nearly two decades, though attempts to hide this fact with an extensive moisturising routine. Rumour has it his first word was u2018caru2019 as well, mind, so his fascination with the topic goes back more than double that length of timeu2026nHis former life at specialist automotive editorial agency Motoring Research means heu2019s also written for the likes of PistonHeads, the Sunday Times, City AM, Auto Express and the Microsoft MSN network, and has appeared in print and on video all over the world. Heu2019s also previously taken a diversion into the world of light commercial vehicles, which means he knows an unhealthy amount about vans and pick-ups, too.nA career starting in 2006 has seen him cover events and create features from all over the globe, including locations as diverse as the Australian Outback, the Arctic Circle, the Omani desert, North and South America, India, China, Thailand and Cuba. An enthusiast and a technologist, he approaches the current quickening evolution of all things automotive with an analytical interest that aims to put the driver first, and feels incredible lucky to be experiencing so many of these changes first hand.nOver this time heu2019s driven everything from city cars to articulated trucks, and almost every type of power-source imaginable. Thereu2019s no steam car in the archive, but as well as petrol, diesel and electric, CJu2019s tried LPG, CNG and several varieties of hydrogen, including rotary and V12 as well fuel cell. Heu2019s daily driven a Lamborghini (tough gig; apparently even tougher to stop mentioning it, several years later), crossed Europe in a van, crashed on track, travelled on and off-road in all kinds of conditions, been kinetically recovered, run out of fuel, and even found himself reported as stolen. In Sweden.nCJu2019s personal four-wheeled back catalogue includes E30 and E34 BMWs, Fords fast and slow, multiple MX-5s, a Saab 900, a Nissan Sunny andu2026 a Vauxhall Cavalier. Having not learnt his lesson spending far too much money ITB-modifying an early Eunos Roadster, heu2019s now burning all his spare cash trying to keep a notoriously unfickle 996 alive. A car he bought largely by accident due to its entirely Nephrite Green interior. As such, heu2019s the very embodiment of why you should do your research before buying a car, rather than afterwards, a perspective that usefully comes across more correctly in his writing than his bank account.nFor cat pictures, random musings, and to see just how green that cabin really is, you can find CJ on Instagram, Threads and possibly Bluesky. Heu2019s also on LinkedIn, but is yet to work our quite why. CJu2019s latest CAR articles are listed below.”,”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/wp-images\/14264\/cjhubbard.jpeg”,”caption”:”CJ Hubbard”},”sameAs”:[“https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cj-hubbard-1a649888\/”,”https:\/\/x.com\/ir_427″,”https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ir_427\/”],”url”:”https:\/\/www.carmagazine.co.uk\/author\/cj-hubbard\/”,”alumniOf”:{“@type”:”EducationalOrganization”,”name”:”MA (Distinction) in Motoring Journalism from Coventry University (2005-2006), BA (First) in American Studies (History) from University of Kent (1998-2002)”},”email”:”cj.hubbard@bauermedia.co.uk”,”jobTitle”:”Head of the Bauer Digital Automotive Hub”,”knowsAbout”:”automotive,road testing,car news,car advice,long-term tests,product testing”,”worksFor”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”CAR magazine”}},”dateModified”:”2026-02-16T11:38:51+00:00″,”datePublished”:”2026-02-16T11:38:51+00:00″,”headline”:”Build your own California: VW launches Multivan Camper as base vehicle for conversions”,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Bauer Media”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Car Magazine”},”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https:\/\/car-assets.bauersecure.com\/images\/logos\/car.200×88.png”}}}<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuild your own California: VW launches Multivan Camper as base vehicle for conversions<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\tBy CJ Hubbard<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished: Today 11:38
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n

\t\"Build<\/p>\n

\n
VW Multivan Camper is a cut-price starting point for your own California build<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t View all Volkswagen California Reviews<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

\u25ba\u00a0New VW Multivan Camper variant
\u25ba\u00a0Comes ready to convert with pop-up roof
\u25ba\u00a0Still not exactly a budget bargain<\/strong><\/p>\n

Volkswagen has launched a stripped-out version of the long-wheelbase Multivan MPV<\/a> as a base vehicle for campervan conversions<\/a>. Called the Multivan Camper, it\u2019s a curious move at first thought, given you\u2019re still looking at upwards of \u00a350k once the VAT is added. But it aligns with the firm\u2019s decision to switch its own California campervan range to the Multivan platform in 2024.<\/p>\n

The result is an opportunity for independent campervan converters to once again beat VW at its own game. By offering Volkswagen California<\/a> alternatives that are either more bespoke or lower-priced.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

What do you get with the Multivan Camper?<\/h2>\n

To \u2018avoid wastage\u2019 and reduce cost, VW is selling the Multivan Camper with a trimmed but otherwise empty rear cabin that also does without any floor covering. Instead of the seven individual seats usually fitted inside there are now just two, for the driver and front passenger.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, these now both swivel, so they can face the rear and form the start of a lounge area when you\u2019re parked. What\u2019s more, you get a factory installed manual pop-up roof with the correct headlining \u2013 saving a significant faff in the conversion process.<\/p>\n

As with all Multivans, there are twin sliding rear side doors and a tailgate as standard. Factory options are limited to heated front seats, three-zone climate control, satellite navigation and a choice of alloy wheels.<\/p>\n

And this costs how much?<\/h2>\n

The cheaper 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI model \u2013 with front-wheel drive and DSG transmission \u2013 is \u00a343,900 before VAT, \u00a352,680 with tax added.<\/p>\n

You can also opt for a 237bhp eHybrid \u2013 with 4Motion four-wheel drive and DSG \u2013 for \u00a350,725\/\u00a360,870 without\/with VAT.<\/p>\n

For reference, the cheapest factory California is \u00a364,417 including VAT. But that does only get you the basic Beach variant with the slide-out kitchen fitted at the rear. Fully integrated Californias with the interior kitchen and fridge start at \u00a371,725 for the Coast variant. A range-topping Ocean costs from \u00a379,213.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

So while the Multivan Camper base isn\u2019t exactly supercheap, there is still potentially a bit of wiggle room \u2013 as well as the opportunity to kit- and layout the cabin and sleeping arrangements exactly as you see fit.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll have to be prepared to pass second-stage type approval, though, as the Multivan Camper is supplied with \u2018incomplete M1 homologation\u2019, requiring the conversion to be complete before it can be registered.<\/p>\n

Why has VW done this?<\/h2>\n

Volkswagen has a long history of building California campervans that have traditionally been based on the Transporter van. This has always allowed others to copy its lead, and build their own, usually lower cost, campers using a basic commercial vehicle as the starting point.<\/p>\n

This has unquestionably helped build the cult of the Transporter<\/a>, as even today you get buy a cheap (ish) secondhand example and do your own conversion, and people will nod approvingly. There is extensive aftermarket support to facilitate this.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

But the latest VW Transporter<\/a> (which costs from \u00a332,965\/\u00a339,478 without\/with VAT) is actually a mildly altered version of the Ford Transit Custom<\/a>. Volkswagen has moved its own California production onto the Multivan, which despite being a dedicated MPV and based on the extensively proven MQB car platform is still built by VW Commercial Vehicles.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The introduction of the Multivan Camper is no doubt intended to encourage professional converters and keen, well-heeled amateurs to make the same switch. Pulling them away from basing future conversions on the fundamentally Ford Transporter range.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be interesting to see if this works.<\/p>\n

Ford also sells its own campervan, based on the Transit Custom, called the Nugget<\/a>. Read more about the best factory-built campervans<\/a> on CAR.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n