Some say that the best surf car is the one that gets you to the beach. This is true from a practical perspective but, for those of us seeking adventure, comfort and style, there is plenty to aspire to.
The best surf car needs to be:
- Rugged and durable: your car will be subjected to long periods of salt air exposure.
- Able to drive off-road: allows you to get intrepid and seek out uncrowded spots.
- Economical and light on fuel: better for the environment and your bank balance.
- Reliable: you don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.
- Large enough to sleep in.
- Large enough to comfortably carry boards inside.
Here are our top 5 vehicle choices for the surf lifestyle.
Table of Contents
Best for the Surf Lifestyle: Volkswagen California Ocean
No list of surf vehicles would be complete without a VW van. Since the advent of Kombis, the VW bus has been a quintessential icon of surf culture. These cars allowed surfers to venture off the beaten track and give names to the surf spots we all love today.
In terms of design, it would be true to say that not much has changed except everything has changed.
Specifications
- Body type: Van
- Transmission: Automatic
- Engine: 4 cyl, 2 L
- Drive type: AWD (4Motion Permanent AWD)
- Fuel type: Diesel
- Fuel consumption: 8.8 L / 100 km
- Price: $90,500 US Dollars
Why?
The basics of the bus are a vehicle that contains your bed, a cooking area, a refrigerator box, and a water tank. Today’s California provides for the same human needs as its revered predecessors. But what has changed is the build, the engine, drivability, and temperament of the vehicle. Worry no longer about overheating while driving uphill on a summer day (my 1972 Kombi needed rest breaks in such situations).
Based on a VW Transporter, which is arguably the finest delivery van on the market, the California is a true “Transformer.” The front seats swivel around so you can comfortably seat four people at the table for dinner. The pop-up roof means you can stand up easily, plus it allows two people to sleep up top.
When you get to your dream surf destination, the VW California includes everything you’ll need: stainless steel sink, two-burner stove, fridge, on-board fresh and waste water tanks, gas storage compartment, and electric hook-up. You’ve also got App Connect, allowing you to listen to Spotify and stay connected through the long drive.
Best of all is the fine Volkswagen attention to detail. At Surfd.com, we purchased a VW California for our work trips, putting our money where our mouth is. No more staying in dodgy motels. The California drives like a car, with plenty of power for overtaking trucks on lonely highways, yet you can convert the back seat into a bed in a minute.
Watch it in action
To afford a $90k+ vehicle, you’re probably not much of a hippy. But you will be happy. Enjoy a preview of the life you might lead in a California.
Best for the Intrepid: Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series Wagon
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a beast and a legend. You see these vehicles in the farthest reaches of Africa, growling their way across the terrain suited only to wild animals. The Toyota 70 Series may not offer luxury or frills, but you’re getting a vehicle that may outlive both you and your offspring. Sure you’re bypassing all of the creature comforts of the Prada in favour of old-school simplicity, but less moving parts means less to worry about.
Specifications
- Body type: SUV, 4 Doors, 2 Seats
- Transmission: Manual
- Engine: 8 cyl, 4.5 L
- Drive type: 4WD
- Fuel type: Diesel
- Fuel consumption: 10.7 L / 100 km
- Price: $49,000 US Dollars
Why?
It is a workhorse that may exceed a surfer’s simple requirements, but it’ll never let you down. Used in mining and remote exploration, the Land Cruiser will take life’s knocks – and that includes rivers, mountains, and the loosest of sand.
The Wagon version of this vehicle will allow for easy carriage of boards and a comfy place to stash a mattress in the back.
Watch it in action
Seeing a fleet of the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series approaching your secret beach break is enough to strike terror into any adventurer’s heart. It’s part Mad Max, part 4WD petrol head heaven. Watch every variation of this workhorse let loose en masse.
Best for the Baller: Mercedes G Wagon
If the Toyota Land Cruiser is a workhorse, then the Mercedes G-Class SUV is a dragon. This vehicle is rugged and boxy, based on a design that has lasted for three decades, while boasting Mercedes luxury and refinement in every detail.
Build quality of the G-Class is as good as you’ll get in any vehicle available. Top Gear said, “A bygone era 4×4, designed back when SUVs were specifically for going off-road. Built like a tank – but on-road it’s a different story.”
Specifications
- Body type: SUV
- Transmission: Automatic
- Engine: 4.0 L, v-8
- Drive type: 4WD
- Fuel type: Diesel
- Fuel consumption: 8.8 L / 100 km
- Price: $122,000 US Dollars
Why?
You want a 4×4 that is both luxurious, powerful, and will survive a zombie apocalypse. This thing will get you to the top of nearly any mountain, provide sleeping room in the back, and then bring you back down when you’re ready to face the world once again.
If you can afford Mercedes quality and ongoing maintenance, and you’re a hardcore 4WD enthusiast, then this is the choice. Don’t stress about its loose performance on the freeway, who needs bitumen anyway?
Watch it in action
From the ocean to the mountains, the off-road way. Take a journey with the mouth-watering AMG version of the G-Class and start writing down all the places you’ll go.
Best All-Rounder: Subaru Outback
Synonymous with Australian surf trips, the Subaru Outback is a perfect choice for surfers looking for performance, quality, price and practicality. Firstly, you’re driving a normal, albeit high-performance, vehicle around town. You wont be churning up the tarmac as you might with some of the beasts above.
Secondly, you’ve got that spacious back area, and seats that fold flat, allowing your average-sized human plenty of room to stretch out between surf sessions.
Specifications
- Body type: Crossover SUV
- Transmission: Automatic
- Engine: 2.5 L, 4 cyl
- Drive type: AWD
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Fuel consumption: 7.3 L / 100 km
- Price: $25,000 US Dollars
Why?
The Subaru Outback is an iconic vehicle, designed to meet and exceed most modern driving needs. If you plan on hitting the dirt tracks then X-Mode provides an intelligent assistant for lower-speed driving. It is remarkably responsive and will deliver you to the beach safe and sound, and possibly invigorated.
The roar of a Subaru engine is unmistakeable, and for a whole lot less cash than the models listed above you have an awesome road car, coupled with an intrepid action vehicle that won’t let you down.
It doesn’t boast the space of the California or the luxury of the Merc, and it certainly won’t make everywhere the Land Cruiser can go. But it is a sensible choice.
Watch it in action
The growl, the handling, the road clearance and the solid frame. You can’t go wrong.
Best for Weekend Adventures: Jeep Wrangler 4DR SPORT S
Specifications
- 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with (Engine Start/Stop)
- Selec-Trac Full Time 4×4 System
- 2-Speed Transfer Case
- 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
- Dana Front and Rear Axle
- Underbody Skid Plates
- Wash Out Interior with Removable Carpet and Drain Plugs
- Heavy Duty Off-Road Suspension
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Matching Full Size Spare Wheel
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop
- Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus
- Parkview Rear Backup Camera
- ParkSense Front & Rear Park Assist System
- Uconnect 7.0 Touch Screen Display
- Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- 7.0” Driver Information Display
- Automatic Headlamps
- Push-Button Start
Why?
Smart design combines with state-of-the-art features that help deliver a safe and secure ride. Available systems including ParkSense Rear Park Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection keep you aware of your surroundings.
- Available Freedom Top Three-Piece Hardtop
Equip the Wrangler Sport S with the available Freedom Top hardtop for simple conversion to open-air adventure. Simply pop the panels and let the sun shine down on both you and your passengers. The hardtop design increases cabin comfort, helping to keep the cold or inclement weather out.
- ParkView Rear Back Up Camera
The ParkView Rear Back Up Camera displays the area behind you on the Uconnect touchscreen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.
- Wash-Out Interior
For interior cleaning and water drainage, just open the new one-way floor drain valves and release any water and muck that has accumulated.
- Available Safety Group With Blind Spot Monitoring And ParkSense Rear Park Assist
Add the available Safety Group to the Wrangler Sport S and get extra protection for you and your passengers when you’re on the move. The Safety Group includes the ParkSense Rear Park Assist System to help with backing into parking spots, Blind Spot Monitoring to help with safer lane changes, Rear Cross Path Detection to help with pulling out of parking spots and LED taillamps for high visibility.
Watch it in action
Our Verdict
We have featured four very different vehicles that would all make the perfect surf car. The decision is all around space, price, and practicality.
If you plan on going away often (like every second weekend), then get the California. You’ll love the freedom and ability to stretch out in the back. It is perfect for those with a family, who can’t all fit in the back of a SUV, and who don’t like camping in tents.
If you are going to extreme locations, then you’ll need the Toyota, Jeep or Mercedes. Your only decision is how much you wish to spend. I’d go for the Merc G-Class, which is beyond gangster.
The Subaru is your all-rounder: an immensely powerful, rock-solid machine at a fraction of the cost of the California and Mercedes.
So there you are. Where will you go next?