2014 Volkswagen Caddy Reviews

All VW's Caddy vans aren't the same. There are lots of them including a long wheelbase version called the Maxi Crewvan with two rows of seats and a load space as well. Crewvan is in the same workspace as a dual cab ute but it's a van.DESIGNIt is functionality in a concentrate as the relatively compact dimensions of the Crewvan can swallow up to an 850kg payload as long as you don't need to carry five people. It has two side slider passenger/loading doors and a pair of barn doors at the rear. There's windows halfway back along the side for the rear seat passengers then it's a blind van from there back.ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONCrewvan is available with a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine only and either a five-speed manual or slick shifting seven-speed DSG automated manual with front wheel drive. Our test vehicle had the latter and it makes a world of difference to the van in terms of driveability. It's a lot better with the DSG and definitely worth the money.The plucky donk is good for 75kW/250Nm output the latter from a low 1500rpm right where you want it for heavy lugging. Fuel consumption is an impressive 5.9 litres/100km giving the Crewvan a possible range of around 1000km. A diesel particle filter keeps the exhaust clean and the engine scores an EU5 emissions rating. The rear suspension is a hard working rigid axle/leaf spring arrangement.PRICE AND FEATURESThe start price is $27,990 but you get a decent amount of kit even if the wheels are steel without any sort of covering and the bumper and other external plastics are drab grey.A pollen/dust filter, full size spare, park distance control, decent audio, remote central locking, aircon', multiple airbags and cruise are all included in the package. But satnav is optional with no mention of a rear view camera.DRIVINGObviously designed for owners who need a dual purpose passenger/work vehicle, the long wheelbase Crewvan has plenty to offer including excellent fuel economy and room to burn. The load space, indeed the entire vehicle has practical rubber floor mats and there are a number of tie down fixtures in the load area.The rear pews are split fold but require a prop to hold them in place which intrudes a tad into the available large load space. Load height is low and a pallet will easily fit in the back. The lack of satnav is a problem because rear visibility is compromised a bit due to the ‘blind’ rear side panels. The turning circle could be a touch smaller too.Plenty of storage compartments are provided including one big overhead bin above the front cabin. All in all a good little vehicle. Well, it's actually bigger than you think. It's not pretty, but aesthetics don't really matter on a work vehicle…do they?VERDICTEconomical, good performance, plenty of room, practical long warranty and not too hard on the wallet.

You hate heavy cargo vans but you need something bigger than a car, you think the VW Caddy Van is perfect, but its cargo area is just a tad too small. Well, supersize the Caddy and VW’s got your solution - the Caddy Maxi Van.With a longer wheelbase, the Maxi provides all the basics of the regular Caddy, but with that extra bit of space to get your business on the road, all in an easy-to-handle vehicle.VALUEThe seven-speed DSG, TDI250 Caddy Maxi Van arrives ready for work for $30,990, including ESP, ABS, ASR, MSR, EDL, Hill Hold Assist, climatic air conditioning, steel wheels, full size spare, three-year unlimited km warranty, aux input socket, and cruise control.TECHNOLOGYThe two-seater Caddy Maxi Van TDI250 has a four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine that produces 75kW and 250Nm. Front wheel drive, seven-speed DSG transmission and sharp handling, the Maxi also has an impressive official fuel combined of 5.8/100km (we found 7.7/100km on our mostly urban drive).DESIGNThe Caddy Maxi lends itself to the demands of your business. Dual sliding and rear wing doors give easy access to your goods, while the large cargo space lets you customize the Caddy for any load. From carrying delicate flowers to rambunctious dogs, the Caddy is ready to serve. The longer wheelbase jumps the cargo load space to 2.25metres in length, with a volume of 4.2 cubic metres and an 800kg payload.Externally there’s not a lot of design, but that’s on purpose. The vehicle is perfect for signage, so no matter how convoluted your company name, it’ll be sure to fit. Seats are comfortable with height adjustment and under seat storage. Additional storage overhead, storage pockets along the dash, and plenty of cup holders provide room for all sorts of loose gear.The best thing about the Caddy design is the range of options. You can choose the window package for up to four side windows (which will help with those side blind spots), a rubber cargo floor (which will cut down on cabin noise), cargo barrier, and roof rails, to name a few.SAFETYDriver and front passenger airbags, ESP, ABS, ASR, MSR, EDL, Hill Hold Assist, and an electronic engine immobiliser all come standard, and we suggest the optional cargo barrier to keep your goods from becoming bads in the case of a collision.DRIVINGThe sun is shining, you hear the wind dance around you, and it’s almost peaceful, except that you’re not lounging in a meadow, but driving a vehicle down the motorway. Without a covering on the cargo floor, prepare for a loud cabin, as you’ll hear the road, the wind, and disconcertingly, the sloshing fuel tank.Electro-mechanical power steering lets the Caddy steer more like a car than a van, and the seven-speed DSG lets you worry about other things, like your portfolio, rather than shifting. If you don’t mind shifting, the manual version is a lot smoother to drive, as the automatic doesn’t change gears with the same grace as VW’s other DSG vehicles.With Maxi’s Independent McPherson struts on the front axle, and rigid rear with Leaf Springs in back, the Caddy is comfortable for the driver, but if you’re going to have over 250kg payload fitted to your vehicle, you may want to opt for the suspension upgrade. Despite the cabin noise and side blind spots, VW’s Caddy Maxi Van fits the bill in providing a base for small business owners to customize their optimal vehicle. VERDICTVersatile, comfortable to drive, and filling the niche for business owners, the VW Caddy Maxi is ready to join the staff as most valued employee.Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Van TDI250Price: from $30,990Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmSafety rating: n/aEngine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl diesel 75kW/250NmTransmission: 7-speed auto; FWDBody: 4876mm (L); 1794mm (w); 1836mm (h)Weight: 1459kgThirst: 8.8L/100km; 152g/km CO2

The idea is simple - make as much cargo space inside the van's perimeter as possible. Simple stuff, really, but then it gets hard. Make the van safe - preferably with a five-star crash rating like the Mercedes Vito. Load it with passenger-car features, make it flexible with seating, ensure ride comfort and

We turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?What is it?The Tardus of people movers. The Volkswagen Caddy is larger on the inside than it looks, with seating for seven people. If you thought the Caddy is a small car, try parking one next to a Pajero wagon and compare them — the Caddy is longer. This is the longer version (4.876m) with the addition of all-wheel drive.How much?Just the one model priced from $45,490 plus on road costs.What are the competitors?None really, except perhaps for Kia's cheaper Rondo 7. You'll be shopping for this one against larger people movers based on the price. For instance for almost the same price you could buy a top of the range Honda Odyssey which also seats seven.What's under the bonnet?This one comes with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that churns out 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque, the latter from a low 1500 revs. It's hooked up to a six-speed double clutch manumatic that provides the driver with the option to change gears manually.How does it go?Like a rocket, but we wonder whether all-wheel drive is really necessary, given that it adds $3500 to the price and the extra weight of the system adds to fuel consumption (6.5 for the 2WD versus 6.8 litres/100km for the AWD)Is it economical?Still, 6.8 litres/100km is nothing to be sneezed at. With a 60-litre tank it has a theoretical range of more than 880km.Is it `Green?'Gets 3.5 out of five stars from the Government's Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five), with a greenhouse rating of 7 and air pollution rating of 6 out of 10 (where 10 is best). Generates 179g/km CO2.Is it safe?Caddy is a four-star car. Driver and front passenger are well taken care of, with front and side airbags, but rear passengers miss out. Comes with a full complement of safety equipment including stability control and anti-lock brakes with brake assist.Is it comfortable?In a delivery van sort of way. Seating feels small and upright, but not uncomfortable, at least not in the short-term. Second and third rows of seating are removable for carrying larger items, offering up to 3880 litres of cargo capacity.What's it like to drive?Very easy to drive. Quick off the mark and has plenty of mid-range response thanks to the diesel. Wheel has multi-function controls for audio and the computer, with an AUX input for music players — but misses out on Bluetooth (it's a dealer fit option but costs a bomb).Is it value for money?Dual zone climate air, automatic lights and wipers, fully featured trip computer with distance to empty, cruise control and rear parking sensors — to name a few.Would we buy one?No. The tribe has left home. This vehicle will appeal to a select few, primarily those that want seven seats and the Volkswagen name for a budget price. 

IF our maths is right consider this: a Volkswagen Caddy Van could fit some 1800 cans of beer in that big-little cargo area.That'd be some 58 blocks of 30 cans with a spare pair of cartons up front to even out the load. And no doubt the VW would do its level best to haul that cargo _ close on 700kg _ around.We didn't try anything quite that demanding (or rewarding) with this Caddy but did come away with respect for its workman-like approach to business without bruising the workers; small delivery vans have come a long way.VALUEThe newest line of Caddys, released late last year, starts at $21,990 through to $32,990 for the top-spec Maxi version. There's the choice of petrol and diesel engines plus auto or manual transmissions.The Holden Combo (one model only) is $21,280, Citroen's Berlingo starts at $22,990 and there's not a lot of other competition in this area.DESIGNThe Caddy, by default, is a simple and compact box on wheels.But with attention to detail it offers a comfortable driving position, excellent ergonomics and 101 storage spots which include big door pockets with bottle holders, dashboard spots for pens plus odds and ends and a large shelf running across the cabin above driver and passenger. Handy touches run to one-touch electric front windows and daytime running lights.The rear floor, thanks to front-wheel drive, is flat with minimal intrusion from rear wheel arches. The load floor is just over half a metre from the street, back doors open wide and sliding side doors (right-hand one optional) allow easy access to cargo up front.TECHNOLOGYWith speed-sensitive steering, turbocharged diesel and the option of a seven-speed DSG transmission, the Caddy is up there with current engineering for small passenger cars. Differences include the leaf springs out back. The braking system (discs all round) covers stability and traction programs, ABS and hill holder.SAFETYVolkswagen's smallest van arrives with driver and front passenger airbag plus the option of head and thorax bags. There's ESP and ABS among primary safety features and a four-star crash rating.DRIVINGThis little jigger gets up and goes. Okay, so we didn't fill it up with a big load of beer but with two up, light load and full fuel tank, then slotted into Sports mode on the transmission, the Caddy is a mighty quick little cargo carrier.Here the DSG and turbo diesel engine help slip and slot through city traffic with ease. Steering is quick and accurate, quick enough to introduce a little body roll from the high-sided van.And, despite limited visibility with those van sides, the Caddy is easy to park around the shopping centres (rear park distance controls are optional).

Very impressed with the size and performance of this van.It was so responsive to the throttle, I had to check with VeeDub just to make sure it was the 1.6 and not the larger 2.0-litre diesel engine. What a rocket ship!The current Caddy moved from the Polo to the larger Golf platform in 2004 and has recently undergone a major upgrade across the range.DESIGNExternally the dimensions have not changed much but new engines, transmissions, and other refinements have produced a noticeable improvement.Our test vehicle, the long-wheelbase Caddy Maxi commercial van, measures 4.876m long, 1.794m wide and is 1.836 metres high, with 1172mm between the wheel arches.With sliding doors either side at the rear and a twin, barn door arrangement at the back, theMaxi has a 4.2 cubic metre capacity and can carry a payload of 800kg, with eight tie down points provided.Maxi has a 1500kg tow capacity.We were moving house and did a pretty good job of loading this one to the gills, but it failed ot put a dent in the van's performance.TECHNOLOGYWith a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine, the Maxi produces 75kW of power and 250Nm of torque from a low 1500 revs.Weighing in at 1510kg, with the 7-speed twin clutch DSG transmission fitted, it returns best in class fuel economy of just 5.8 litres/100km.The 60-litre fuel tank gives it a range of just over 1000km.We clocked up almost 500km with more than half a tank still to go.There's not much to complain about.DRIVINGThe cabin seats two and there's plenty of stowage space in the cabin with an additional shelf overhead for putting things, that is often overlooked.The high roof leaves a big gap between the rear vision mirror and top of the windscreen, and this can be a problem when you're driving into the western sun.People who drive these vans for a living spend quite a bit of time behind the wheel each day and as such Bluetooth is needed.There's an AUX input hidden in the glovebox for music players, but unlike other VWs that we have driven, this one can't display your speed in big numbes in the middle of instrument cluster either — a big oversight.The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi TDI250 is priced from $27,990 or $30,990 for the auto as tested.In standard form it comes with two airbags and electronic stability control.Daytime running lights are now standard across the range, cruise control is also standard on the Maxi but an indispensable rubber mat for the cargo area will set you back another $490. Rear parking sensors — a good idea in this style of vehicle — is an additional $490.

IF our maths is right consider this: a Volkswagen Caddy Van could fit some 1800 cans of beer in that big-little cargo area. That'd be some 58 blocks of 30 cans with a spare pair of cartons up front to even out the load. And no doubt the VW would do its level best to haul that cargo - close on 700kg - around.We didn't try anything quite that demanding (or rewarding) with this Caddy but did come away with respect for its workmanlike approach to business without bruising the workers; small delivery vans have come a long way.VALUEThe newest line of Caddys, released late last year, starts at $21,990 through to $32,990 for the top-spec Maxi version. There's the choice of petrol and diesel engines plus auto or manual transmissions. The Holden Combo (one model only) is $21,280, Citroen's Berlingo starts at $22,990 and there's not a lot of other competition in this area.DESIGNThe Caddy, by default, is a simple and compact box on wheels. But with attention to detail it offers a comfortable driving position, excellent ergonomics and 101 storage spots which include big door pockets with bottle holders, dashboard spots for pens plus odds and ends and a large shelf running across the cabin above driver and passenger.Handy touches run to one-touch electric front windows and daytime running lights. The rear floor, thanks to front-wheel drive, is flat with minimal intrusion from rear wheel arches. The load floor is just over half a metre from the street, back doors open wide and sliding side doors (right-hand one optional) allow easy access to cargo up front.TECHNOLOGYWith speed-sensitive steering, turbocharged diesel and the option of a seven-speed DSG transmission, the Caddy is up there with current engineering for small passenger cars. Differences include the leaf springs out back. The braking system (discs all round) covers stability and traction programs, ABS and hill holder.SAFETYVolkswagen's smallest van arrives with driver and front passenger airbag plus the option of head and thorax bags. There's ESP and ABS among primary safety features and a four-star crash rating.DRIVINGThis little jigger gets up and goes. Okay, so we didn't fill it up with a big load of beer but with two up, light load and full fuel tank, then slotted into Sports mode on the transmission, the Caddy is a mighty quick little cargo carrier.Here the DSG and turbo diesel engine help slip and slot through city traffic with ease. Steering is quick and accurate, quick enough to introduce a little body roll from the high-sided van.And, despite limited visibility with those van sides, the Caddy is easy to park around the shopping centres (rear park distance controls are optional).VERDICTComfort and zest in a load carrier.

The box-on-wheels look won't endear the Caddy Life to mums and dads but if it's what's on the inside that counts, then the Volkswagen people-mover is worth a second look.The Caddy van is a top-selling tool for tradies and couriers and its five-seater sibling still has a cavernous cargo area, or you can add a third-row two-person bench seat for $690 to transform it into a minibus. Both rows of seats are easily removed if there's a need for more load capacity, making the Caddy a truly handy machine.VALUEThe base Caddy Life comes with a five-speed manual transmission for $28,990. A seven-speed DSG dual-clutch semi-automatic is a $3000 option and probably the pick for suburban use. Daytime running lights and electronic stability control were made standard as part of a refresh of the range late last year, but a rear parking sensor will still cost $590 and is a box you almost must tick. Paying about $33,000 for a vehicle that can take seven people, or carry 3200 litres, is still a good buy.TECHNOLOGYThe drivetrain is the Caddy's best feature. The common rail turbodiesel has all the pulling power most drivers will need, step up to the 2-litre turbodiesel in the long wheelbase Caddy Maxi seven-seater for $39,990 if you insist on more, and the seven-speed DSG semi-automatic transmission has been mapped to suit its strengths.The DSG is a hefty premium, but it shifts quickly through the cogs to ensure you're in the right gear at the right time. Fuel use is 5.8 litres for 100km (the same as the manual) which is outstanding for a large vehicle.STYLINGThe nose of the Caddy Life is corporate Volkswagen, right down to the horizontal grille and central VW logo.It looks as smart as any van doing the rounds and better than most, but there's no hiding its commercial vehicle heritage from behind the B pillar, the sliding doors on either side are a bit of a giveaway. That's not a bad thing if you need maximum internal space but it can't compete with something like Honda's Odyssey on looks. The Odyssey isn't in the hunt on load carrying, though, so it's a swings-and-roundabouts proposition.The interior looks like a Polo or Golf. The plastics might be a bit more durable, but they still have enough "soft touch" feel to look classy against the competition. Ditto with the horizontal "Takato" design seat stripes, it's not my first choice, but better than uniform grey.SAFETYElectronic stability control is now standard across the range, a first for this class of vehicle. NCAP last tested the vehicle in late 2008, before the launch of the latest T5 range, and awarded it four stars. Only the Mercedes-Benz Vito does better, earning a full five stars. Working against the Caddy is the fact only two airbags are standard, heat/thorax bags for the driver and passenger are $890.DRIVINGIT isn't hard to forget the Caddy isn't a van. There a faint echo from the rear with only two aboard but load up the back seats or put some luggage in the cargo area and it's as quiet as any car on the road. It also goes like one - with 75kW/250Nm the Caddy Life is no hot hatch but will keep up with most four-cylinders on the market and the off-the-line launch is surprising. It is also surprisingly manoeuvrable in carparks (thank the couriers for that), but reverse parking is a chore without the rear sensors.As a compromise car that will fit a full family and do double-duty as a small business runabout it is hard to go past. The sound system is MP3 compatible and puts out a respectable volume and quality of noise, the instrument cluster is straight out of a VW passenger car and the big side and rear windows give everyone a pew with a view. Even loading half a tonne of weight over the rear axle doesn't cause the handling or engine much discomfort.The biggest downside to owning a Caddy Life is getting the kids over the culture shock and convincing them their egos won't be irreparably injured by being seen in it. A hoodie helped the teenage son cope; the pre-teen daughter is still trying to reconcile Caddy with chic. Both concede, though, the ride and handling was as good as several "real" cars that have been through the Carsguide garage recently.VERDICTA dual-purpose workhorse that marries the people hauling of a Honda Odyssey with the volume of a regular van.VW CADDY LIFEPrice: from $28,990 (add $3000 for seven-speed semi-auto)Engine: 1.6-litre direct injection turbodieselPower: 75kW at 4400 revsTorque: 250Nm from 1500-2500 revsTransmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive Fuel use: 5.8 litres/100kmCO2 emissions: 152g/kmBody: Five-door vanSeats: fiveDimensions: length 4406mm, width 1794mm, height 1822mmWheelbase: 2681mm tracks front/rear 1531/1538mmSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: MacPherson strut front, leaf spring rearFuel tank: 60 litresFuel type: DieselWeight: 1541kg (manual); 1561 (DGS)Brakes: Four-wheel discsWheels: 15-inch alloysTyres: 205/55Warranty: Three years, unlimited kmSafety gear: ABS brakes with hill-hold assist, electronic stability control, dual airbags, daytime running lightsFEATURESAirconditioningAlloy wheels.

Volkswagen can’t put a wheel wrong at the moment. The Golf won last year’s Carsguide Car of the Year; it’s small sibling Polo collected both this year’s CCOTY and our Best Green Car award, to say nothing of a swag of honours from lesser media outlets.A brand which was a local also ran five short years ago, is now a permanent fixture in the top 10. And, globally, Toyota quakes at the gathering momentum of VW’s tilt at global dominance.The Golf remains VeeWee’s lifeblood though. Versions of that perennial model and those others that it underpins are becoming too numerous to count.The Caddy range, a comparative newcomer to these shores (it debuted here in 2004), is in its commercial van guise Europe’s most successful compact cargo carrier. The people moving version, the Caddy Life and the long wheelbase Caddy Maxi Life, have seats – seven in the latter’s case – where the van has space.It is essentially a long, tall Golf. We drove the range topping Maxi TDI320 at its Australian launch this week.VALUEWhile the commercial Caddy vans start from as little as $22K, the five seat Caddy Life is $28,990 for the manual TDI250, $31,990 with the seven speed version of the twin clutch DSG auto. A third row of removable seats is a $690 option.That’s a standard fitting on the long wheelbase Maxi Life, as are roof rails, tinted and DSG. It’s $39,990 for the TDI250, $42,990 for our TDI320.If you see the seven-seater as a rival for those people movers listed below, then its right among them in terms of go for the dough – at least the TDI320 is. Torque doesn’t come cheap, but even without experiencing the smaller engine variant, you feel it’d struggle to stay in the hunt with seven souls and their gear aboard.Confusingly for other VW buyers, but in keeping with commercial customer demand, it is the torque rather than power figure that gives each model its marketing name. The three grand for the TDI 320’s extra 70 Newton metres strikes us as money well spent.  The top dog also gets chrome bling, 17-inch alloys, roof rails and removable rear seating.TECHNOLOGYWhile the TDI250 has the newer seven–speed DSG, the 320 has the heavier hitting six-speed on the 320 to deal with the common rail direct injection four-cylinder turbo diesel. It’s a drivetrain familiar enough by now, but one its competitors cannot match for sophistication nor economy.DESIGNAll models get twin sliding doors, and the choice of a barn door or a tailgate at the back. The Maxi, 40cm longer than the five-seater at more than 4.8 metres and as tall at 1.2 metres, is cavernous within.With seven seats up (the back two are strictly for kids), there’s 530 litres to stick stuff, 3700 with five seats stowed. Its commercial antecedents are a bit too obvious at this money, though the rather delivery van look also means plenty of storage nooks in which children can stick half chewed confections and lose fiddly playthings.Up front it’s pure Mark VI Golf, with steering wheel mounted audio controls and multi function display on which the speedo might just be the most useful. Factory sat-nav can be optioned. SAFETY Top notch as it ought to be, with assertive if slightly touchy brakes, vouchsafed by ABS, electronic stability program, brake assist and a full array of airbags. Golf scores five stars in European crash testing, as should this.DRIVINGIt’s a bit, like, well … a long, tall Golf. Which can only be, within the constraints of its type and intended use, about as good as it gets.Mildly stretched on a bit of the old Pacific Highway, the Maxi was easily capable of holding double the signposted cornering speed. The DSG, so often accused of being hesitant off the mark, for some reason runs better works better with this engine in this model than any of the many in which we’ve tried it.The Golf’s steering seemed to loose feeling in the transition between Marks V and VI, and that’s another aspect that carries over to the people-moving version. But it is direct and accurate, certainly more than enough for its likely use.  The real test would come fully loaded, but it’s hard to imagine the TDI320 not having enough grunt to get he job done.VERDICTIt’ll move the people and/or most of their stuff. 70/100VOLKSWAGEN CADDY MAXI LIFEPrice: $39,990-$42,990Engines: 1.6L turbo diesel (75kW/250Nm), 2.0L turbo diesel (103kW/320Nm)Transmissions: 7- or 6-speed twin clutch autoThirst: 5.8/100km (TDI250); 6.3L/100 (TDI320)

Few vehicles have had the impact on the market the small VW van has had. In less than three years the Caddy has gone from zero to hero and now dominates the small van market segment. If it had happened in the passenger car market it would have been splashed across the front pages of our newspapers, but because it happened in the commercial vehicle arena it barely rates a mention.The Caddy was launched late in 2004, a year the Holden Combo was the dominant class leader, but less than three years later the Caddy is the dominant player in the segment with more than 40 per cent of sales. It’s not surprising given that it brought a number of new things to the segment, namely a diesel engine, but it is surprising given that it is clearly the most expensive small van on offer. The Caddy has blown the theory that small van buyers buy on price alone right out of the water.MODEL WATCH The Caddy washed up on these shores at the end of 2004; too late to have an impact on the market that year. But its influence was soon being felt as it raced towards market leadership. It went against conventional wisdom, which had it that small van buyers were only interested in price and they wouldn’t fork out any more than they had to for a van that had all the bells and whistles. Well, they did. This year to date VW has shifted 1061 Caddys out of a total of 2502 small vans sold in total. Holden’s Combo is clinging to second place with sales of 488, but only just.The Caddy had a good start in that it was based on VW’s popular Golf. From the cabin forward it was the same as the Golf; it looked the same, and was the same, but from the cabin back it was all new for the purpose of carrying cargo.The wheelbase was 104 mm longer than the Golf’s, with the extra length grafted in behind the cabin where it could be used to its maximum advantage. New van sheetmetal was grafted onto the extended platform to create a useful local box able to swallow a class-leading 3.2 cubic metres or 750 kg of cargo.The cargo could be loaded through rear barn doors that opened through 180 degrees, or a kerbside sliding door. Inside, the cargo zone floor was flat for easy loading, there were six eyes for securing the load, and a couple of lights for illuminating the area at night. Underneath leaf springs gave it the capacity to handle the load.One of the keys to the Caddy’s remarkable success was its diesel engine; the only diesel engine in the class. With fuel prices on the rise when it arrived it’s perhaps no surprise the Caddy was so enthusiastically received. Sales of the diesel engine now account for three-quarters of all Caddys sold.The 1.9-litre direct injection turbo diesel boasts 77 kW at 4000 revs and 250 Nm at 1900 revs, but perhaps most importantly will return 6 L/100 km. While fuel economy is perhaps front and centre in the minds of those who buy the diesel Caddy, its performance and drivability are also very impressive. The alternative engine is a 1.6-litre fuel-injected petrol engine that produces 75 kW at 5600 revs and 148 Nm at 3800 revs.At launch the standard transmission was a five-speed manual, but VW added the option of its six-speed DSG automated manual shift gearbox earlier this year to satisfy the needs of those who wanted an automatic transmission. Many small vans are driven by young, sometimes female, drivers who often don’t have much experience with manual gearboxes so there’s a significant demand for a self-shifting gearbox.The compact size of the Caddy makes it perfect for companies that need to access tight locations, particularly in cities, where its compact dimensions and easy maneuverability, along with its tight 11.1-metre turning circle come to the fore.The Caddy lacks nothing in equipment either, with a long list of standard features, including air-conditioning, power steering, ABS brakes, traction control, remote central locking, engine immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, CD player, and the safety of a driver’s airbag.IN THE SHOP It’s early days for the Caddy so there isn’t a lot to report on its reliability. Owners say they have had virtually no trouble with them so far, although most have only done 25,000-30,000 km to date. All owners are in agreement that the diesel engine is very economical. They also applaud the Caddy’s driving ease, and its compact dimensions that make it easy to squeeze into tight spots. The DSG gearbox needs to be approached with caution. It’s a relatively complex piece of gear and hasn’t been on the market very long so it’s too early to comment on its reliability and durability.IN A CRASH Vans generally get little attention from carmakers and as a result often lack the sort of safety systems fitted to most, if not all, passenger cars. That particularly applies to the Japanese vans, which are notoriously lacking in safety features. The European vans, however, boast some of the best safety systems going around, and the Caddy is no exception. Its passenger car-like handling boosts primary safety, a flow on from the Golf, while ABS anti-skid brakes and traction control add to its safety package. The Caddy’s secondary safety is also good with a driver’s airbag fitted as standard equipment.OWNERS SAY Dennis and Vicki Cleghorn wanted another van for their growing boarding kennel and cattery business, but they didn’t need a large van like their Vito. They chose a diesel Caddy with the DSG gearbox and are satisfied they made the right choice. Their Caddy is used primarily to pickup dogs and cats from their owners, and return them when the owners come home. As such it has to squeeze into tight spots, often in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, so its compact dimensions are beneficial. It’s mostly driven by women so being car-like is an advantage, as is the DSG transmission that makes it like the cars they normally drive. There’s been no problem to date and Dennis is happy with the 7 L/100 km he’s getting from it.Raj Prashar looked at all the small vans before settling on the Caddy for his printing business. Prashar was prepared to pay the price premium for the fuel economy – he gets 6-7 L/100 km – of the 1.9-litre turbo diesel and the safety features, like ABS and traction control, the Caddy comes with. “It drives like a car, the fuel economy of the diesel is fantastic, and it’s very safe,” he said. “It’s based on the Golf and has every safety feature you could imagine, just like the Golf.” Prashar’s Caddy is used for delivering printing jobs to clients, and the small size is perfect for the task.Locksmith Ron Roberts wanted to cut his fuel bills when he went shopping for a van to replace his ageing, and thirsty Toyota Town Aces. After considering all the small vans on offer Roberts bought five Caddys, which are used as mobile service vans by his technicians. He chose the Caddy for its value-for-money and the fuel economy of the diesel engine. The compact size also played a part, with his technicians needing to get into some tight squeezes in the city and suburbs when they go out on jobs. So far they’ve accumulated around 25,000 km each without any problem. Importantly for Roberts they’re getting around 6.5 L/100 km, and have managed to cut his fuel bill in half “I would have no hesitation buying more,” Roberts said.AT THE PUMP VW claimed the diesel Caddy would do 6 L/100 km, and owners are reporting between six and seven in average round town use.LOOK FOR • good looks make good impression• easy shape to dress up with graphics• easy to drive• economical diesel engine• auto option if desired• class leading cargo capacityTHE BOTTOM LINE Safe and sound van choice with an economical diesel engineRATING 90/100