Volkswagen Caddy News

Is the ‘uncool’ people mover on the verge of a renaissance?New arrivals and rising sales suggest the once daggy family transport could become the new battleground in the Australian market.While large, seven-seat SUVs remain the preferred option for Australian families, people mover sales were up 9.2 per cent in 2025 and have started 2026 with a surge, a whopping 41.1 per cent jump on last year.While the Kia Carnival remains the undisputed champion of people movers, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of its market, there is a new wave of more premium rivals that are catering to a specific audience looking for spacious and luxurious travel.The Chinese brands are, unsurprisingly, leading this charge, as people movers are a much more popular choice in its native market. The likes of the Zeekr 009, LDV Mifa, GAC M8 PHEV and upcoming Denza D9 are all offering space and premium features for both family and business buyers.These add to the likes of the Lexus LM, which is available with an opulent four-seat layout, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class, giving buyers more choice.Meanwhile in the more family/fleet-orientated segment of the market, the Carnival competes against the Hyundai Staria, new Ford Tourneo and Volkswagen’s new-generation Multivan and Caddy.And, if that’s not enough, there are the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Mercedes-Benz EQV to expand the appeal of the people mover even further.So what makes people movers so popular, especially the Carnival?According to Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s head of product planning, it’s the simple fact they are bigger and more practical than a seven-seat SUV for families that need the space.“I think our dealers do a pretty good job of conveying that while there might be a high desirability of an SUV, because everyone has got one… but for most families a Carnival is a better proposition,” explains Rivero.“For a family, fundamentally a Carnival does a better job.”The combination of more interior space, especially in the third row and a practical boot, as well as the sliding rear doors, are the standout areas where a people mover has the edge over an SUV, says Rivero.“For the most part dealers are able to convey the benefits of the Carnival over an SUV, unless the buyer has a need for four-wheel drive,” he said. “It’s probably the marketing that has driven that SUV popularity.”Rivero added: “Those that discovered the benefits of a people mover, those who have a family, realise quickly how good it can be.”Speaking to CarsGuide in August 2025, Zeekr Australia boss Frank Li admitted he was surprised by the initial slow uptake for the 009 given its popularity in overseas markets but expressed confidence in its long-term prospects.“Before actually, we valued the Australian market very much as well, but you know previously we only had two models and that is quite a niche segment in Australia,” Li explained.“Even though 009 performance is very good – it’s brilliant in south east Asia, like Hong Kong, Malay Thailand, we’re dominating this segment in this market – but the Australian market is obviously not a traditional people mover market. We believe that slowly, slowly our customers will love 009, but that takes time.”The more premium end of the market is a growing space for these more luxurious people movers, and it’s a key reason why Denza (BYD’s luxury sub-brand) is going to launch the D9 in Australia.Paul Ellis, spokesperson for Denza, said the brand’s move into the market is less about attracting fleet buyers and instead a more corporate audience, smaller operators that do luxury transfers and upmarket hotels, as well as families looking for space and comfort.“They’re a niche product, but within that niche there is quite a lot of demand for them,” Ellis told CarsGuide.

Why Australia is more important than ever to new car brands as US tariffs impact global car industry according to VW.

Volkswagen has released pricing and specifications for its updated Caddy and Crafter commercial vans, which will arrive across dealerships nationwide later this year.Kicking off with the Caddy Cargo, VW has increased the entry price by a modest $235 to $41,225, before on-road costs, for the short-wheelbase manual version.In return, VW has improved on its tech and safety credentials by standardising a digital driver’s display, a 10-inch multimedia display, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding adjustable and heated mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring, central locking with keyless entry, USB-C ports and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).The higher-grade Maxi and California variants, which now start at $43,225 and $62,225, respectively (both at before on-road costs) add park assist with distance control, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, side assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.Three powertrains are available for the base-grade Caddy Cargo, which includes two diesel and one petrol engine. They deliver outputs of 75kW/280Nm on the TDI280 diesel, 90kW/320Nm on the TDI320 diesel and 85kW/220Nm on the TSI220 petrol.Customers can opt for a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission depending on their powertrain preference.As before, the Caddy is available in short- and long-wheelbase versions with alternating seating, trim and powertrain configurations, while the Caddy California remains the five-seat, range-topping lifestyle option.Moving to the Crafter, VW has taken the more substantial step of discontinuing the TDI340 diesel engine in favour of the more powerful TDI410, which now serves as the the standard option across the range. It delivers 130kW/410Nm, 27kW/70Nm more than the TDI340, though the entry price has risen by $9100.So, the range now kicks off at $69,100, before on-road costs, for the long-wheelbase Crafter 35 Single Cab Chassis, which packs an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.VW has mirrored similar upgrades on the larger Crafter light commercial van, adding standard forward collision warning, AEB with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, travel assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.Additionally, there is a digital driver’s display, a larger 10.4-inch multimedia display, standard wireless charging and USB-C ports, while the gear shifter and parking brake have been exchanged for electronic units, freeing up room in the centre console.Visually, the Crafter also picks up a new front bumper and VW badging, bringing it into line with the rest of the brand’s range.As before, the Crafter remains available in medium- (MWB), long- and long-wheelbase with overhang (LWO) guises with differing powertrain and seating configurations. It comes in single cab chassis, dual cab chassis, van and Kampervan body styles.In addition to the upgraded Caddy and Crafter, VW has also confirmed the all-new VW Transporter, which is built on the same platform as the popular Ford Transit Custom, will arrive in Australia in diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric guises from Q3 this year.As of March 2025, VW has sold 239 Caddys, an increase of 42.9 per cent on the previous year as it furthers the gap to its Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo rivals. The Crafter hasn't fared so well, with sales down 72.7 per cent year-on-year from 198 units to 54. It remains outpaced by the Ford Transit, LDV Deliver 9 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Volkswagen has confirmed its electric Transporter mid-sized van will arrive in Australia before the end of this year to go head-to-head with the Ford E-Transit Custom and LDV eDeliver 7.In an announcement made this week Volkswagen said the Transporter battery electric vehicle (BEV) would land locally in the third quarter of 2025. This would have the electric version of the new-generation Transporter arriving at the same time as the diesel variant, with the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant following in the second quarter of 2026.Volkswagen also confirmed some vital specifications for the Transporter EV. A single electric motor producing 210kW and 450Nm will power the Transporter EV’s rear wheels and a payload capacity of 1038kg will apply to both short-wheelbase and long-wheel base versions.In comparison, the diesel variant of the Transporter uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine making 125kW and 390Nm, and will be available in front- and all-wheel drive. Short- and long wheelbase grades will have a payload of 1326kg.The Transporter PHEV will be powered by a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid system making a combined 205kW and 320Nm, with both short- and long wheelbases offering 1140kg of payload.Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Product Manager Nadia Bucholtz said the new-generation Transporter would cater for more applications than before.“Short and long wheelbases, standard roof height and high roof variants, front-wheel drive and 4Motion, Transporter has remained committed to supplying the most fit-for-purpose vehicles to our customers, including the most extensive range of applications,” Ms Bucholtz said.“The addition of BEV and PHEV variants to the range serves to further expand that product offering, particularly as our customers look to ways to minimise their emissions, maximise drive comfort and reduce running costs.”Volkswagen developed the Transporter EV in conjunction with Ford which has produced its version, the E-Transit Custom, and that is also expected to arrive in 2025.Pricing for both vehicles has not been announced yet but buyers can expect Volkswagen’s Transporter EV to list from about $70,000. LDV's eDeliver 7 is a popular rival to both the Transporter EV and E-Transit Custom and starts at $67,358 before extending up to $73,674.The entry price into the current generation of the Transporter is for the diesel 320S Trend short-wheel base which starts at $56,590 before on-road costs and extends to the top-of-the-range grade at $62,990.Volkswagen’s reveal of the Transporter's arrival timing came during a broader announcement detailing the brand’s upcoming commercial vehicles including the Caddy light cargo carrier, the electric ID. Buzz retro Kombi, the larger Crafter and the new-generation and just-arrived Multivan people mover.

Manual gearboxes are being killed off by the soulless, unromantic savages who want a car with an automatic transmission. Which is nearly everybody. So, the car manufacturers are making hardly any manual cars now. But for the few beacons of hope trying to save this rare animal from extinction we’ve made a list of new cars still with manuals that are for sale in Australia. But for how much longer?

Volkswagen Australia is going all-in on vehicle conversions, with the company revealing a number of new offerings for commercial use, as well as high-end campers and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Volkswagen Australia has updated its 2023 Caddy line-up (including Cargo, Crewvan, People Mover and California body styles) with more safety equipment and in-cabin technology, but no change to pricing.For the 2023 model year, the Cargo and Crewvan models

Volkswagen Australia has temporarily cut the price of its servicing plans for selected passenger, SUV and light-commercial vehicles.The German giant's Australian arm says it is "proactively responding to Australia's cost of living pressures" by making the

Episode 215 - Best electric cars coming in 2022!

Three new models that recently reached the Australian market have been given the maximum safety rating