2011 Volkswagen Caddy Reviews

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.