Niche appeal, wonderful diesel/DSG drivetrain and AWD
Niche appeal, only one drivetrain, price
Volkswagen’s answer to the problematic search for a mid-sized van or MPV with the ability to haul cargo or kiddies in safety, on any surface, in any season.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion Overview
If you don’t want a big 4WD, an SUV, or a van, but you need something bigger than a Golf, with diesel torque, a refined automatic, great safety features, maybe seven seats or a big cargo area, and need all-wheel-drive…
You don’t want for much, do you? But you may want a Caddy van, or perhaps the Caddy Life.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion Engine
VW are up to version four of the Haldex ‘4Motion’ AWD system - a nifty system that has been in development since the ‘70s and in production since the mid-80s. It’s an on-demand system, driving 90 percent from the rear on acceleration, 96 percent through the front when cruising, and can split evenly between all four wheels when two of those wheels lose grip. The Haldex clutch is controlled by the ABS sensors when the stability control system is triggered, and disengages during a full ABS stop to put distribution almost fully to the front wheels.
Combined with the lovely 2.0-litre diesel engine developing 103kW and a naughty 320Nm mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox – the only engine/drive combination – and you have a refined machine that feels very tough and technologically advanced for what is essentially a ‘bread van’.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion The Interior
The Caddy van is expectedly utilitarian in its layout and function, and that’s not a bad thing. The dash is decidedly base-spec Golf/Polo, without any ugly hard surfaces in the eyeline or within reach, but without any real zing apart from the chrome-lined DSG handle. The Life is understandably less bureaucratic and more mid-spec, with a multi-function interface and more plush surfaces. There is an abundance of cubbies and cupholders throughout, six in the Caddy (the non-existent second row still has its cup inserts by the C-pillar), and 10 at the last count in the Life for the three rows of seats. Storage nets abound in the latter, but a lack of air vents makes the third row a little sticky in warmer weather, particularly if sandwiched next to someone.
The folding rows of seats are ingenious, aping its larger Transporter brother with sliding, split-folding and moveable rows of seating, like all MPVs should. Both cars have two sliding doors for easy entry and egress, and a massive open tailgate.
Up front, the seating position is high with great forward visibility through an immense glasshouse, and large side mirrors make up for the minimalist rear vision. This is somewhat compensated for in the Caddy Life by reverse parking sensors.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion Exterior & Styling
Not an easy task; trying to make an extra-long, extra-wide mid-sized van into something attractive. But this type of transport has always looked kinda quirky. The Caddy van’s stance has purpose, as does its steel wheels (for a 700kg payload rating) and protective plastic front bumper. The Life, with windows along its length and alloy wheels, looks like, well, like a tall fat Golf. However, the company’s trademark grille, nice headlights and a decent colour palette including metallic paint save it from looking like a whitegood on wheels.
The rear of the Caddy sits 50mm higher to accommodate the rear diff – in fact, the driveshaft itself is angled to the offset diff with the exhaust re-channelled, and a saddle fuel tank (a first for VW) has been used to clear all the extra piping. The rear suspension has been toughened up to take more rear load, but otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as the 2WD versions.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion On The Road
The launch for these two Caddy cars took us from Albury to Falls Creek and back over varying terrain including highway, suburban streets, and snow-dampened alpine roads. Unfortunately there was no dirt to test the 4Motion, and overnight rain had wiped out the chances of driving on snow, so real-life testing of the AWD system was limited.
However, on some of the tighter corners on the ascent to the snowfields, the cold, damp conditions did allow for slow-speed slip with ESP stability control off – even encouraged with the odd boot mid-corner – and the car seemed fairly unflappable. In higher-speed country turns the Caddy was positively fun - planted and adjustable.
The Caddy van was surprisingly quiet for a high-roofed van without lining. More surprising was the fact that the Caddy Life wasn’t much quieter despite its three rows of seating and headlining. Ultimately, the open cabin cannot avoid being boomy and sonorous, though the engine is not loud through the firewall and you can’t hear any odd diff clunks from the rear seats.
The torque curve is deliberately flat across its band, and the extra weight of diesel, DSG and AWD diffs do take their toll on initial acceleration (the identical car in 2WD weighs 234kg less, and sips a litre less fuel per hundred).
Usually when these little things are unloaded, they are quite zippy and high-revving, but the diesel/DSG combination is different. Trying to get onto the highway and up to 110km/h, the car flatlined on its torque ceiling through the gears and didn’t seem to make very rapid progress at all. But up the tight hilly corners, it excelled.
Another unloaded objection is the brakes: over-served and quite touchy high in the pedal (typical of VW/Audi), but the brakes themselves are fantastic with discs all round, and ESP as standard in a ‘commercial’ is always a green tick. As is cruise control.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion Challenges
Well, no challenge here from siblings Skoda and the Roomster. Skoda’s similar take on the compact MPV was a fail in Oz, and stopped selling recently. As did the Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic, some time ago. Aussies used to like big sixes and V8 sedans, and now they like SUVs and dual-cabs - the MPV has never done well here.
Volkswagen PR man Karl Gehling was not willing to reveal projected sales figures for either car to CarShowroom, however there must have been a significant business case to bring this niche within a niche to our little island.
He also quashed rumours that the car needed to be specially ordered in, saying the car has been available for order since the Australian Motor Show in July, and there will be a consignment of Caddy and Caddy Life cars for private buyers across the country (fleet buys will, of course, be by special order.)
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion Verdict
The 4Motion holds a trump card - no other manufacturer offers a commercial of this size in AWD. Don’t expect to see an AWD Skoda breadvan either – VW says it is holding on to this one as an exclusive.
In a country of vastly changing terrain and weather, deliveries of goods and children still need to be made, and the combination of diesel and AWD in a compact parkable package will definitely have its fans. It’s hard to see the value in the Caddy Life, but the Caddy as a commercial is quite appealing.
We don’t expect it to sell through the roof, but do expect it to appeal to the audience it is aimed at.
Caddy/Caddy Life 4-Motion The Competition
VW has the exclusive on the all-wheel-drive, but the other compact vans have their own perks and persuasions.
The Citroen Berlingo 1.6L turbodiesel automatic tops the range at $26,490, and uses 5.6L/100m claimed. It has a single airbag, ABS and EBD, but stability control is an optional extra. The Renault Kangoo only comes in manual, and is the same price, but chews 5.2L/100km and is quite a quirky, fun little thing. But both are much smaller than the Caddy ‘Maxi’ vans.
But the Caddy 4Motion’s biggest competitor is easily the 2WD versions, which sip an entire litre less per hundred, and cost $3500 less than the AWD version apiece.
