Volkswagen Caddy 2022 review

Once you're at the top of your game, it's risky to start all over again with brand new fundamentals, especially in the slowly evolving commercial space.

Regardless, that's exactly what VW did with its fifth-generation Caddy, pairing it for the first time with the same MQB platform that underpins much of the VW Group's passenger car lineup.

The question is, can VW maintain its market lead with higher-than-ever prices for this iteration? Or is it still the most complete range of vans you can buy? We took the Cargo and People Mover versions from the Australian launch to find out.

Volkswagen Caddy 5 2022: Cargo Maxi TDI280
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Diesel
Fuel efficiency	4.9l / 100km
Landing	2 Places
Price from	$38,990

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

Sorry, the era of the affordable VW Caddy is over. With the switch to the MQB for the fifth generation, even the base versions of the Caddy Cargo with a manual transmission have risen significantly in price.

Just looking from the entry point, the Cargo SWB TSI 220 manual now costs $34,990. Ouch! That's almost $10,000 more than the previous base car (the TSI 160 petrol with manual transmission) and the discrepancy largely persists across the entire 16-variant range, with taller, more passenger-oriented versions of the Caddy now 5. exceed the $50,000XNUMX mark.

Check out our table below for the full price schedule, but it's worth noting that the limited edition Caddy Beach will be replaced by the permanent California edition at the top of the range. This self-contained camper solution is due in early 2022 and can be selected for the first time with both petrol and diesel engines.

We'll give you a review option for this version in the future (in the Adventure Guide section of our site - check it out!), but for the launch review, we used the Cargo Maxi TDI 320 seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (starting at $41,990). ) and the Caddy Life People Mover TDI 320 with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (starting at a whopping $52,640).

Sorry, the era of the affordable VW Caddy is over. (Image: Tom White)

While prices are higher than what you might expect from this car's main competitors such as the Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo, the standard equipment is very high for a commercial vehicle.

The Base Cargo includes 16-inch steel wheels, an 8.25-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity, a reversing camera, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a curb-side sliding door, and air conditioning.

The upgrade to the Maxi adds a second sliding door and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, and starting with the Crewvan, some additional safety features become standard.

There is an extensive list of options that varies depending on the variant. Dealers will be pleased to know that this includes a variety of body modification options such as additional doors, a choice of different door styles, ways to choose whether or not there are windows in the rear panels, and cladding options in the cargo area.

The Caddy has stellar inclusions for a commercial vehicle in its class, but the new base price might just cross it off the list for some. (Image: Tom White)

From there, you can make your driver's life as enjoyable as you like with individual luxury technology and comfort options from the passenger car line, or combine them into different packages (again, packages and prices vary depending on which option you choose. VW has a tweak tool that should make things clearer than I can here).

Disappointingly, LED headlights are not standard, and LED taillights must be purchased separately on some variants. At this price, it would also be nice to see things like pushbutton ignition and keyless entry thrown in for free.

Finally, while the Caddy's lineup is extensive and with options that could fit a long list of potential applications, there's no sign of hybridization or electrification. We know the commercial sector will prefer the engines on offer here anyway, but there are several intriguing options that are testing the waters in Australia, including the BYD T3 and Renault Kangoo ZE.

What does all this mean for the final result? The Caddy has stellar inclusions for a commercial vehicle in its class, but the new base price might just cross it off the list for some. That's not to say the cost is bad, but for those looking for a simple work van, it might be overpriced.

Prices and specifications VW Caddy

TSI220 manual	TSI220 auto	TDI280 manual	car TDI320
Caddy Cargo	$34,990	$37,990	$36,990	$39,990
Caddy Cargo Maxi	$36,990	$39,990	$38,990	$41,990
Caddy Crowan	-	$43,990	-	$45,990
Caddy People Mover	-	$46,140	-	$48,140
Caddy People Mover Life	-	$50,640	-	$52,640
Caddy California	-	$55,690	-	$57,690

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

From a distance, the Caddy 5 looks almost exactly like the outgoing van. It really retains that European city van look that it has worn so well for the previous four generations. When you get up close, you can see all the areas where VW has changed and improved the design of the Caddy.

First, those headlights, a button-front grille and a new front bumper all make the new van look like its contemporary Golf 8 hatchback sibling. There isn't much to say about the side profile other than some stylish new hubcaps or alloy wheels, while how, at the back, the light profile is offset towards the edges, exacerbating the newfound width offered here.

The detail work is superb: the Caddy transforms from a rugged commercial vehicle into a stylish passenger car depending on whether you choose the matching bumpers, while other details such as Caddy's large print on the rear help bring it in line with VW's latest passenger car. suggestions without overdoing it.

From a distance, the Caddy 5 looks almost exactly like the outgoing van. (Image: Tom White)

Inside, the biggest changes have taken place, with the Caddy retaining the same tech exterior as the new Golf lineup.

This means the dashboard is dominated by crisp shapes and large screens, a stylish leather steering wheel even as standard, and quality-of-life improvements such as storage in the center console with a low-profile gear shifter centered on the rear. automation.

However, it's not just ripped from the Golf. While the Caddy follows the shape, the Caddy has a huge storage compartment cut out above the dash for folios and laptops, and VW has given the Caddy its own personality by swapping out the Golf's delicate piano finish for a rugged, tough one. plastic and a cool polystyrene-like detail texture that crosses the door contour and ends at the top of the dashboard. I like it.

At the back, the lightweight profile is offset towards the edges, exacerbating the newfound width offered here. (Image: Tom White)

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

Short wheelbase versions of the Caddy are now larger than ever before, with a new platform giving the van an additional 93mm in length, 62mm in width and an additional 73mm in wheelbase, allowing for significantly larger cabin and cargo space.

Longer-wheelbase versions of the Maxi have not increased across the board, but the increase in width, combined with squared-off inner wheel arches, allows two European-standard pallets to fit in the cargo hold.

The cabin itself, while retaining the Golf 8's premium look, combines more durable plastics and plenty of storage space. (Image: Tom White)

The cargo area itself can be customized in any way, including an optional sliding door on SWB models (sliding doors on both sides are becoming standard on Maxi), barn doors or tailgate, windows or no rear windows. , and various trim options in the cargo hold.

This is one area where Caddy continues to shine, offering commercial buyers a huge amount of customization directly from the factory, not just in the showroom but as a complete solution, rather than forcing buyers to go to the aftermarket.

The cabin itself, while retaining the Golf 8's premium look, combines more durable plastics and plenty of storage space. This includes an area above the dash specifically dedicated to folios and laptops, an area carved out of the ceiling for similar items, huge door pockets and a minimalist design around the center console, plenty of small compartments for iced coffee and meat. pies (or keys and phones).

The cargo area itself can be configured in any way, and an optional sliding door can be installed on SWB models.

Lack of practicality? The Cargo we tested had a large gap behind the center console that sloped down to the body of the van so it was easy to lose small items there, and no cordless phone charging bay to use the cordless phone mirroring system every time the ignition is turned on. , the car will suck your phone's battery. Bring a cable, Caddy 5 is USB-C only.

Also of note is the removal of the physical controls of the air conditioning system. You will only need to control this via the touchscreen on models with a small bezel, or when the taller 10.0-inch screen is installed, a small touchscreen climate unit appears below the screen. In any case, it's not as easy as turning physical dials.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The Caddy 5 comes with two new engines for the 2022 model year. There is one 2.0-liter diesel variant with two tuning options depending on the transmission paired with it, and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol variant with one tuning mode regardless of the transmission selected.

Both engines belong to the new VW evo series, which even the new Golf 8 missed due to the lax fuel quality standards in Australia.

The Caddy 5 comes with two new engines for the 2022 model year. (Image: Tom White)

The petrol engine delivers 85kW/220Nm powering the front wheels with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the diesel puts out 75kW/280Nm when combined with a six-speed ​​manual transmission or 90 kW/320 Nm in combination with a seven-speed dual clutch.

The six-speed manual transmission is only available in the Cargo variants, while the Crewvan and People Mover variants are only available with the automatic transmission.

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

The Caddy is claimed to consume 4.9L/100km of diesel for the dual-clutch TDI 320 we tested, and in a short test time our vehicle delivered a higher 7.5L/100km. Keep in mind that this was a relatively short test with a movie day, so it could be quite different from what you might expect in the real world. We also didn't test the loaded Maxi Cargo variant.

Meanwhile, the new 1.5-litre TSI 220 petrol consumes 6.2 l/100 km when combined with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. We didn't get a chance to test the petrol option at launch, so we can't give you a real figure for that. You will also need to fill it with unleaded fuel with an octane rating of at least 95.

Caddy 5 has a 50-liter fuel tank, regardless of modification.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

Safety is an improved story, and even the most basic Caddy now gets AEB at city speed and Driver Attention Warning as standard. While this may not sound like much of an advance for a passenger car, it's something that the commercial sector is catching up on, so it's good to see VW at least pushing the envelope forward for smaller vans.

There are also many ways to upgrade the Caddy with safety features available as separate options. On Cargo versions, you can equip the higher-end AEB with Pedestrian Detection ($200), the Adaptive Cruise Control Package ($900), and Lane Keeping Assist with Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert ($750). By the time you get to the Crewvan class, these items will be standard, which is important given the average $40k price point. You may also want to consider switching to LED headlights ($1350) if you or your drivers drive a lot at night, or you can go full dynamic high beams with cornering ($1990) which can be worth it if you use Caddy as a personal vehicle.

Unfortunately (or perhaps conveniently?), the eye-catching LED taillights have to be purchased separately ($300).

The Caddy 5 comes equipped with six airbags in Cargo variants, or seven airbags in occupant form, with the coverage of the head-curtain airbags said to extend to the third row.

At the time of writing, Caddy 5 has yet to receive an ANCAP rating.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

The Caddy is backed by VW's competitive five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, as well as a five-year "cost-guaranteed" service program covering the first 75,000 miles. The service interval is 12 months / 15,000 km.

However, the program is not cheap in the context of a passenger car, with an average annual cost of $546.20. Luckily, VW also lets you pay for service upfront in three- or five-year packages, with the five-year plan in particular cutting a significant amount off the total, which appears to be a better deal than its key Peugeot competitor. partner.

The Caddy is backed by VW's competitive five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. (Image: Tom White)

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Merged with the same fundamentals as the Golf's parallel lineup, the Caddy has taken a significant leap forward in its handling and refinement on the road.

The steering is precise, responsive, with just enough electric power to make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Rear visibility is good with the standard wide-angle rear-view camera, or stellar with the massive tailgate window options.

We only tested the higher-torque TDI 320 diesel engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to start, and while the engine is louder than you'd expect from a diesel passenger car, its relatively smooth operation pairs nicely with the polished dual-clutch. - auto clutch.

The Caddy has taken a significant leap forward in its handling and performance on the road. (People Mover shown)

This transmission has had some of its worst performance removed, with predictable shifts and no annoying lag seen in past VW models at initial engagement. This makes it more like a torque converter car overall, with much less harsh performance, proving a huge benefit for urban users.

The only disappointment still present is the start/stop system. While no longer paired with the drivetrain's irritating performance, it was still possible to catch the diesel we tested off guard at times, which was worth a second at junctions.

The biggest change with the move to the new platform is coils instead of leaf springs in the rear suspension. This means a significant increase in ride comfort and handling, improved rear-wheel traction when cornering and better control on uneven surfaces.

Overall, the Caddy now offers a driving experience almost indistinguishable from a passenger car. (People Mover shown)

It also means much better ride quality, with the sort of bumps that would normally cringe in an unloaded commercial vehicle like this one that can be easily traversed.

All in all, the Caddy now offers a driving experience almost indistinguishable from a passenger car and really goes back to the idea that it's just a van version of the Golf hatchback. The color impressed me.

Commercial buyers may be alarmed by this switch to coil springs, and we have yet to test this van loaded close to its GVM, so keep an eye out for future load testing on our TradieGuide section of the site to see how the new Caddy performs. closer to its limits.

Verdict

The Caddy 5 offers more space, a significantly improved interior, more technical features and a driving experience that is almost identical to that of a passenger car. While it dares to charge significantly more for this luxury, which rules it out for some buyers, there's so much here for those willing to shell out, especially since the Caddy is still unmatched when it comes to its factory options.

What remains to be seen is how this van handles tougher challenges, so keep an eye on our TradieGuide section of the site for future challenges in that department.