Grille test: Volkswagen Caddy Cross 1.6 TDI (75 kW)
Anyone who is looking for a passenger car in the usual way will definitely not warm up for the Volkswagen Caddy. As you know, this is a completely different car. First of all, it's great if you want to use it with five passengers as a safe vehicle for lots of pieces of luggage. But from afar you can see that he is friendly to luggage. They say size matters. The Caddy confirms this and at the same time has a number of accessories that make it a truly friendly – even family – car. For example, sliding doors. They have their weaknesses that even Caddy can't get around.
It is very difficult to close them more tender, which immediately suggests that these are female hands. But it's the same with kids, even when your little one yells, "I'll close the door myself!" the wary parent shudders. Luckily, closing the rear pair of sliding doors is a daunting task that children find difficult to manage, also because the hooks on the Caddy are quite high. In fact, that's the only major concern as to why this car might not be a suitable family car.
Many other things say otherwise, most notably the already mentioned size and usability. The cost of maintenance and the selling value of a used car also speak in its favor.
The engine also plays a big part in this. The turbodiesel (Volkswagen with TDI designation of course) is not the last one, for example now available in the Golf. But in many ways, it's a big step up from the ones we've seen in the Caddies we've already had in the Auto magazine test. Previous generations of Caddy TDI engines have always been considered too loud in our country. With a volume of 1,6 liters and a power of 75 kW, this cannot be said. So there's a lot of progress to be made here as well. Fuel consumption is also solid, but the emphasis is on solidity. It's not great at all. The reason for this is two major obstacles. Because the Caddy is big, it's also heavy, and because it's tall (like the Cross, even a little more than if it were normal), it's also unconvincing in terms of fuel consumption at speeds over 100 mph. But, as already noted, even spending with both caveats in mind is not so unacceptable.
An engine with a volume of only 1,6 liters and a power of 75 kW does not seem suitable at first glance. But it turned out better than we expected. This is due to the relatively high torque that is transmitted to the front drive wheels even at relatively low revs.
The question of why this Caddy has a Cross accessory when we only talk about two-wheel drive is fully justified. The comforting response from the Volkswagen team is that more ground clearance means better value for money than if you also wanted all-wheel drive. But we wonder if this is really the most appropriate solution. In terms of cost, viz. But who else can take advantage of the greater ground-to-floor difference when comparing the regular Caddy versus the Cross-added model? Therefore, it is necessary to take into account all the accessories that are already included in the price. Basically, this is Trendline equipment, in addition to the external plastic body protection, transverse seat covers, tinted rear windows, leather-covered steering wheel, gear lever and brake, adjustable armrest, starting assistance, decorative inserts on the dashboard (glossy black), roof racks, heated seats and special aluminum wheels.
So the decision on the Cross version probably really depends on whether you are really confident that you will get a suitable advantage at a greater distance from the ground.
The Caddy remains the Caddy because of all the good things already mentioned, and the Cross really only becomes the Cross when you have the four-wheel drive that helps you navigate the more impassable routes.
Therefore, I stick to the statement from the title: you can't go to a beauty pageant with Caddy, even if it's Cross. However, I admit that the owner probably trusts him more if he has the additional inscription Cross on the back. Especially if it is such a convincing color as our tried and tested Caddy was!
Text: Tomaž Porekar
Volkswagen Caddy Cross 1.6 TDI (75 kW)
Basic data
| Sales: | Porsche Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 22.847 € |
| Test model cost: | 25.355 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 13,1 with |
| Maximum speed: | 168 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 6,8l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - turbodiesel - displacement 1.598 cm3 - maximum power 75 kW (102 hp) at 4.400 rpm - maximum torque 250 Nm at 1.500-2.500 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 5-speed manual transmission - tires 205/50 R 17 V (Bridgestone Turanza ER300). |
| Capacity: | 168 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 12,9 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 6,6/5,2/5,7 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 149 g/km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.507 kg - permissible gross weight 2.159 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 4.406 mm – width 1.794 mm – height 1.822 mm – wheelbase 2.681 mm – trunk 912–3.200 60 l – fuel tank XNUMX l. |
Our measurements
| T = 9 ° C / p = 1.010 mbar / rel. vl. = 73% / odometer status: 16.523 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 13,1s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 18,8 years ( 117 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 12,2s (IV.) |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 16,8s (V.) |
| Maximum speed: | 168km / h (V.) |
| test consumption: | 6,8 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 41m |
| AM table: | 41m |
evaluation
The Caddy also proved to be a useful and convincing vehicle in the slightly higher headroom version with the Cross designation. The appearance of the vehicle in this case is of secondary importance.
We praise and reproach
utility
open space
engine
access to the interior
warehouses
fixed glass in sliding doors
close the sliding door only for the strong
despite the off-road appearance without all-wheel drive
