Say hello to…
…the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo mid-size van. Twinned with the Ford Transit Connect, the two vans share almost everything mechanically and electrically and while it’s not quite a badge-swap between the two, it’s not far off.
Volkswagen offers the Caddy with a choice of four engines; three 2.0-litre diesels at 75hp, 102hp and 122hp plus a 1.5-litre 114hp petrol.
The Caddy is available in short and long wheelbase too.
There are three trim levels on offer too.
- Commerce
- Commerce Pro
- Commerce Plus
Standard equipment on the Commerce includes 15- or 16inch steel wheels depending on engine, auto lights, single sliding door on SWB and twin on long (Maxi) version, heated windscreen, 10-inch infotainment screen, 2x USB sockets, 6 tie-down points in cargo area, cruise control, speed limiter, powered front windows, height adjustable front seats, lane assist, rear parking sensors and manual aircon.
Commerce Pro adds automatic climate control, drivers’ armrest, powered lumbar support for driver, uprated seats and wired app connectivity.
Commerce Plus further adds 16 or 17-inch alloys, front parking sensors, passenger armrest, heated front seats, power-fold door mirrors, heated washer nozzles, rear view camera, keyless go and wireless phone connection.
Is The Volkswagen Caddy Suitable For My Fleet
The VW Caddy Cargo is 100 percent business focussed, so supremely suitable for fleets. In part this is down to the brand’s reputation for reliability and strong residual values and also due to the van simply doing what it should in a logical and practical way.
Leasing A Volkswagen Caddy
Intelligent Car Leasing is currently offering the Maxi version of the top spec Plus version for £424 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a month.
Using A Volkswagen Caddy
Alongside being a reliable and practical mid-size van that can carry two Euro-pallets (three in the Maxi version), the Caddy has the added advantage of being seen as having more driver appeal than its rivals.
It’s justifiable too. The seating position allows for all sizes of drivers to get comfy and the bulkhead doesn’t impinge on seat travel.
What’s particularly impressive about the way the Caddy drives is the manual gearbox that’s coupled to the 2.0-litre diesel engine. In an era of electrification when auto gearboxes are becoming the norm, the Caddy’s six-speed is a pleasure to use.
The diesel engine may be aging, but it is efficient. With a high mix of town driving we say an average of 49.1mpg, just under the official 55.4mpg stat.
Where the Caddy Cargo loses points is, oddly for a VW, in the quality department. Our van had a squeak coming from somewhere within the passenger side of the dashboard. That said, the material qualities used in the cabin are good and hard wearing.
The only downside to the cabin design is the use of VW’s infotainment system which is far from class leading.
But these two negatives are small points, overall the Caddy has an appeal that shows simple diesel powered vans are hard to beat and still have a place in the market.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Volkswagen Caddy
Old meets new with the latest diesel-powered VW Caddy Cargo and shows how good tried and test technology can be.
Volkswagen Caddy
- Model: Caddy Cargo Commerce Pro
- Power: 102hp
- Torque: 280Nm
- Load volume: 3.1m3
- Payload: 638kg
- Official fuel figure: 55.4mpg
- Test fuel figure: 49.1mpg
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