The Volkswagen Caddy has been a mainstay of the South African market for several years.The latest version of the model has finally found its way to our shores, but withstock shortages and lengthy delays plaguing the Wolfsburg-based brand at the moment, how long will the Caddy’s domination of the small van/MPV segment continue?

What’s new with the Caddy?

The new Caddy has wider opening doors than before and easier-to-remove seats.

The old leaf-sprung Caddy is gone – this new version is underpinned by the MQB platform, whichunderpins the Golf 8 and Polo (as well as numerous other VW/Audi products). It’s bigger inside (in all variants of the expanded lineup)and those who intend to usethe new Caddy as a people-carrier may be pleased to know that the rear row has been converted from a single bench into 2individual seats. That makes the seats much easier to extract and avails more seating options.

Noting the dual-purpose nature of the Caddy (owners buy them for doing business- and pursuing leisure activities), the German small MPV’s design has been updated to a stylish, less appliance-like appearance that could persuade SUV buyers to try out the “van lifestyle” without fear of being expelled from their social circles.

The engines have been reworked to provide more linear power and torque delivery, while the old 5-speed manual has been swapped out for a 6-shifter. It’s notable that there isn’t a DSG (automatic transmission) in the range yet – VWSA appears to be struggling to acquire an allocation of the DSG derivatives, becauseMzansi isn’t considered a major Caddy market. Autos areexpected to arrive eventually, but the timeline could be anything from 6 months… to a few years.

Search for a used VW Caddy here

Is the Caddy more practical?

There are more tethering points in the rear and a wider load bed.

There are 2 variants available in terms of wheelbase. You get the Caddy Cargo, which is the short wheelbase, or the Caddy Maxi, which is the long wheelbase. The shorter Caddy nevertheless has a longer wheelbase than the previous model (+73 mm) and is also slightly wider (+62 mm). Strangely, the Maxi is actually a bit shorter than the outgoing model (by 25 mm) in terms of overall length and its wheelbase has shrunk by 36 mm. It’s still easily recognisable as a Maxi variant though, as the standard Caddy length is 4 500 mm, compared withthe Maxi’s 4 853 mm. The wheelbase difference is 2 755 mm for the Caddy versus 2 990 mm for the Maxi.

The rearmost seats in the Caddy are now individual seats (previously it was a single bench) and weigh just 22 kg.Therefore, they are reasonably easy to lift in and out of the vehicle.

Interior load space has been improved too –the Caddy’s hold is now capable of accommodating a full-size Euro pallet. The limited width ofthe previous Caddy meant a pallet wouldn’t sit flat in the rear.

What’s more, moving to MQB has had some effect on the load capability, with the Caddy’s payload dropping from around 750 kg to between 650 kg and 700 kg (depending on the variant).

No Composition Media here, just a simple touchscreen fitted with the basics.

You can never have too many storage compartments in a van, butthe Caddy has always been particularly nifty in this department. We noted thatthe Caddy Cargo has a roof compartment, whereasthe Caddy Kombi people-mover doesn’t. There’s an odd storage tray (for assorted bits and pieces, we assume) on the dashboard, but it isn’t fitted with a grippy lining that would stop items from sliding around when the MPV’s cornering, however.

Dual sliding doors are available on the Caddy Cargo and the Caddy Kombi variants, while you get a choice of tailgate styles to choose from. You can either have the single tailgate which rises up like a normal hatch, or you can have the traditional split-doorconfiguration with new hinges that allow the doors to open to 180-degrees – this was also a choice on the previous version.

The infotainment system is a down-specced version of what we’re used to seeing in Polos and Golfs, but without being overly complicated, it still incorporates most of the modern features and connectivity that you’d want, such as Android Auto and Apple Carplay, as well asBluetooth telephonyand audio streaming.

What’s the new Caddy like to drive?

With the MQB platform, the Caddy feels more composed on the road and less like a commercial vehicle.

The shift from a commercial-vehicle chassis to a passenger-car platform has made the ride quality of the Caddy measurably better. It’s more composed over bumpy roads and traversing speed bumps doesn’t result in a “pogo-stick bouncing”.

The seating position has generousheight adjustability for those who like to be perched up high (in a typical van-like driving position) or lower, for those who prefer a more passenger car-like feel when they’re behind the ‘wheel.

The engines that have been carried over from the previous model include the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol. This engine is the most popular choice among South Africans due to its proventrack record for reliability and relatively low maintenance costs. I see this engine as a city runabout for small businesses, as it’s much better in short bursts than out on the freeway, where the distinct lack of torque (152 Nm) makes overtaking manoeuvres a bit trickier to execute.

The1.6-litre engine will also struggle if you intend to use the Caddy’s maximum payload capacity or tow big trailers. It did turn out to be quite fuel-efficient on our launch route, however…After 100 km, the 1.6 returned an averageconsumption figure of 6.5 L/100 km with two passengers and some small bags on board.The new 6-speed gearbox helps to optimise fuel efficiencybecause the topgear drops the revs appreciably once you’ve reached cruising speed on a freeway.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel (81 kW/300 Nm)makes more sense for heavier loads or for lifestyle/people-moverbuyers. The turbodiesel’s torque band seems much wider than before and the motor pulls smoothly when acceleratingfrom low revs.

The engine seems particularly unstressed, which should make itquite reliable inthe long run, but we’ll only really be able to say for sureafter the vehicles have been on sale for a while.

2022 Volkswagen Caddy pricing & after-salessupport

The Caddy has always proved popular as a reliable choice with a wide dealer network to back it up.

The new VW Caddy is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty, while the Caddy Kombi, Caddy Maxi Kombi, Caddy Cargo and Caddy Maxi Cargo come standard with a 2-year/unlimited kmwarranty. The entire Volkswagen Caddy range also comes standard with a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is every 15 000 km. A3-year/45 000 km service plan is includedas standard, with multiple options available to upgrade the length of the programme.

Check out our specs & pricing article here

Summary

The Caddy seems to be more appealing as a lifestyle vehicle now than as an out and out workhorse.

The new Caddy’s biggest achievement is that it feels considerably more car-like to drive compared with its much-loved predecessor. With the seats in or out, practicality has been improved through the provision of more harnessing points, which make iteasier to remove and re-install seats. The overall payload has admittedly been reduced with the shift to a unibody platform, but the space inside is more usable/practical than before.

As a working vehicle, the Caddy will appeal to buyers who seek the strong backup network that Volkswagen offers in South Africa, whilethe unfussy drivetrains promise to deliver many, many kilometres of loyal service.

If you’re looking to procure aCaddy as a lifestyle vehicle, the lack of derivatives with an automatic transmissionmight not be ideal, but the manual ‘box doesn’t require any real heavy-lifting to use. The Caddy is sure to store all your surfboards, mountain bikes and family members in a package that looks trendy when parked at the beach… or in the school parking lot.