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The Volkswagen Caddy is a van-based MPV with space, simplicity and low running costs on its side. Should you buy one? Lawrence Allan takes a closer look.
Things you'll like
- Surprisingly comfortable and good to drive
- Immense practicality
- Excellent visibility
Things to consider
- More expensive than key rivals
- Not exactly plush inside
- Rear windows don’t open
What is the Volkswagen Caddy?
Most people will know the Caddy as Volkswagen’s small panel van of the last 20-odd years, but its name extends way back to 1979. Back then it was a small pick-up truck, known as the Rabbit in the US.
The Caddy’s next evolution was as effectively a van version of the VW Polo, before growing in the 2000s to take on the shape we know today. Alongside the larger Transporter it’s become a dominant force in the commercial vehicle sector, and like its bigger brother, has a highly loyal following of enthusiasts.
It’s easy to forget, though, that the Caddy isn’t merely a van – you can buy a passenger-carrying car version too. In fact, that’s such a big part of the range this time that the panel van is called Caddy Cargo, while the Caddy (and slightly plusher Caddy Life) are the MPVs – affectionately known as ‘vans with windows’.
The latest generation is also a landmark one for two reasons: firstly, it now sits on a platform shared with many VW Group cars, bringing more sophistication in the drive. And, secondly, it also has a near-identical twin in the form of the Ford Tourneo Connect – VW and Ford have partnered to develop commercial vehicles together.
But is this latest five or seven-seat Caddy worth considering as a family car instead of the hordes of SUVs buyers are defaulting to? We’ll find out in this review.
Verdict: is the Volkswagen Caddy a good car?
While there are more affordable van-based MPVs out there these days, the VW Caddy is still an appealing model thanks to its no-nonsense approach to family motoring. Like the old versions the immense space and versatility remain, but the latest Caddy is also much more comfortable and better to drive than ever. The much cheaper Citroen Berlingo is a tough competitor, however.
Pricing, specs & rivals
One of the key draws for van-based MPVs is the value-for-money they offer compared to more ‘desirable’ bodystyles. Sadly, the Caddy isn’t quite as affordable as you might think.
Prices start at £28,345 for the base Caddy short wheelbase with the 1.5 TSI petrol engine. The entry-level 2.0 TDI diesel just breaches the £30k barrier, while you’ll need £33,619 for the more powerful version with the DSG gearbox.
The plusher Caddy Life, meanwhile, is £33,897 in petrol form where it’s mated only to a DSG gearbox. This means that the base diesel manual is cheaper, qt £32,977, while the higher powered DSG model is £36,487.
As for the long-wheelbase Maxi model, which has seven seats as standard unless you request five, you’ll be paying £1,400 extra across the range.
The base model is simply called ‘Caddy’, with a more basic style including 15-inch steel wheels (16-inch on everything but the base diesel), black mirrors and no roof rails. But you do still get a 10-inch touchscreen sat-nav, manual air-con, electric heated mirrors, a height adjustable front seat, rear parking sensors and a vast suite of safety aids (more on those in the safety section).
Stepping up to the Caddy Life variant brings 16-inch alloys, LED rear tail lights, roof rails, upgraded upholstery, under-seat drawers, lumbar adjustment for the front seats, keyless go, digital dials, a rear-view camera and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity. Streaming and internet services are optionally available
For comparison, the near-identical Ford Tourneo Connect has a higher starting price but more standard kit, while the Citroen Berlingo and its Peugeot/Vauxhall cousins are thousands less to buy than the VW. What’s more, the Caddy Life is dangerously close to the starting price of the VW Tiguan – a much more sophisticated car overall.
Rivals
The Caddy’s main rivals are the usual van-based MPV suspects such as the Ford Tourneo Connect and Citroen Berlingo – the latter has recently returned to petrol and diesel power alongside the electric version.
Other options include the Mercedes-Benz Citan Tourer, while the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric and Peugeot e-Rifter are electric-only. Other new MPV options are limited, but you might want to consider the now decade-old VW Touran as well as the posher Mercedes-Benz B-Class and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.
A more natural competitor, particularly if you need seven seats, is the top value Dacia Jogger. Aside from that, with larger MPVs like the Ford Galaxy no longer on sale, you’ll be looking at one of the numerous SUV options out there.
Volkswagen Caddy: Interior comfort, quality & technology
If you’re expecting the Caddy’s interior to look just like a Golf’s, you might be disappointed. Equally, though, if you’re coming from an older Caddy then the uplift in quality and tech is noticeable.
Compared with a typical family SUV, though, there’s no doubting that the Caddy’s cabin is a lot more workaday. You won’t find things like ambient lighting or funky materials – even soft-touch plastics are conspicuous by their absence here. While Life trim adds nicer feeling seat fabric, it’s not exactly a revelation.
The rather sparse, hard plastic dash doesn’t exactly scream showroom appeal. But look beyond that and you’ll see that it’s all solidly put together and likely to be extremely hard-wearing. The steering wheel is also lifted straight out of a Golf, as is much of the switchgear, which lifts the cabin a bit.
Unfortunately, things like the touch-sensitive light controls and a lack of physical climate controls count against the Caddy for usability. Many competitors are similarly afflicted.
Still, we have no complaints with comfort over long distances. We’d highly recommend spending a little extra on the optional ergoComfort seats, which are supportive and widely adjustable thanks to four-way lumbar adjustment and lower cushion tilt.
The rest of the driving position is great, too, with a high seating level combining with the tall windscreen and windows for a terrific view out all-round. The Caddy is no harder to park or manoeuvre than a Golf as a result.
Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity
The infotainment options are somewhat confusing in the Caddy, and depend on what model year you go for.
Early base models came equipped with a basic 6.5-inch non-colour touchscreen system, which offered DAB radio and Bluetooth but nothing else. The upgraded system fitted to the Caddy Life was an eight-inch full colour system adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Sat-nav was optionally available with an uprated 10-inch display.
In 2024, though, it appears that VW quietly updated the touchscreen offering to bring it into line with the related Ford Tourneo Connect. That means every version now has a 10-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The screen itself is effectively lifted from the pre-2024 Golf, which means it’s not the most user-friendly affair. It’s quicker and more responsive than a Citroen Berlingo’s, but the menus are still confusing, and the lack of physical climate controls means too many button presses to simply turn up the temperature or activate the heated seat. Still, you get used to it.
We’re pleased to see physical buttons on the steering wheel which are much easier to get on with than haptic touch controls, while the digital driver’s display on Life trim is slick and customisable.
In terms of connectivity, you’ll find a pair of USB-C outlets at the bottom of the dash, along with a 12-volt socket in the passenger compartment. It’s a shame there are no USB-Cs in the rear, though, while wireless phone charging isn’t even an option. Meanwhile, the six-speaker stereo delivers passable sound, but there’s no audio upgrade option like you’ll find on other VWs.
How practical is the Volkswagen Caddy?
This is the Caddy’s real party piece, and undoubtedly the main reason you’d buy one. Opting for the regular Caddy gives you the choice of five or seven seats, while the extended wheelbase Caddy Maxi gets seven seats as standard.
A quality most valued in vans, and benefitting the Caddy as a car, is maximising the available footprint. And, given the regular Caddy is 4,500mm long, 1855mm wide and 1,832mm tall including roof rails, it’s one of the smallest seven-seaters money can buy. The Maxi model is just over 35cm longer, benefitting both passenger space and boot room.
Both offer exceptional head- and legroom in the front, and plenty of width to avoid banging elbows. In the second row there’s almost an absurd amount of headroom and enough width for three adults to sit side by side, although on the standard wheelbase Caddy legroom isn’t overly generous for those over six foot.
The Caddy Maxi addresses this with seats that can be slid further back, making it the one to go for if you regularly carry adults. On the standard model the seats only have reclining backrests.
Similarly, the third row is better in the Maxi than the standard Caddy due to those sliding middle seats, although on both models there’s more room in the rearmost seats than you’ll find in a VW Tiguan Allspace. Even so, that third row is better suited to children than adults for anything beyond short distances.
The twin sliding doors also allow easy access to both rows of seats, and mean tight parking spaces are far less of an issue. The main downside of them, though, is that you can’t lower or raise the windows for either row. That might irritate some passengers, so it’s worth consulting the family before taking the plunge.
Storage and boot space
As you’d expect, the Caddy offers plenty of cabin storage for typical family detritus – though not as much as the Citroen Berlingo with its novel roof storage unit.
Still, you’ll find generous door bins throughout, plenty of cupholders, a good-sized glovebox and an overhead shelf in the front that’s great for storing coats or similar. There’s no cover, though, so we’d advise against sticking heavy items up there as they could shoot out when you accelerate.
Pull tabs to the side of the rear seats let you easily flip the backrests to expand the boot load area. You can also roll the entire seat forward to further add to the capacity, while the seats can be completely removed if you intend to use the Caddy as a van – they’re heavy, though, and you’ll need somewhere to store them.
You probably won’t need to do this often if you opt for a five-seat Caddy, which offers a vast 1213 litres of boot space with all seats in place – enough for even the bulkiest of pushchairs along with several suitcases. That extends to 2,556 litres if you remove the middle row, too. Just bear in mind that the standard Caddy with all seven seats in place has a tiny boot - just 191 litres.
The Caddy Maxi addresses this with a much more useful 446 litres with all seven seats in place. Remove the third row (you can request not to have the third row in the Maxi and VW will refund you some money) and that extends to an enormous 1,720 litres.
Even outside of the stats, it’s the height of the Caddy’s load bay that’s a real boon – it’s possible to fit a low fridge-freezer in upright, for example. The downside of that height is the tailgate: it’s a massive panel that’s difficult to open in tight parking spaces. There’s no electric opening option, either, while it’s a shame the rear glass doesn’t open independently to quickly drop items in.
Performance & drive: What is the Volkswagen Caddy like on the road?
The Caddy is certainly not a vehicle you buy for out-and-out performance, but it’s nice to know that it’s not hopelessly underpowered on the motorway and able to deal with the cut-and-thrust of UK roads.
It’s rare to see a diesel-dominated engine range these days, but the Caddy offers two versions of the venerable VW 2.0 TDI unit – one with 102hp mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and another with 122hp exclusively mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic.
We’ve tried the more powerful, DSG-equipped versions and found it delivers perfectly ample performance, mainly thanks to the diesel-typical 236lb ft of effortless low-down torque. So, while it isn’t the smoothest engine to rev out, you don’t really need to most of the time.
While it occasionally hesitates pulling away from junctions, the DSG gearbox is perfectly matched to the more powerful diesel, giving smooth and quick changes and always keeping it in the power band. We expect the less powerful diesel – with its manual gearbox and two-second 0-62mph penalty – might feel more laboured, particularly when full of passengers and luggage and especially so in Maxi form.
There’s also a single petrol option – a 116hp version of the well-known 1.5 TSI turbo unit. Having sampled it in other cars we’d expect it to be noticeably smoother than the diesel and offer decent performance, though again it’ll need to be worked harder than the diesels to extract meaningful pace out of it. Oddly, it’s solely available as a manual on the base Caddy but exclusively DSG-equipped on the Life.
Power, 0-62mph times
- Caddy 2.0 TDI: 102hp/ 13.5 secs
- Caddy 2.0 TDI DSG: 122hp/ 11.4 secs
- Caddy 1.5 TSI (DSG or manual): 116hp/ 11.9 secs
- Caddy Maxi 2.0 TDI: 102hp/ 14.0 secs
- Caddy Maxi 2.0 TDI DSG: 122hp/ 11.8 secs
- Caddy Maxi 1.5 TSI (DSG or manual): 116hp/ 12.4 secs
Ride and handling
The latest VW Caddy now shares a lot more with the brand’s passenger cars, shunning the old leaf spring suspension previous versions came with for coil springs with the intention of a much better ride and handling balance.
That translates to on-road manners much like a Golf, albeit one that’s taller and heavier. You get accurate, well-weighted steering, excellent stability and strong, confidence inspiring brakes, making the Caddy one of the better van-based models to drive.
Of course, that height disadvantage over a Golf means more body lean and a touch less grip, but that’s only an issue in extremes, and for what is essentially a van the Caddy is very well sorted.
More important is the improvement in ride comfort. Whereas the old Caddy felt unsettled and bouncy over poor road surfaces, the new model is much more settled and comfortable. In fact, we reckon it rides more smoothly over bumps than VW’s own Tiguan – you can thank the modest 16-inch wheels for that.
One thing worth bearing in mind is the substantial extra length the Maxi model brings. Although the extra 100kg of weight doesn’t make the handling drastically different, it does make a difference when parking, while the turning circle is 0.7m wider than the standard wheelbase model.
Noise and refinement
There are a few areas where the Caddy’s van origins are evident, and refinement is one of them. It’s far from bad, but when compared to a Golf or Tiguan the diesel engine is a bit noisier at idle and under load. The main issue is wind noise from the tall body and chunky mirrors, but road noise isn’t too bad overall. The Caddy’s refinement is about on a par than other van-based models, however.
Euro NCAP: is the Volkswagen Caddy MPV a safe car?
Euro NCAP crash tested the Caddy in 2021 and awarded it the maximum five-star rating – meaning it meets the standard expected of a new family car.
Individual occupant protection scores of 84% for adults and 82% for children are good but not outstanding – a Citroen Berlingo offers better protection for adults, while several SUVs have higher scores also. Still, we’re talking about marginal gains as the Caddy performs well overall.
The Caddy gets most of the safety kit of an equivalent family car, including automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane keep assistance, traffic sign recognition, a driver alert system and a full suite of airbags including a centre airbag to prevent the driver and passenger colliding in a crash.
Cruise control is also standard, but adaptive cruise control is an optional extra in a package that includes power folding mirrors, blind spot assistance and park assist. All Caddys do get rear parking sensors to avoid low-speed prangs, but you’ll need a Caddy Life for front sensors and a rear-view camera.
Fuel economy and running costs
When it comes to running costs, the VW Caddy certainly gives your average family SUV a run for its money, too. Opt for the most efficient 2.0 TDI variant and it’ll manage up to 53.3mpg combined on the WLTP test.
Opting for the more powerful 122hp version of the same engine brings a negligible fuel economy penalty, down to 51.4mpg combined. Similarly, the larger Caddy Maxi in diesel guise sees a drop of about 2mpg over the standard Caddy, while the plusher Caddy Life loses about 1mpg across the range.
Those figures are pretty strong, but we know that diesel isn’t exactly flavour of the month these days. Happily the Caddy 1.5 TSI petrol isn’t exactly thirsty, managing up to 43.5mpg combined (down to 42.2mpg in the Caddy Maxi and Caddy Life).
No version of the Caddy is susceptible to the Expensive Car Supplement (or Luxury Car Tax) that applies a hefty annual tax to cars costing over £40,000. That’s another bonus – many family SUVs tend to cross this barrier in higher specs, not least VW’s own Tiguan.
The only criticism we can level at the Caddy in this area is the lack of any plug-in hybrid variant. This means that company car drivers will continue flooding to models like the Tiguan eHybrid due to the massive Benefit-in-Kind tax savings.
How much does the Volkswagen Caddy MPV cost to insure?
Forget tiny city cars with even tinier engines – it might surprise you to learn that the Volkswagen Caddy is one of the cheapest cars to insure on sale. Insurance groups range from a modest group 8 for entry-level 1.5 TSI petrol models up to 13 for the largest, highest-spec diesel.
Perhaps the relative lack of desirability next to your typical family SUV is a factor, because even the most basic VW Tiguan sits in group 18.
Volkswagen Caddy FAQs
Is the Volkswagen Caddy a car or a van?
Well, it’s both. The van version of the VW Caddy is called the Cargo, while the passenger carrying version is just Caddy, or Caddy Life for the upgraded model. Unlike previous Caddys, though, the latest version is based on a car underneath.
Is a VW Caddy big enough to sleep in?
Absolutely, with a load compartment length of 1.913mm the standard Caddy is just about capable of letting you sleep in the back with the seats removed, but the longer Maxi would be best for tall people. Volkswagen even do a Caddy California factory converted camper.
Is the Caddy Maxi bigger than the Caddy?
Yes, the Caddy Maxi has a longer wheelbase and longer body to give more interior space than the Caddy. The wheelbase increases from 2,755mm to 2,970mm, while the Maxi’s overall length increases by 353mm.
