Volkswagen Caddy 5 VS Volkswagen Transporter
Volkswagen Caddy 5
Likes
- People mover/van in one
- Performance and comfort
- Fuel economy
Dislikes
- List price
- Tow ball download
- Turning circle
Volkswagen Transporter
Likes
- Superb drivetrain
- Ride quality laden/unladen
- Fuel economy
Dislikes
- No ANCAP rating
- Small kerbside mirror
- Noise levels at highway speeds
Summary
Volkswagen Caddy 5
Volkswagen’s Caddy Life seven-seater combines compact dimensions with efficient use of internal space and seating flexibility to deliver an effective combination of comfort and utility.
We recently spent a week with the premium model to see if this people-mover can meet the diverse requirements of busy families for work and play, in a people-mover segment dominated by the Kia Carnival.
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| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.0L turbo |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Fuel Efficiency | 4.9L/100km |
| Seating | 7 seats |
Volkswagen Transporter
The VW Transporter has been in production for more than 70 years, as its bloodline can be traced back to the original rear-engine split-window ‘Kombi’ launched in 1950. So, during those seven decades, the German manufacturer has no doubt learned a thing or ten about building light commercial vans.
The current T-series of Transporters was launched in 1990, which was the first of six generations culminating in the current T6 range, that comprises not only work-focused vans but also people-mover, campervan and cab-chassis variants.
VW recently released a 6.1 version of vans and people-movers. That decimal point brings significant upgrades of standard safety equipment, headlined by City Emergency Brake (CEB), plus new variants. We recently put a Transporter 6.1 to work for a week and discovered a very capable mid-sized (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM) van with few flaws.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.0L turbo |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.5L/100km |
| Seating | 3 seats |
Verdict
Volkswagen Caddy 58.3/10
Families could easily grow to like the Caddy Life. It’s not only enjoyable and economical to drive but its surprisingly spacious cabin offers comfortable seating for all three rows, two of which can be easily removed and replaced as required. It would be equally competent serving as both a weekday family carry-all and weekend escape machine.
Volkswagen Transporter8/10
The Transporter boasts a level of mechanical refinement, engine performance, ride quality, heavy load-carrying ability and general driver comfort that sets a high benchmark in this category. If not for its lack of an ANCAP rating and unacceptably high internal noise levels at highway speeds, it would be hard to fault.
Design
Volkswagen Caddy 5
The front wheel-drive Caddy Life rides on a 'Maxi' 2970mm wheelbase with MacPherson strut front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, electronic-assisted power-steering and four-wheel disc brakes. It has a 12.1-metre turning circle, which is larger than some one-tonne vans.
The spacious and airy feel of its cabin belies its relatively compact external dimensions, which are shorter in wheelbase, shorter in overall length and narrower (excluding door mirrors) than the Kia Carnival.
However, the Caddy Life is slightly taller than the Kia, resulting in generous headroom for all which enhances its spacious feel.
As a result, this cabin can comfortably accommodate passengers ranging from small kids to lanky teenagers to tall adults in all three rows, which we confirmed courtesy of my 186cm frame.
There’s ample space for the driver and front passenger and the second-row seating also offers adequate knee room, even for someone my height when sitting behind the driver’s seat in my position.
There’s less knee room in the centre position, though, due to the protruding console.
The second-row base cushions, which are split roughly 70/30, don’t have slide adjustment but you can alter the backrest angle. Although three kids could fit comfortably here, larger teens and adults would have limited shoulder room. So, for long trips with grown-ups, the second-row would work best with two.
And even though the third-row base-cushions are also fixed, the rearmost seating is remarkably spacious. Although the flat floor results in elevated knees for someone my height, it still provides enough foot, knee, shoulder and headroom for adequate comfort, so kids would find it even more accommodating.
Volkswagen Transporter
Our test vehicle’s 3400mm wheelbase is 400mm longer than the standard model, resulting in a corresponding increase in overall vehicle length to 5304mm and a 300mm increase in turning circle to 13.2 metres.
Its 1904mm width is an easy fit in most loading zones and the standard roof’s 1990mm height means it can access most underground and multi-storey carparks which typically cap vehicle heights under 2.2 metres. It comes standard with a kerbside cargo bay sliding door and single-lift tailgate.
The well-developed front wheel-drive chassis is simple and robust with MacPherson strut front suspension and semi-trailing arm coil-spring rear suspension, the latter equipped with stout rubber cones inside the spring coils to provide a second stage of support under heavy loads. Optional heavy-duty and rough road suspension packages are also available. Brakes are four-wheel discs.
You can always pick a van designed for hard work by the amount of black plastic in body areas prone to high wear and/or scrapes, chips and dents and the Transporter has most of those covered, including the front and rear bumpers, lower rear pillars, hubcaps, door handles and mirrors.
The cabin has a back-to-basics look and feel as highlighted by numerous plastic caps blanking dashboard slots where switches are fitted to higher-equipped models. However, it has most of what you need and none of what you don’t for this working role. Even so, the lack of fold-down inboard armrests and a driver’s left footrest are notable omissions and both would be welcome for long stints behind the wheel.
Practicality
Volkswagen Caddy 5
With its 1742kg tare weight (unladen) and 2450kg GVM, the Caddy Life has a 708kg payload rating. In real world use, seven large adults would use up most if not all of that before you could add any luggage, so keep this load limit in mind if you need to carry half a rugby team to training.
However, for most urban requirements involving kids, this weight limit would be more than adequate if you need to haul them and their friends and their gear for a multitude of tasks, from weekday school runs to weekend sports to holiday getaways. And up to 100kg of that 708kg can be carried on the roof, which is ideal for storage solutions like roof-pods.
The Caddy Life is also rated to tow up to 1500kg of braked trailer. And with its generous 4213kg GCM rating (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time), that means it can haul its maximum payload while towing its maximum trailer weight, which is a handy capability for many work or play duties.
However, given the tow ball download (TBD) limit is only 75kg, that could present a challenge for those wanting to tow 1500kg given that TBD is usually around 10 per cent of trailer weight (or in this case about double the stated TBD limit).
Even so, one of the Caddy Life’s best features is the versatility of its second and third-row seats, which can be configured to significantly expand load volume.
For example, the backrests on both rows can be folded flat to provide a raised load floor sufficient for carting many bulky items from a load of cardboard for recycling to flatpack furniture.
However, if you need maximum load volume, the second and third rows can be easily removed from the vehicle to create a spacious van.
For starters, there’s more than half a metre of floor length and almost half a cubic metre of load volume behind the third-row seats, which is ideal for grocery shops, school bags and the like.
This expands to more than 1.4 metres of floor and more than 1.7 cubic metres of load volume when the third-row seat is removed.
This space expands again to more than 2.2 metres of floor length and more than 3.0 cubic metres of load volume with both the second and third rows removed.
That’s in the same ballpark as the small commercial van class (under 2.5-tonne GVM) and the sliding doors on either side provide similar load access, so in terms of moving either people or cargo, the versatility of this design makes it very efficient at both.
Given its primary role as a people-mover, there’s generous internal storage for personal items, starting with a large-bottle holder and deep bin in the base of each front door. There’s also a handy driver’s drawer in the right-side dash, open storage in the centre dash-pad and a large glove box.
The centre console has a pair of small-bottle/cupholders and there’s a lidded box at the rear. There’s also a full-width overhead shelf which can hold heaps of stuff and doesn’t feel too close to your forehead due to the generous roof height.
Second-row passengers get a small-bottle/cupholder and bin in each sliding door, plus there are pockets on the front seat backrests and some handy fold-down trays complete with cupholders which are ideal for snacks, games etc on long trips.
Third-row passengers are also well catered for with small-bottle/cupholders and storage on each side.
Volkswagen Transporter
With its 1865kg tare weight and 3000kg GVM, our test vehicle has a genuine one-tonne-plus payload rating of 1135kg and up to150kg of that can be carried on the roof. It’s also rated to tow up to 2500kg of braked trailer but that would require a sizeable 583kg reduction in payload to avoid exceeding the 4917kg GCM or Gross Combination Mass, which is how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time. Or you could keep the full payload and reduce the towing limit instead, from 2500kg to 1917kg, which may be a more useful compromise depending on work requirements.
The cargo bay, which offers 5.0 cubic metres of load volume, is 2975mm long, 1700mm wide and 1410mm high with 1244mm between the rear wheel housings. That means it can carry two 1165mm-square standard Aussie pallets, or up to three 1200 x 800mm Euro pallets, secured by a choice of eight load-anchorage points. However, the single-lift tailgate could make rear forklift access tricky, depending on forklift design and reach. The sliding door has a generous 1017mm opening for kerbside loading.
Although the load floor is bare and there’s no standard cargo protection for driver and passenger (optional rubber load floor mats and cargo barriers are available), the cargo bay walls and doors are lined to mid-height and the roof is also lined, with two roof lights providing ample illumination.
Cabin storage includes a large-bottle holder and huge storage bin in each front door, with a narrower second-tier storage shelf above which is ideal for holding smaller items like wallets, keys etc.
The dash provides another small-items cubby to the right of the steering wheel and the top dash-pad has small-bottle/cup holders at each end plus a steeply-angled open tray on the driver’s side which is ideal for storing clipboards, paperwork etc.
There’s no overhead sun-glasses holder but the passenger side of the dash offers two tiers of open storage and a large glovebox, plus another small-bottle/cup holder to the left of the gearshift console. An overhead storage shelf would be handy, given that there’s no centre console.
Price and features
Volkswagen Caddy 5
Our Life test vehicle is the premium offering in the two-model Caddy range, in this case powered by a TDI 320 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Its list price of $56,790 is considerably more than the base model Kia Carnival diesel ($52,380) which offers an extra seating position. Our example is also finished in 'Fortana Red' metallic paint, which is an extra-cost option.
As the top-shelf model, the Caddy Life comes standard with 17-inch ‘Barahona’ alloys and 215/55R17 tyres plus a full-size steel spare, heated door mirrors, a power tailgate and side/rear privacy glass.
There’s also tasteful chrome detailing on the grille, roof-rails, sliding-door rails and body badges along with colour-coded bumpers and door-handles. Combined with the optional premium paint, this bling creates an upmarket appearance consistent with its premium model status.
Inside the carpeted and surprisingly spacious cabin are three rows of seating (the second and third rows are easily removable) neatly finished in ‘Trialog’ diamond-quilt-style fabric trim.
The driver is treated to keyless start, a multi-adjustable seat including four-way power lumbar support, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and a large left footrest.
There’s also an 8.25-inch colour touchscreen which serves as central command for the four-speaker multimedia system, with digital radio and multiple connectivity including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Some vehicle settings, including climate control, auto stop/start etc are also touchscreen-controlled, but thankfully audio volume and tuning still use physical dials.
The family-friendly cabin also includes dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, wireless phone-charging, two USB-C ports, two 12-volt sockets, fold-down tables and heating/cooling vents for second-row passengers, LED reading lights, rear luggage compartment cover, lots of places to store stuff and more.
Volkswagen Transporter
Our test vehicle is the long wheelbase variant with standard roof height, TDI340 turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for RRP $47,990. This compares to higher-selling mid-sized turbo-diesel rivals like the Ford Transit Custom LWB 340L with six-speed auto ($47,590), Hyundai iLoad with six-speed auto ($42,710) and segment-leading Toyota HiAce LWB with six-speed auto ($45,240).
It's basic and work-focused as you’d expect, from its 16-inch steel wheels and 205/65R 16C tyres with full-size spare to its cloth seats and tough rubber floor covering in the cabin. However, that doesn’t mean you miss out on some useful and welcome creature comforts, like a leather-covered steering wheel with height/reach adjustment and infotainment controls, driver’s seat adjustable lumbar support, halogen daytime running lights (DRL), rain-sensing wipers, heated tailgate window with washer/wiper, multi-function driver’s display, four-speaker infotainment system with 6.5-inch touchscreen and multiple connectivity including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto plus lots of standard safety tech.
There’s also heaps of factory options available to help tailor a Transporter to suit an owner’s specific requirements including different cargo bay door and window configurations (including twin rear barn-doors), front passenger bench seat with under-seat storage, higher-spec infotainment systems and lots more.
Under the bonnet
Volkswagen Caddy 5
Our premium grade Caddy Life is powered by VW’s excellent 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel which produces 90kW of power at 2750-4250rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1500-2500rpm.
It’s paired with an equally refined seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which provides the option of sequential manual-shifting in 'Sport' mode using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. There's also an electronic diff lock.
Worth noting there's also a TSI220 version powered by a 84kW/220Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.
Volkswagen Transporter
This engine and transmission combination is the jewel in the Transporter crown with its energetic, flexible and efficient performance. The 2.0 litre, four-cylinder, direct-injection TDI340 turbo-diesel meets Euro 6 emissions using AdBlue and produces 110kW between 3250-3750rpm and 340Nm of torque across a 1500rpm-wide torque band between 1500-3000rpm.
The closely-spaced ratios in the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic are tailored to get the most out of this willing engine, with crisp and virtually seamless shifting. It also offers the choice of manual sequential-shifting, when hauling heavy loads in hilly terrain or simply for those wanting a more ‘sporting’ driving experience, but the seven-speeder usually does its best work when left to its own devices.
Efficiency
Volkswagen Caddy 5
VW claims an official combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle consumption of only 4.9L/100km. By comparison, the dash display was showing a more realistic 7.2 at the completion of our 230km of testing, which was a mix of city, suburban and highway driving with a variety of loads, from driver-only to all seven seats being filled when attending a sporting event.
The dash readout was very close to our own figure of 7.8L/100km, calculated from actual fuel bowser and tripmeter readings, which is still thrifty economy for a seven-seater.
So, based on our numbers, you could expect a ‘real world’ driving range of around 640km from its 50-litre tank.
Volkswagen Transporter
We covered 283km (with auto start/stop disabled) which included about one third of that distance with a maximum payload. The dash display was claiming an average combined consumption of 8.1L/100km when we stopped to top-up the 80-litre tank. Our own figure calculated from fuel bowser and tripmeter readings came in even lower at 7.7 and both undercut VW’s official combined figure of 8.3L/100km. Needless to say, that’s outstanding real-world economy, which based on our figures should deliver a huge driving range of 900-1000km from its sizeable 80-litre tank. Possibly even further with auto start/stop enabled.
Driving
Volkswagen Caddy 5
It exudes solid build quality and design integrity with light and responsive steering, strong braking and a typically European ride that strikes the right balance between the firmness needed for reassuring handling response and the suppleness needed to soak up bumps.
The seven-speed dual-clutch auto does a good job keeping the turbo-diesel operating within its torque sweet-spot between 1500-2500rpm for most of the time, where engine response is at its strongest in city and suburban driving.
Even when hauling a sizeable payload, as we did with all seven seats occupied, the 2.0-litre engine’s hearty 320Nm of torque maintained good response around town, where it didn’t feel overly sluggish or require manual-shifting to sharpen its response under this load.
It’s also a relaxed highway cruiser, requiring only 1600rpm to maintain 110km/h. Noise suppression is also commendable at these speeds, with negligible engine, tyre and wind noise intrusion.
Volkswagen Transporter
Four-coil suspension provides a noticeably supple unladen ride quality, which is impressive for a commercial vehicle with a one-tonne payload rating. It also feels sure-footed and well planted on the road, particular on the many wet roads we encountered during a rain-affected week of testing.
With its upright steering wheel angle and nicely-weighted steering feel, it offers a comfortable almost car-like driving experience. The driver’s seat has height, backrest rake and lumbar adjustment; there’s no rake adjustment for the base cushion but it doesn’t really need it. There are also clear eyelines to all mirrors, a nicely-positioned gearshift and an uncluttered dashboard/instrument layout that’s easy to read and operate.
The 2.0 litre turbo-diesel has energetic response in its peak torque band between 1500-3000rpm, where most city and suburban driving occurs. Snappy, seamless up-shifting occurs between 1500-2000rpm, providing brisk acceleration with excellent fuel economy. At highway speeds, good gearing ensures the engine needs only 1800rpm to maintain 100km/h and 1900rpm at 110km/h.
We only have two criticisms. One is the size and limited wide-angle effect of the left-side mirror, given the huge blind-spot that a solid-walled long wheelbase van like this creates over the driver’s left shoulder. Although the Transporter is (thankfully) equipped with blind-spot monitoring, a larger kerbside mirror with a more convex shape to increase its angle of view would be welcome.
The other is high internal noise levels at highway speeds emanating from the rear wheel housings. On some grades of coarse bitumen it can sound like the roar of a jet engine, which is too loud for sustained periods and could be a deal-breaker if you do a lot of highway work. We have recently tested rival vans without cabin bulkheads which have appreciably lower cargo bay noise levels at similar speeds (most notably a Chinese brand), so it can be done.
Safety
Volkswagen Caddy 5
It has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating awarded in 2021 (expires Dec 2027). Passive safety includes front, side and centre airbags for driver and front passenger plus side-curtain airbags for all three rows.
The extensive active safety menu includes AEB with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, autonomous oncoming vehicle braking when turning, front and rear parking assist, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and lots more.
There are three top-tether child-seat restraints for the second-row and two for the third-row, plus two ISOFIX anchorage points for both the second and third-rows.
Volkswagen Transporter
There's no ANCAP rating but the Transporter 6.1 adds to an already extensive list of active and passive safety with the following features now standard: front assist with city emergency braking (aka low-speed AEB), crosswind assist, side-assist including blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic alert and multi-collision brake. There’s also driver and passenger front and side curtain airbags plus lots more.
Ownership
Volkswagen Caddy 5
Warranty is five years/unlimited km plus 12 months roadside assist.
Scheduled servicing is every 12 months/15,000km whichever occurs first.
Capped-price for the first five scheduled services up to five years/75,000km totals $3275, or an average of $655 per year. VW also offers pre-paid five-year service plans which offer significant savings.
Volkswagen Transporter
Five years/unlimited km warranty with 12 months complimentary roadside assist. Scheduled servicing every 12 months/15,000km whichever occurs first. Capped-price servicing for first five scheduled services up to five years/75,000km of $3082.