Volkswagen reveals new Caddy Maxi

Hold onto your hats because Volkswagen has debuted the new Caddy Maxi which goes on sale this autumn alongside the standard wheelbase Caddy van. Prices are expected to start at around £15,500 excluding VAT, a slight increase on the current model.

While it may look similar to the current Caddy Maxi, Volkswagen assures us this one is all-new. The big news is a much needed increase in payload. The Caddy Maxi can cope with 1005kg - a big increase from the maximum 750kg of the outgoing model. This means it's now able to rival the likes of the Ford Transit Connect.

The cabin changes are more obvious with new seats, buttons and a revamped instrument cluster. Volkswagen has also fitted a new radio/navigation system and all models have a colour touchscreen as standard. In-van connectivity should also be easier, with the MirrorLink option, allowing 'mirroring' of smartphone display on the infotainment touchscreen.

It's powered by the same 2.0 TDI engine as the standard Caddy with three versions available - 75PS, 102PS and the top 150PS. This engine may be bigger than the 1.6 TDI in the current model, but Volkswagen says it will be more economical with a BlueMotion model on the way. The standard gearbox is five-speed manual (six-speed on the 150PS model) while a DSG automatic is also available.

A passenger version - the Caddy Maxi Life - will also be offered. This has three rows of seats meaning it can seat seven. All the seats can also be removed to offer van like cargo space - 3700 litres in total.

New safety features on the Caddy Maxi include Front Assist. This includes City Emergency Braking which will automatically brake the van if the driver fails to see an obstacle below 19mph. Good if you're not paying attention at the McDonald's drive-thru. There is also adaptive cruise control for the first time on a Caddy. Obviously these are both optional.

The new Caddy and Caddy Maxi will be launched in Germany in June and will arrive in the UK shortly after. The exact pricing and specification will be announced in the coming months.