Review: Volkswagen Caddy (2010 – 2015)

Volkswagen Caddy (2010 – 2015): At A Glance

• On average it achieves 85% of the official MPG figure

Volkswagen Caddy (2010 – 2015): What's It Like Inside?

This generation Caddy is essentially a revamped version of the 2003 model so it's not the newest van around and that does have an impact on versatility. You can just about squeeze a Euro pallet in the Caddy lengthways but most rivals have more room between the rear wheelarches so they are able to fit a pallet in widthways. The Caddy Maxi has more length but it's no wider and has the same issues, despite having an impressive overall load volume of 4.2m3.

On the plus side it does get six mounting rings in the floor plus a hardboard roof liner. The standard van has a sliding side door on the passenger side, while the Caddy Maxi range has sliding doors on both sides. These doors are 700 mm wide to make load access easier, but that's not as wide as vans like the Mercedes-Benz Citan and Renault Kangoo.At the back there are asymmetrically split, rear double-wing doors. The window van gets a tailgate instead.  A second sliding side door is an option for the standard Caddy plus a rear tailgate can be specified, although we'd suggest sticking with the standard twin doors. The tailgate is big and it's not easy to open in tight spaces.

Loading and unloading is easier thanks to low load sills - less than 60cm for both the Caddy and Caddy Maxi while the Caddy BlueMotion Technology is even lower at 56cm due to its lowered suspension. However another area where the Caddy lags behind other small vans is payload. It can carry a maximum of 750kg whereas a Fiat Doblo Cargo XL can cope with 1000kg.

It's also disappointing that the Caddy doesn't come with a full steel bulkhead as standard. Unlike the majority of its rivals, the Volkswagen has a half-height version and although there's a plastic mesh at the top it's not as reassuring as having a full bulkhead. That said you can add the C20+ pack for a further £100 which gets you a full height bulkhead which is more secure and means there's less noise too. The pack also adds heavy duty suspension and opague glass for the rear doors.

What's the Volkswagen Caddy (2010 – 2015) like to drive?

The Caddy feels every inch the upmarket van it's billed as. Both diesel engines are quiet and refined yet still offer strong performance for their outputs. That said, the entry-level 1.6 TDI with 75PS and 225Nm of torque can feel like it's struggling if you have a full load on board. It's not too noticeable around town but getting up to speed on a dual carriageway can prove long-winded.

The more powerful 102PS 1.6 TDI is a much better option and offers the best combination of performance and economy in the range. Go for the BlueMotion Technology version - which gets revised gearing, low friction tyres, a start/stop system and brake energy recuperation - and claimed economy rises to 55.4mpg for the standard wheelbase version.

Despite the modest power figures, the more powerful 1.6 TDI engine is surprisingly quick in the Caddy, helped by 250Nm of torque. It still only has a five-speed gearbox, but it's easy to hustle the Caddy along if you need to. It will happily sit at 70mph on the motorway with very little noise, making it ideal for longer haul work.

Above that is the 2.0 TDI 110PS which comes exclusively with 4Motion four-wheel drive. If you're going to be towing or covering more demanding terrain then this could make a lot of sense, especially if you fit it with mud and snow tyres. The top engine is the 2.0 TDI with 140PS which manages 0-62mph in 10 seconds. It's a highly rated engine and turns the Caddy into a little rocket, helped by 320Nm of torque and a six-speed manual gearbox. Economy is still reasonable at 47.1mpg and it's a very relaxed engine on the motorway, barely breaking a sweat.

Volkswagen has worked hard to make its van range echo its car line-up, both in design and interiors. The same can also be said of the handling. The Caddy drives very much like a Volkswagen passenger car with well weighted steering and plenty of front end grip. It's impressively stable with a full load on board and on a country route it gives you plenty of confidence in its ability to tackle tight bends.

The ride is excellent too and it's a very comfortable van to travel in. At higher speeds it feels stable and on bumpy and undulating roads it keeps its composure well. Elements like the nicely weighted clutch and positive gear change  have a solid feel to them, helping put the Caddy a cut above the majority of the competition.

In town the Caddy is ideal thanks to its impressive manoevrability. It has a turning circle of 11.1 m, while the extra length of the Caddy Maxi’s wheelbase increases its turning circle to 12.2 m. Another plus is that ESP comes as standard on all models. 

Real MPG average for a Volkswagen Caddy (2010 – 2015)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their vehicles could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.