1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188 
BEST N CLASS
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM does not shy away from highlighting weaknesses in the vehicles it tests so it's only fair to applaud excellence, and the latest incarnation of the VW Caddy really is hard to fault.
Is there such a thing as perfection? In this world of ever evolving lifestyles will there be a point where people arrive at a conclusion that satisfies all their demands and ambitions? Probably not, but that's the joy of things. Life is all about learning from your mistakes and using the knowledge gained for future reference.Take the world of commercial vehicles. Just when one manufacturer thinks it's ironed out all the faults that blighted its previous model along comes a rival with a new and improved contender to rain on its parade,The benefit is that the customer gets more choice and a constantly improving product.
VW's Caddy was launched onto the British market earlier this year and the general consensus was that it was a real step forward, offering solid build quality and overall practicality. As seems inevitable with new models, it's bigger than its predecessor, offers more loadspace and higher payloads, and manages to combine more power with better fuel consumption.
On the downside, it could have done with a bit more oomph.
German manufacturers obviously listen to their operators because we've now got a 1.9-litre DTI common-rail version producing 103hp and 250Nm of torque, compared with the initial 2.0-litre SDI unit which could only manage 68hp. So now that the Caddy's only noteworthy shortcoming has been addressed,has perfection been achieved?
Priced at £10.550 the TDI is only £900 more than the SDI. Ford's Connect, our current favourite in the class, is £10,580 and Vauxhall's Combo is £10,469. Like rivals Ford, Fiat and Vauxhall, VW has chosen to build its contender in a low labour cost area, in this case Poznan in Poland. The result is that the Caddy is more competitively priced than the previous model.
Not traditionally associated with the phrase "standard equipment",VW has pushed the boat out on the Caddy in a bid to draw in those who tend to make their judgements primarily on cost. For your money you get remote central locking, an immobiliser, ABS, EBC (engine braking control),TCS (traction control system ), radio/CD player and a driver's airbag. Not a bad deal by any means. Options include air-con,1675: rubber floor covering,E70; a second sliding door,1220;sat-nav,i1,320; and, in what may be a first in the class, heated front seats for £180.
Now in its third generation, the Caddy first appeared in 1982 as a Golf-based pickup; the company plans to sell around 3,900 units this year and 4,000 in 2005.
Productivity
Compared with the previous generation the new Caddy is a heavier vehicle (2,235kg GVW compared with 1,760kg) soil has to justify this increase with reasonable fuel economy. On the plus side the 1.9-litre unit incorporates the company's Pumpe Duse technology (unit injector in English). This maximises the efficiency of the fuel-injection system, allowing a finer adjustment of the fuel injection process with much higher pressure, resulting, theoretically, in higher torque with no loss of fuel economy.
We recorded a respectable 43.2mpg for a laden run around the Kent test route, just heating the Connect and Fiat Doblo with 43.0 and 43.1mpg respectively, but slightly behind the Corsa's 44.0mpg, Running unladen the Caddy surged ahead with 51.4mpg, compared with the Corsa's 49,1mpg and the Doblo's 47.3mpg, The new generation of vans in this class are unashamedly heavier than their predecessors —the Caddy follows a trend by crossing the 2,000kg mark which reduces their legal speed on dual carriageways from 70 to 60mph and from 60 to 50mph on A-roads. Policing these minor reductions is another issue entirely and should not be seen as a hindrance to the overall package.
In the case of the Caddy the extra weight leads to a capable payload of 819kg—just short of the Connect's 825kg but better than the rest. And getting this weight into the rear is a simple affair due to a side door that opens right out with a thoroughly engineered action and a loadspace area that is completely flat and designed for maximum usage of space. Load volume is 3.2in' which is equal best in class.The rear doors open to 180° and VW has continued the popular 'larger door-smaller door' setup that allows better access to the rear with only one (larger) door open.
One small complaint is that to open the doors beyond 90° entails pushing the hinges in at the joint when a plastic device could have been used we even got our fingers dirty!
To maximise loadspace access an optional driver's side door is available and would be a useful extra if you're in and out of the rear on a constant basis. Keeping the load in the rear is a plastic bulkhead that restricts seat movement to the rear, but only slightly. It certainly wasn't a problem.
The Caddy's warranty is for three years/ 100,000 miles. Oil change intervals are every 10,000 miles with major services every two years.
On the road
There may be a few Postman Pat' jibes regarding the look of the new Caddy —its high, flat sides do contain certain cartoon elements—but look past that and you have an attractive, well proportioned van that disguises its increased size: up 179mm in length and 107mm in width from the previous model.
Every new generation of van tends to bring with it an improved level of surefootedness and control on the move that even five years ago seemed beyond reach, and the Caddy is no exception. It performs like a well sorted hatchback, turning into corners with a positive action and tracking the chosen line with ease.
The speed-sensitive steering is nicely weighted and firms up considerably once you're on the move, giving good feedback in the corners.
Keeping the Caddy on the road, the suspension (independent at the front and load dependent at the rear) handles corners with ease even when pushed. It is reassuringly backed up by traction control (TCS), which is very useful with a full load on board.
Push it to the limit and a degree of understeer is evident, but ease off a tad and it tucks back into the chosen line — better for us to hammer it on the test track than for you to find out in the wet at night. Out on A-roads and motorways it feels unshakeable, cruising at speed without fuss. Cross-winds pose no problem and the steering feels rock solid.
Aiding the driving experience is the 1.9-litre TDI unit. It's a willing performer and once warm pulls with zest, especially when unladen. Working through the revs is a breeze, the torque curve is nicely progressive and peaks just where you need it. It sounds good too. But when fully laden you do need a delicate foot on the clutch to get an even takeoff Helping to get the most out of the unit is a five-speed manual box that combines a short throw with a positive mechanical action.
Slowing down also proved to be effortless. With disc brakes all round enhanced by ABS, EBC (engine braking control) and Brake Assist, which automatically applies extra pressure when needed, it was no surprise that the Caddy performed admirably in tests. Slamming on the anchors brought it to an immediate halt, those electronic gizmos really cutting down the distance under perfect control. Most impressive.
Cab comfort Further progress is evident in the interior. It feels stylish and accommodating; not your usual fare of black on black. The dark-grey dashboard contrasts nicely with the light-grey/cream doors and seats, which are flecked with colour. The driver's seat is multi-adjustable and includes a pump-action handle at the side that allows it to be raised and lowered, complementing the rake/reach adjustable steering wheel and creating a positive driving position.
Ergonomics, a German speciality, are excellent with efficiently laid controls that are also attractive to the eye.The central dials are easy to read and the secondary controls such as the heater and especially the optional satnay are simple louse.
All this sounds very good, and it is, but the game has been raised due to an obsessive attention to detail. OK,so fitting windscreen wipers that pause for a few seconds after they've cleared the wash water to catch that inevitable last trickle is not like inventing the wheel. Nor are the indicators that flash three times if you tilt them up/down instead of clicking them all the way. But has it been done before on a van like this? No. Does it in some small way improve the driving experience? Of course. Who knows, it might make it a little bit safer to drive as well?