Volkswagen Caddy

For a people mover, the Volkswagen Caddy has got a cabin that looks and feels a bit premium, though not by a big margin. While it is not as plush and luxurious as other premium MUVs, it does feel decently equipped with the top-notch build quality.

The Volkswagen Caddy shares its flat-bottom steering wheel as well as simple looking instrument console with other entry-level Volkswagen offerings which might not excite you with its too functional layout.

The slating pattern for the centre console might not win any beauty contest but is ergonomically well laid out with the touchscreen infotainment system placed a bit lower and AC controls positioned above it – this inverted placement is rare but does play in Caddy’s favour.

The Volkswagen Caddy has been fitted with some really feel-good features like automatic climate control, cruise control, 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto and height adjustment and lumbar support for both front seats. Speaking of space, despite its compact size, the Volkswagen Caddy has been cleverly engineered to seat seven people with amole comfort levels.

The Volkswagen Caddy is far from the modern sleek MUVs as far as looks are concerned. While Volkswagen has nicely evolved the original styling of the Caddy in a more modern manner, the Caddy still looks boxy and awkward beyond the B-pillar, which makes it look very van like in appearance.

The front of the Volkswagen Caddy, though, looks very car-like and sleek with the familiar rectangular grille with two chrome slats flanked by angular headlamps with slightly rounded edges, fitted with projector units for better illumination ahead. The face looks very Volkswagen like and similar to the more affordable models like Golf and Jetta.

The side profile of the Volkswagen Caddy reminds you that it is a typical van with its sliding doors and boxy profile, with the roof bulging upwards from the middle of the roofline. The design for the doors as well as alloy wheels too is quite plain.

While viewed from the back too, the Volkswagen Caddy again doesn’t impress a lot with its plain and boxy layout. However, the vertical tail lamps on the outer edges do come with LED inserts that do look a bit cool.

Given its boxy styling and heightened stance, the Volkswagen Caddy is not a driver’s delight, with sufficient body roll while cornering at higher speeds failing to inspire confidence among the driver. However, for its intent of carrying people with utmost comfort, the softer setup of Macpherson struts with double wishbone and anti-roll bars at the front and rigid rear axle on leaf springs with load-dependent damper and anti-roll bar at the rear do help the matters a lot.

The Volkswagen Caddy comes with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an auto start-stop system. This engine is paired to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox as standard and pumps out a maximum power output of 125 PS and a peak torque output of 220 Nm. 

The Volkswagen Caddy is quite well equipped for a people mover when it comes to safety, with kit like front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, multi-collision brakes, electronic stability program, traction control, electronic differential lock, hill hold control, driver fatigue detection, rear park distance control with reverse camera and sensors, front assist with city emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and cornering fog lamps at the front.

The Volkswagen Caddy tries to impress one with its premium appeal in terms of features and equipment on board as well as a spacious and comfortable cabin for seven. Though the boxy design and uninspiring driving dynamics of the Caddy might not appeal you at heart, the vehicle packs in practicality in abundance.