VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles launched the fourth-generation Caddy
panel van range in the Midlands today.
The third-generation vehicle saw about 23 400 Caddys being sold to
businesses and large families in South Africa during its 11-year life
cycle.
VW say the new Caddy has been enhanced and refined in every area to
ensure that it continues to be the benchmark in its segment. Three models are
available in nine derivatives, from the basic Caddy to the popular Crew Bus and
the Panel Van. While the Trendline is the most luxurious, the CrossCaddy is the
most trendy.
Design
As with all VW designs, the Caddy sports that
freshly ironed look with sharp creases and unwrinkled surfaces.
The fourth-generation has, however, moved away from round elements
to a square, more edgy look, giving what VW called in its press kit more
“presence, exclusivity and dynamism”.
The accentuated lines and shapes continue inside, where a
horizontal band with integrated air vents and a new generation of infotainment
equipment underline the new Caddy’s modern look.
Engines
An engineering maxim that ensure profitability
is not to fix what ain’t broken, which is why the new Caddy uses the same
engines as the third-generation.
The power has, however, been tweaked, with the
1,6-petrol engine in the Panel Van and Crew Bus now making 81 kW instead of
75 kW. Note, the Crew Bus only comes with this diesel engine.
The two-litre TDI engines are set to make 81 kW or 103 kW and are
sold on all the variants.
The 1,6-litre and 2,0 TDI with 81 kW are both available with a
five-speed manual transmission.
Meanwhile, the 2,0 TDI with 103 kW is only offered with a six-speed
DSG transmission.
Standard features
Standard safety features in all models include
ABS, ESP, multi-collision braking system, driver and front passenger air bags,
hill hold (only available with 103 kW) and fatigue detection (standard in 103 kW
and optional in other derivatives).
The special edition Panel Van Sport features painted bumpers,
electric windows and side mirrors, 16-inch Fortaleza alloy wheels, composition
audio radio with LCD Screen, climatic manual air-conditioning system and Comfort
package (cruise control, front fog lights and multi-function display).
The Trendline adds electric side mirrors and windows, a CD-radio
with Bluetooth, USB port and six speakers, alloy wheels, climatic manual
air-conditioning system, drawers under the front seats, a leather steering
wheel, multifunction display and speed-sensitive power steering.
Optional features
Customers of the new Caddy can individualise
their cars with a variety of the optional features. The optional features for
the Panel Van and Crew Bus include tow bar, 15 and 16-inch alloy wheels, park
distance control and radio-CD systems.
For the Trendline, the options on offer are
multifunction steering, seven-seater package, bi-xenon headlights, light and
sight package (light and rain sensors, cruise control and auto dimming rear-view
mirror).
A two year/unlimited kilometres warranty and a three-year/60 000 km
Automotion Service Plan are included with all models except the Trendline, for
which the warrantee is limited to 120 000 kilometres. All models also have
15 000 km service intervals and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Prices
The range is divided into the Panel Van, Crew
Bus, Trendline and All Track. To our mind, the best value is the Caddy Maxi Crew
Bus 2,0 TDI 81 kW, which lists for R265 200, compared to the basic Panel Van,
which starts at R210 800 for the same engine.
The “normal” 1,6i, 75 kW Caddy retails for R300 400 and R40 300
more turns this into the Cross Caddy so beloved by freelance
photographers.
Barons in Pietermaritzburg would like to remind readers that the
prices are recommended retail only, and the staff looks forward to showing sedan
drivers why Wheels always recommends
a Crew Bus for family lugging.
The competition
VW can rightfully assert that the Caddy range
sets the standard for small panel vans, which is why the Caddy Maxi is also used
as a paddy wagon to cart drunk and disorderly Brits to the tank after a night
out in London.
But the German van nevertheless face competent competition in mini
vans that range from Nissan’s EV200, selling from R229 700 for the panel van
and R290 500 for the NV200 Combi, to Ford’s 1-litre B-Max, selling from R221 900
and Fiat’s Qubo 1,4, selling from R200 990.
VW pickup not coming to SA. Nope. Really, really not.
AFTER Car magazine played most of South Africa for April Fools by
stating that VW has confirmed the Brazilian built half-ton pickup (shown right)
will come to South Africa, both VW sellers and buyers couldn’t wait for the
half-tonner.
The truth is that VW South Africa will not
import a bakkie that is already halfway through its life cycle and we may have
to wait a few more years for the face-lift before the company even looks at the
numbers to see if creating a right-hand steer for export to those few markets
that drive on the left is viable.
Bear in mind that all of South Africa’s annual
vehicle sales total less than one percent of global vehicle sales, which rather
puts our bakkie desires into perspective.
