Welcome, the new Volkswagen Caddy

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched the fourth generation of its Caddy in South Africa.

The new Caddy offering has three variants: Panel Van, Crew Bus and Trendline. The CrossCaddy is replaced by the Alltrack variant, which will be available early 2016.

While the Panel Van and Crew Bus will appeal to commercial customers, the Trendline is designed to be the “compact people-mover” aimed at private customers.

The new Caddy’s exterior and interior design features sharper lines and clearly defined surfaces. The interior has been redesigned and features new generation infotainment equipment.

The engine line-up has been carried over from the previous model. The 1,6 petrol engine (available with a five-speed manual transmission) is only available in the Panel Van and Crew Bus and now delivers 81 kW of power instead of 75 kW.

The two diesel engines remain the 2.0-litre TDI units with power outputs of 81 kW and 103 kW. They drive through a six-speed DSG transmission.

Although a range of standard safety features is offered on all models, a special-edition Panel Van Sport will be available that boasts a diverse range of extras.

Depending on the model, other features include: tow bars, bi-xenon headlights and the sight package, which includes rain sensors and cruise control.

The Panel Van and Crew Bus come standard with a two-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and a three-year/60 000 km Automotion Service Plan; while the Trendline (including Alltrack) comes standard with three-year/120 000 km manufacturer warranty and a three-year/60 000 km Automotion Service Plan.

Pricing ranges from R229 400 to R387 300.