ROAD TEST | CADDY 4MOTION
FOUR SURE If you need a bit of extra traction but don’t want the expense and size of a pick-up, VW’s Caddy is a possible solution, says Dan Gilkes
T
he dedicated all-wheel drive van market is relatively small, with the likes of Toyota’s Land Cruiser Commercial at one end and the Iveco Daily 4x4 at the other. These are true off-road vehicles that can tackle the toughest of site conditions, while offering decent on-road travel. Of course, the 4x4 pick-up market achieves much the same thing, but without the load area privacy afforded by a panel van. When it comes to a more road-biased approach, Volkswagen’s 4Motion driveline has long been a favourite, offering primarily frontwheel drive, with the rear axle coming into play when needed.
Powertrain For the fifth-generation Caddy, the 4Motion driveline is only available
with the most powerful 122hp version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine. While this engine can be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or the seven-speed DSG in two-wheel drive models, the 4Motion is manual only, though that is no hardship. VW claims the same fuel consumption for both the manual and the DSG transmission with this engine, so the drop of around 5-6mpg listed for the 4Motion model is all down to the running gear. Despite not being in use all the time, the driveline will cost a little bit more at the pumps over the life of the van. The 122hp engine, which delivers a sturdy 320Nm of torque, propels the Caddy with ease, even in its longer Maxi layout. It’s an easy companion for longer drives and you recontinued on p32
Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Commerce 4Motion Basic price £23,195 Engine 2.0-litre TDi Euro 6D Power 122hp @ 2,750-4,250rpm Torque 320Nm @ 1,600-2,500rpm Weights (kg) GVW 2,400 Kerb weight 1,725 Payload 675 Towing 1,500 Dimensions (mm) Load space length 2,150 Load space width 1,614 Width between wheel arches 1,230 Load space height 1,275 Load volume 3.7m3 Cost considerations Mpg (WLTP) 51.4 CO2 143-149g/100km Fuel tank 50 litres AdBlue 15 litres Service interval Variable or 1 year/10,000 miles Warranty 3 years/100,000 miles
APRIL 2022 • VANUSER 31
