CADDY LETS YOU PLAY LIKE A GOLF

The cargo area offers up around 3.1 cubic metres of load volume, which given the two side doors and those wide opening rears enables loads of up to 1234mm wide and 1122mm high.

VW has built in six very convenient and well located tie down points through the rear cargo area and it has also fitted the rear with great and powerful LED lighting that is tremendous at illuminating the area, particularly at night.

Back in the cockpit the inclusion of what the aviation people call a glass cockpit, has brought some pluses and some minuses, particularly given a lot of switch gear has been removed and the functions transferred to the large infotainment screen. Some are easy to control and get used to, including the audio and a couple of other functions. However some things, such as turning off the auto stop function and even controlling the ventilation and air con is unbearably fussy and complicated, for what should be easy to pilot. We sometimes wonder if auto engineers ever think about the fact that a driver has to manage these things often when they are hurtling down the road at 100km/h. A little more thought here would go a long way.

The centrally located 8.25-inch infotainment screen, features connected or wired Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto. The screen also plays host to a rear view camera which is essential given the fact that the rear can be filled with vision blocking loads from time to time. Various other functions are housed in the system including access to vehicle settings, trip computer data, and as we mentioned the air-con and vent controls, which is a bit of a pain.

The audio system has FM radio but not AM or digital which is also a pain these days, except for the fact that we often listen to radio through an app which of course can be used through CarPlay or Android.

The cockpit immediately in front of the driver is equipped with a speedo, tacho, fuel and temp dials and a small multifunction display in between, with a digital speedo, trip computer data and media settings, depending on the screen chosen.

There are controls on the steering wheel controls with cruise control buttons on the left hand spoke and buttons to bring up info in the display in front on the right.

They’re easy to use and very well designed.

Safety features on the Caddy Cargo includes city-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) , lane-keep assistance, and the rear-view camera, while there is a front central airbag to protect occupants from banging into each other in a prang, and there are also firstand second-row curtain airbags, plus frontseat forward and side airbags.

For $2750 as an option you can have the Driver Assist Package which delivers an added level of AEB, this one with pedestrian detection, along with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as well as digital radio, black-painted door handles and heated and power folding mirrors.

If you want to splurge the Comfort Drive Travel Assist Package adds all of that plus lane-keep assist, park assist with front and rear park sensors, cyclist and oncoming vehicle when turning AEB intervention, as well as a digital driver’s display and a keyless entry and start.

Our test car had all of this included. Under the bonnet is the TDI320 turbo diesel, which is a two-litre, boasting 90kW of power and a substantial 320 Nm of torque and it delivers easy and quite economical performance, with that good torque making it easy to drive around town or on the highway. It’s mated to VW’s excellent seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which shifts smoothly and always seems to have the right cog for the job.

The stated average fuel consumption is 4.9 litres per 100km but after a week under test with us the Caddy returned a still respectable 7.2 litres per 100 km across a variety of conditions and with some spirited driving.

For a boxy panel van VW has also done a great job at NVH and the interior noise levels are very good. It’s a very quiet environment particularly when the dual clutch auto slots into top and you are cruising down the motorway, something that is almost certainly enhanced by the insertion of that bulkhead between the cab and the cargo area.

Thanks to the fact that it shares underpinning with the Golf the Caddy handles, steers and stops like a nimble little sedan. It doesn’t feel like a van and it certainly does drive like a Golf, while its ability to navigate narrow inner city roads and lanes is something it takes in its stride.

Some have criticised the ride of the Caddy but in all honesty we found it more than comfortable and with those good seats and low noise we were very cosy and enjoyed the dynamics.

The Caddy Cargo TDI320 we tested starts from $41,990 but our test model was fitted with Comfort Drive Travel Assist Package which added $5000 before options and on-road costs.

VW gives the Caddy a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

We reckon the Caddy is an attractive package if you want a small commercial with the best of both worlds, delivering strong performance and car like handling and ride but with that handy cargo area.

“IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE A VAN AND IT CERTAINLY DOES DRIVE LIKE A GOLF, WHILE ITS ABILITY TO NAVIGATE NARROW INNER CITY ROADS AND LANES IS SOMETHING IT TAKES IN ITS STRIDE”

SUV’s are pretty sexless really, let’s face it they’re generally boxes on wheels, with an overall lack of styling and they’re designed to haul the kids, the pets the groceries and all the other ephemera of life, with a lot fooling owners that they are also there to head out into the countryside on road trips far from the madding crowd.

It’s a bit of a sweeping assessment, but generally there is a bit of truth in it. We have gone crackers for SUVs in Australia in recent years. Where we used to drive station wagons of varying size, these have been swapped for SUVs of varying sizes.

Its funny, ‘cause in Europe, they’re still mad on wagons and there are a lot more car based wagons running around giving drivers the benefit of better handling, better economy and better performance, without any real loss of interior space in comparative models.

You got it, I am a wagon guy, but there is one SUV that I am dead keen on and that is Skoda’s Kodiaq RS.

After a week with a new Kodiaq RS recently we came away even more impressed with this Czech take on a VW Tiguan. Skoda has been owned by VW for the past couple of decades and while it looks generally nothing like its German siblings, it does have all of the advantages that being a part of the giant global car maker brings with it in terms of performance, engineering and build quality.

The latest Kodiaq RS is a purely petrol model as Skoda eschewed the former twin turbo diesel version, instead powering it with a ferocious little and turbo petrol engine, which is shares with the VW Golf GTi hot hatch.

The turbo petrol engine is more powerful and lighter than the previous diesel and gives it a real sporty edge.

The Kodiaq has a really elegant presence and nice styling both inside and out and while the updated model doesn’t look much different to the previous model it has been sharpened up a little, while the interior has been given an update and some better technology.

For our time with the car we were fortunate to be able to give it a longer test on a drive to the Victorian Alps, benefiting from all of the great dynamics Skoda has built into the car and using the muscular engine performance to iron out a couple of mountain passes.

The Kodiaq RS is not a bargain basement machine, but having said that it is not bad value either with a recommended sticker price of $74,990 drive-away, however with a sunroof such a as one fitted to the test car there is a $1900 premium $76,890. Some may baulk at that for a car that comes from the Czech Republic but this is a car that delivers the performance of much more expensive machines and puts a smile on your dial while doing it.

The Kodiaq is equipped with seven seats but in reality the rear third row is really the domain of kids or people with short legs. But all about the interior there is a lot of practicality and space but with a really nice, chic touch of styling.

The Kodiaq RS has box quilted upholstery applied to particularly sport seats for the driver and front seat passenger, with racing style one piece back rests. The seats deliver great support and side bolstering, as well as heating and cooling functions built in. We found the heating function rather handy down at the snow.

The other aspect of the seats that we were impressed with is the flexible adjustment that easily enables most drivers to attain a comfortable driving position.

On a long drive the seating position and overall ambience and performance makes for a very comfortable and invigorating driving experience.

The cockpit contains a very clear and easy to use instrument display in front of the driver, which allows you to configure it the way you want to with a range of different information, including trip details, navigation, and various other detail you can bring up at the touch of a button.

There is a large 9.2 inch touch screen infotainment display, which now comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making those apps even more convenient and usable. The reality is it is an easy to use and well-designed system and we quickly fell in love with it.

Throughout the cabin there is plenty of nooks for storage, with a tub beneath the front centre armrest, along with various trays and pockets around the interior, a bunch of cupholders and There’s a space beneath the central armrest, and a tray in front of it that can act as cupholders, or flipped to hold coins and keys. Beneath the centre console is a wireless phone charger and USB-C ports, while the door bins are big enough to swallow 1.5-litre bottles.

Unlike everything Volkswagen, Skoda has stuck with dials and physical buttons for its climate controls. Sounds crazy, but it works. Everything falls easily to hand, and it’s easy to fiddle with the temperature or fan speed on the move.

Another couple of things that set the Skoda apart from its VW siblings are the interesting little touches, things like a litter bin in the driver’s door, a hidden umbrella, also in a special hatch in the door, a parking ticket holder on the windscreen, blankets that attach to the headrests to keep rear seat occupants warm, and flip down parts on the headrests to offer better comfort while sleeping. Al of these are a little gimmicky but all are equally handy when you really need them.

The Kodiaq has a third row of seats, but as we were on a ski trip with lots of baggage, we didn’t use these, but a quick check out of the seats showed these are probably best used for kids rather than adults and are a convenience rather than making it a full time seven seater.

We found the load space was very usable with heaps of room for all our ski luggage, in fact the load area delivers 765 litres of space with the third row of seats stowed away, 270 litres with the third row up, or a massive 2005 litres with the second and third rows stowed away.

The Kodiaq RS is equipped with the same the 2.0-litre turbo petrol four cylinder seen in the Volkswagen Golf GTI, delivering 180kW and 370Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission feeding an all-wheel drive system.

Performance is impressive even for an SUV, with the Kodiaq RS able to sprint from a standing start to 100km/h in around 6.6 seconds, with a delightful engine note that is slightly reminiscent of the legendary Audi Quattro.

Fuel economy is also equally impressive with a claimed average of 7.7 litres per 100km, however with some spirited driving we were able to achieve around 8.2 litres per 100km. The Kodiaq’s 60litre fuel tank is recommended to be filled with 95 RON standard fuel.

The Kodiaq handles and rides superbly and benefits from an electronically controlled mode switch that enables you to select comfort or sport, depending on your driving needs.

In Sport mode, the Kodiaq benefits from the system stiffening the suspension for better turn in and handling and giving the steering a bit more feel, delivering better handling than an SUV deserves to give. A spirited drive up and down the mountain to Falls Creek proved just that and it was an impressive test of the Kodiaq’s mettle.

Turn in from the precise steering is very good, and with the torque from the two litre turbo as well as the smooth and perfectly timed shifts from the dual clutch seven speed auto, you have a great touring package. A paddle shift function on the steering wheel enables the driver to quickly and easily shift gears manually for an even sportier performance.

The traction from the all-wheel drive system is excellent, a feature we had plenty of chances to feel and test on our Alpine drive.

Our time with the Kodiaq RS came to an end all too soon and we had to return it to Skoda with a heavy heart. We loved it and would have one in a heart beat.