2008 VW Caddy 1.9 TDI LIFE Full Review,Start Up, Engine, and In Depth Tour

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Filmed by: Tomaž Kožar Jesenice

With the Australian car market more crowded than almost anywhere in the world, the latest game for car makers seems to be re-inventing market segments, the latest to do so is Volkswagen with the Caddy Maxi, which apparently re-invents the small van segment.


The VW Caddy Maxi is a stretch version of the market segment leading Caddy small van, which the German manufacturer says is aimed at "tradesmen, courier services and service providers requiring a very high load capacity in a compact van".
Compared to the regular Caddy, the Maxi has been stretched from 4.41 metres to 4.88 metres by adding 320mm to the existing model's wheelbase of 2682mm and extending the rear overhang by 150mm.

This has created an extremely spacious vehicle with up to 4200 litres, up from 3200 litres, of stowage volume, and makes the Caddy Maxi one of the largest models among the compact vans and small transporters available.
With a load capacity of up to 4.2 m3, an 810-kilogram payload, up to 1500-kilogram trailer load and load area up to 2250 millimetres long, depending on the interior configuration -- these are all record figures in this segment.
There are three powertrain combinations on offer; a 75kw/148Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox, and a 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine with either the five-speed manual or VW's unique six-speed DSG, manual/auto gearbox.
Most frugal of all is the manual TDI, which returns an official combined ADR, figure of just 6.1L/100km and as CarAdvice has already spent a few days at the wheel of the Caddy Maxi we can confirm that figure is entirely achievable.
Of course load the van to its maximum and the figure will rise, but should still provide any commercial operator with a very sound financial argument for going diesel.

The TDI also gets a few more goodies than the petrol, for some reason that cannot really be explained cruise control is standard on the diesel but an option or the petrol, at a cost of $495.

Among the standard equipment are dual sliding doors, driver and front passenger airbags, semi automatic 'Climatic' air conditioning, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and heat reflective glass.
Caddy Maxi comes with ABS braking, plus traction control and engine braking control (EBC) as standard, while electronic stability program (ESP) is offered as a $650 option, which also comes with a brake assist system and trailer stabilisation (when chosen with a tow hitch).

VW says a major factor in the great success of the Caddy is its functional and comfortable design. For this reason, the interior concept has been passed on, unchanged into the Caddy Maxi.Driving the Caddy Maxi in its natural environment, that's around the city on freeways and even into an industrial area to load it up with cargo shows that it is a vehicle that works well.

The dual sliding doors mean access in a loading area is not restricted to one, possibly dangerous side, and the rear barn doors, which can be exchanged at no cost for a tailgate, open to 180 degrees, allowing the rear cargo space to accept a full Australian pallet.This may not mean much to many but European pallets are a smaller size to Australia pallets and it's often the case that Euro LCVs won't accept the more substantial "aussie" item.

Driving the Caddy Maxi, like the regular Caddy, is a very car like experience; sure the rearward visibility is limited but the underpinnings and pretty much everything from the A-pillar forward is straight from the Golf.

In fact, looking forward, I had to keep reminding myself that there was a bit more behind me than your average Golf hatchback!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Start Up
• Engine
• and In Depth Tour

[AndreasFalk8]

@rosewell1983 its funny. i know it's half a year since you posted your comment and probably already chose your car. but we've had a citroen berlingo and currently own a vw caddy life van. The berlingo broke down on the highway so we replaced the engine and sold it a while later. we bought a caddy and it just runs like da snizzle. powerful engine + a lot of space to put all kind of crap. we've used it a lot and it still runs like was it just spit out of the factory.

cheers

[Annihilator1111]

1.6 TDI – 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) – 250 N·m (180 lb·ft) (diesel)

2.0 EcoFuel – 109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) – 160 N·m (120 lb·ft) (CNG)

1.9 TDI – 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) – 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) (diesel) (discontinued)

1.9 TDI – 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) – 250 N·m (180 lb·ft) (diesel) (discontinued)

2.0 SDI – 69 PS (51 kW; 68 hp) – 140 N·m (100 lb·ft) (diesel) (only for panel van and panel window van)

2.0 TDI – 140 PS (100 kW; 140 hp) – 320 N·m (240 lb·ft) (diesel)

[Annihilator1111]

the engine in the 2004-present Volkswagen Caddy

Engine 1.4 16V – 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) – 126 N·m (93 lb·ft) (petrol) (discontinued)

1.4 16V – 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) – 132 N·m (97 lb·ft) (petrol)

1.6 8V – 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) – 148 N·m (109 lb·ft) (petrol)

1.6 TDI – 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) – 225 N·m (166 lb·ft) (diesel)

[souhaib999]

you are a layer men

[ihatemuckdjs]

I had sex with a black girl in a Caddy!

[rosewell1983]

@HighDefFidelity i gave one a testdrive 2days ago however i really dont know if i should buy a regular car with 5seats or a van. the chance for me giving a ride to more than 1 person is very low so perhaps a van is a better choice and the cargo space im sure would come in handy when i move.

dont know what to choose, the caddy looks alot better than a berlingo for sure.

i live in norway so the car cost a lot.....can buy a caddy for 23600 US dollar but also a berlingo cost 15000 US dollar.

[HighDefFidelity]

These are based on the same platform as the Golf right? I have a 2007 Golf (Rabbit in Canada) with the 2.5 litre petrol engine. I wish they made these over here. I would have bought this.