Volkswagen delivers new Caddy

VOLKSWAGEN'S fourth-generation Caddy light-commercial van has been revealed, with a new suite of engines, safety equipment and fresh styling to bring it into line with its passenger car stablemates.

Arriving in Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Caddy carries a sharper look than the existing model's more rounded styling, particularly at the front end where it features similar styling to the Polo light car.

The latest iteration replaces the Typ 2K version that has been on sale in Australia since 2005 – including a facelift in 2008 – that has become the country's top-selling delivery van by some margin.

Last year Volkswagen sold 1855 units, a 3.1 per cent dip over 2013, for a 55.9 per cent stake of the sub-2.5-tonne van market, which almost tripled the haul of the runner-up Renault Kangoo (664).

While local specification will be confirmed closer to launch, European-spec versions will be offered with a choice of three turbo-petrol TSI engines, including a 62kW 1.2-litre four-cylinder, a 75kW 1.0-litre three-cylinder and a 92kW 1.4-litre four-cylinder unit.

In terms of diesels, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit will be offered in four states of tune, depending on the market – 55kW, 75kW, 103kW and range-topping 110kW.

Australia is likely to stick with a smaller engine line-up that currently consists of two petrol and two diesels.

Volkswagen is keeping most of the mechanical detail under wraps for now, but the German car-maker confirmed in a statement that the most economical version will be the Caddy panel van Blue Motion that will be capable of sipping less than 4.0 litres per 100 kilometres on the European combined cycle.

Fourth-gen Caddys will also gain a series of active safety features, including VW's Front Assist monitoring system with City Emergency Braking that applies the brakes to avoid collisions at below 30km/h. Side and curtain airbags are also standard.

Optional safety gear includes a Driver Alert system that monitors the habits of the driver and suggests if a break is required, adaptive cruise control which is active at up to 160km/h when matched with the dual-clutch DSG transmission.

Further optional equipment includes a heated windscreen, park assist and a reversing camera when optioned with VW's Composition Colour and Composition Media radios and with the Discover Media radio-navigation system.

Rather than using one of the Volkswagen Group's modular platforms, the new Caddy reportedly is built on a version of the group's old A5 platform that underpinned everything from the VW Scirocco and Tiguan to the Mk 5 Golf and second-gen Audi A3.

The existing Caddy is available in Australia as a delivery van in regular, Maxi and Maxi Crewvan guises and as a passenger van with five or seven seats.

Prices range from $22,690 plus on-road costs for the 1.2 TSI Caddy to $45,790 for the seven-seat 2.0 320 TDI Caddy Maxi 4Motion.