Petrol Caddy arrives as VW ups diesel price

VOLKSWAGEN has introduced a petrol-powered Caddy to its Australian range, the TSI220 engine available in Cargo guise from $34,990 plus on-road costs and available to order now.

The petrol engine is available across all Caddy body styles and variants, joining VW’s diesel duo – the TDI280 (75kW/280Nm) and TDI320 (90kW/320Nm) – priced from $36,990 before on-roads and now subject to increases of up to $2700.

Equipment levels mirror those of the diesel-powered range with six variants offered across two wheelbases: standard (2755mm) and Maxi (2970mm). 

TSI220 versions of the Caddy are powered by Volkswagen’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine developing 84kW/220Nm and paired to a six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission depending on variant.

Combined cycle fuel economy is rated at 6.4 litres per 100km for manual variants and 6.2L/100km for the automatic on premium unleaded (95 RON minimum).

Petrol models can tow up to 1400kg when fitted with a manual transmission or 100kg more than that when optioned with an automatic. Payloads fall by between 50 and 100kg compared with equivalent diesel-powered variants.

Volkswagen Australia says that due to increased supplier and freight costs, the prices of diesel versions increase by between $2000 and $2700, VFrom 1 January 2022, the diesel Caddy range will top out at $57,690 plus ORCs for the flagship California TDI320 automatic.

Launched in Australia this August, the fifth-generation Caddy range rides on the same front-drive MQB underpinnings as the latest Golf small hatch and wagon.

With interior dimensions close to those of the outgoing model, owners can upgrade to a new Caddy while directly transferring storage solutions, drawers, and racking.

The new Caddy, in both short wheelbase and Maxi configurations, can fit two Euro palettes in the cargo area, with wider sliding door apertures on both sides of the Maxi enabling users to load them from the side.

VW backs the new-generation Caddy with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing program.

Optional three- and five-year pre-paid service packs are available, which VW says will save owners hundreds of dollars over pay-as-you-go service costs.

In Australia, the Volkswagen Caddy is the top-selling van in its segment (Vans/CC under 2500kg) where it competes with rivals that include the Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo.

To the end of October 2021, Volkswagen sold 594 examples of the Caddy in Australia, 15 more than Renault’s Kangoo (579 units) and 352 more than Peugeot’s Partner (242 units).

2022 Volkswagen Caddy pricing*

Cargo TSI220                        $34,990           (new model)

Cargo TDI280                          $36,990           (+$2000)

Cargo Maxi TSI220                  $36,990           (new model)

Cargo TSI220 (a)                     $37,990           (new model)

Cargo Maxi TDI280                 $38,990           (+$2000)

Cargo TDI320 (a)                     $39,990           (+$2000)

Cargo Maxi TSI220 (a)             $39,990           (new model)

Cargo Maxi TDI320 (a)            $41,990           (+$2000)

Crewvan TSI220 (a)                 $43,990           (new model)

Crewvan TDI320 (a)                 $45,990           (+$2000)

Maxi TSI220 (a)                       $46,140           (new model)

Maxi TDI320 (a)                       $48,140           (+$2650)

Life Maxi TSI220 (a)                 $50,640           (new model)

Life Maxi TDI320 (a)                $52,640           (+$2650)

California TSI220 (a)                $55,690           (new model)

California TDI320 (a)               $57,690           (+$2700)

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.