2K Caddy Life

The Caddy Life is a Golf-based, van-derived people-mover aimed at frugal urbanites.

Two engine and gearbox choices are available to drive the front wheels.

The least expensive is VW’s ubiquitous 1.6-litre single-overhead cam eight-valve four-cylinder petrol unit, presenting 75kW of power at 5600rpm and 148Nm of torque at 3800rpm.

Despite having roots in the 1970s, it is Euro-IV emissions compliant and returns an 8.4L/100km fuel-consumption average. It exists primarily as the range’s headline price opener.

This leaves the 1.9-litre SOHC 8V four-cylinder turbo-diesel TDI as the expected crowd puller, since it delivers 77kW at 4000rpm and 250Nm from 1900rpm.

Along with usefully more torque and fuel economy (6.2L/100km average), the Euro-IV-compliant TDI also offers the Caddy Life’s only automatic option, VW’s acclaimed dual-clutch DSG six-speed gearbox.