Review: Volkswagen Caddy Life (2015-on)

Overview

Released in Australia in December 2015, the Volkswagen Mk.4 Caddy Life is people mover that was available in standard (Caddy Life) and long wheelbase (Caddy Maxi Life) models. Manufactured in Poznan, Poland, the front-wheel drive Volkswagen Mk.4 Caddy was initially powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine (‘TSI220’) which had a Stop/Start function that enabled it to shut down when the vehicle was stationary. From 2016, the Caddy Life is expected to be offered with diesel engines.

The Caddy Life had rear sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle and was fitted with five seats as standard, though an additional third row of seats was available as an option for a seven seat capacity. The Caddy Maxi Life also had sliding doors but had seven seats in a 2-3-2 configuration as standard. As per the table below, the Mk.4 Caddy Life range consisted of Trendline and Comfortline editions.

Although described by Volkswagen as its ‘fourth generation’ Caddy, the Mk.4 Caddy Life had the same platform as the 2K Caddy Life which preceded it.

Dimensions and body

The standard wheelbase Volkswagen Caddy Life was 4408 mm long, 1793 mm wide (excluding mirrors), 1822 mm tall and had a 2682 mm long wheelbase. The Caddy Life Maxi, however, was 470 mm longer (at 4878 mm) and had a 324 mm longer wheelbase (3006 mm).

All Caddy Life models had a folding, tipping and removable three-seat bench in the second row of seats; the Caddy Life Maxi, however, also had a folding and removable two-seat bench for a third row of seats. For the Caddy Life, cargo volume behind the second row seats was 750 litres; for the Caddy Life Maxi, cargo volume behind the third row seats was 530 litres.

Suspension and steering

The Volkswagen Caddy Life had MacPherson strut front suspension with double wishbones and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, the Caddy Life had a live rear axle that was suspended by leaf springs and had load-dependent dampers and an anti-roll bar.

The Volkswagen Caddy Life had electromechanical power-assisted rack and pinion steering.

Safety equipment

Standard safety for the Volkswagen Caddy Life included dual front airbags, combined side/head airbags for front occupants, curtain airbags, for second row occupants, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, and seatbelt pretensioners for the front and outer second row seats.

As standard, the Volkswagen Caddy Life was also fitted with:

• Multi-collision brake (MCB): multi-collision brake is activated when two independent sensors detect that a collision has occurred and the driver does not respond. Multi-collision brake applies the brakes to achieve controlled deceleration to a speed of 10 km/h to minimise the risk of the vehicle being involved in secondary collisions; and,
• Driver Alert (Fatigue Detection System): operates at speeds above 65 km/h and monitors driver inputs such as steering behaviour for signs of fatigue. If detected, an audible and visual alert is issued which recommends that the driver take a break.

The Caddy Life Trendline and Comfortline could both be specified with an optional, extra-cost ‘Driver Assistance’ Package which included:

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with ‘stop & go’ function: used a radar sensor to maintain a pre-set distance to the vehicle ahead (including accelerating and braking). Furthermore, the stop & go function enabled the Caddy Life to accelerate to its pre-set speed after coming to rest;
• Front Assist: monitored the distance to the distance to the vehicle ahead and, if that distance closed rapidly, provided visual and audible warnings, while the braking system was primed for fast response. If the driver did not react, there was a single, short jolting application of the brakes. If the driver responded but does not apply sufficient braking pressure, ‘Front Assist’ increases braking pressure; and,
• City Emergency Braking (‘City EB’): operated at speeds under 30 km/h. If the driver failed to respond to an obstacle in front of the vehicle, City EB automatically applied the brakes to prevent or reduce the severity of any subsequent collision.

For the Caddy Life Trendline, the Driver Assistance package also included a ‘Light and Vision’ system which consisted of an auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, separate daytime running lights, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers. For the Caddy Life Comfortline, however, the Driver Assistance package also included Volkswagen’s ‘Park Assist’ which included front and rear parking sensors, and automated steering for parallel and 90-degree angle parks.

Brakes

The Volkswagen Caddy Life had 312 mm ventilated front brake discs and 272 mm solid rear brake discs.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , a 2007 Volkswagen 2K Caddy Life – fitted with the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine and equipped with dual front and side airbags – received a four star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 27.46; in Australia, the fitment of a seatbelt reminder added an additional point. In the offset crash test, protection from serious chest and leg injury was marginal for the driver. In the side impact test, there was a one point deduction due to a door unlatching.

Features: Caddy Life Trendline

Standard features for the Caddy Life Trendline included 16-inch steel wheels with 205/55 R16 94H tyres, Volkswagen’s ‘Composition Colour’ audio system with four speakers, a five-inch colour touch screen, CD player (MP3/WMA compatible), auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/SD card), Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, Moon Rock ‘Kutamo’ cloth seat upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, halogen headlights, daytime running lights, rear fog light, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera, a multifunction steering wheel with leather wrap, remote central locking, power windows, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, a 12 volt power socket in the dashboard, trip computer and an immobiliser.

All Volkswagen Caddy Life vehicles had a full-size steel spare wheel. Unlike the Caddy Life Comfortline, however, the Trendline was also fitted with roof rack mounting points.

Features: Caddy Life Comfortline

Compared to the Trendline, the Caddy Life Comfortline was further equipped with 16-inch ‘Bendigo’ alloy wheels, Volkswagen’s ‘Composition Media’ audio system with a six speakers and a 6.3-inch colour touch screen, Titanium Black ‘Pandu’ cloth seat upholstery, climate control air conditioning (‘Climatronic’), manually adjustable front seat lumbar support, dual halogen headlights, automatic headlights, leather-wrapped handbrake lever and gearshift knob, an auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, rear privacy glass, front seatback trays, a folding and removable luggage cover, and an additional 12 volt socket in the passenger compartment.

The Caddy Life Comfortline also had an ‘App-Connect’ USB interface in the centre console for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.

Visually, the Caddy Life Comfortline could be identified by its body-coloured side protection strips, high-gloss black radiator grille with three decorative chrome strips, black roof rails. Inside, the Comfortline also had ‘Dark Silver Brushed’ dashboard inserts and chrome accents on air vents.

Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL)

As standard, the Volkswagen Caddy Life was fitted with an ‘Extended Electronic Differential Lock’ (Volkswagen’s ‘XDL’). When cornering, the XDL responded to the unloading of the front inside wheel by applying the brakes to that wheel to prevent wheelspin and minimise understeer.

Paint finishes

The Volkswagen Mk.4 Caddy Life was available with the following paint finishes:

• Candy White;
• Cherry Red;
• Acapulco Blue Metallic;
• Bamboo Garden Green Metallic;
• Chestnut Brown Metallic;
• Honey Orange Metallic;
• Indium Grey Metallic;
• Reflect Silver Metallic;
• Starlight Blue Metallic; and,
• Deep Black Pearl.

Specifications

• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.4 Caddy Life (December 2015)

Related links

• Volkswagen Australia: Volkswagen Caddy Life
• Wikipedia.org: Volkswagen Caddy