Volkswagen’s Caddy gets upgraded for 2021

VOLKSWAGEN has announced an update for the latest version of its small van and people mover, the Caddy 5, with new features, an enhanced interior, and improved exterior design. It’s set to arrive early in the second half of 2021.

While the current generation is available in Australia with a choice of petrol engines, the new Caddy 5 will be offered initially with a new line-up of potent, yet efficient, Euro-6 diesel engines. Petrol engines will follow later next year.

Built on the modular MQB platform, it shares its underpinnings with the latest Golf Mk 8, and will boast levels of technology not yet seen in the light commercial space, including 17 driver assistance systems.

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Some of the highlights include rear cross traffic alert, emergency assist, the latest travel assist system, and lane keep assist. The ubiquitous, yet practical and potentially lifesaving rear view camera is standard across the range.

On the inside, the Caddy is in a class of its own with a clean, ergonomically-focussed interior, complete with a new dash panel design, a choice of either 8.25 or 10.0-inch high definition displays, and App-Connect integration.

There’s even the option of the Innovision digital cockpit. The range will launch in Australia with three familiar body styles and configurations, including the flexible Caddy van, now named Caddy Cargo.

The ever-popular Crewvan, and the capacious People Mover are also available, enhanced by the use of the MQB’s modular design. The Cargo van range, for example, can swallow up to two full-sized Euro pallets.

While Caddy 5 is an new model, it is still 100 per cent a Caddy. For over a decade, the Caddy has been the market leader in its segment, representing around 80 per cent market share.

While new customers will be attracted to the Caddy 5 for its practicality and technology, existing customers, many of whom have owned several previous generations of Caddy, will see this latest evolution as simply making a good thing even better.

The fact that existing shelving and storage solutions can be carried over between older generations and the new model, can’t hurt either.

The new Caddy 5 range of vans and people movers will arrive in Australia from early in the second half of 2021. Full pricing and specifications will be available closer to market launch.