10 February 2011
New car report; Greener by a fair way
Down-sizing the vehicle fleet makes sense for all sorts of reasons. Fuel efficiency, traffic congestion, ease of operation and manoeuvrability are all good reasons why so many private motorists are opting out of heavy metal and choosing more compact modes of transport.
But when it comes to commercial vehicles, the thought of jumping out of their full size van into something more car-like may not have crossed the minds of many a Kiwi tradesman, but it might something worth considering.
For a start, the fuel economy alone is something that should make many sit up and take note. With fuel consumption quoted at 6.6L/100km for the Volkswagen Caddy we drove recently, that’s a saving of exactly 5.0L/100km over New Zealand’s biggest selling SWB van’s 11.6L/100km. Better for the pocket and the environment.
Comfort, equipment, handling and safety
Then there’s the comfort level. The Caddy is comfortable, handles well, has a safety structure more akin to a car and offers manoeuvrability and ease of use in congested city traffic far in excess of that of a large van.
And the equipment is impressive too. Not too many vans have ESP and Traction Control, and even today electric windows and air-conditioning are optional extras on many vans, but they’re all standard equipment on the new Caddy.
Our test vehicle was the entry level 1.2 litre TSI petrol model, fitted with Volkswagen’s sensational 77kW / 175Nm powerplant. Don’t be put off by the seemingly small engine capacity – this is a real cracker of an engine which offers all the power you need and fantastic fuel economy to boot.
In this entry level petrol-powered guise, the only transmission available is a 5 speed manual, but diesel models, powered by a 75kW / 250Nm 1.6 TDI common rail engine are offered with the choice of a 5 speed manual or 7 speed DSG ‘box.
Maximum payload ratings vary from 677kg to 731kg, depending on model, with a gross vehicle weight ranging from 2,089kg through to 2,310kg. Petrol models can tow up to 1,400kg and diesels 1,500kg.
Surprisingly roomy and easy to load
With a cubic carrying capacity of 3.7 cubic metres for our SWB Caddy test vehicle and 4.2 cubic metres for the stretched Caddy Maxi, it’s a surprisingly roomy cargo space. Sure, it’s not as cavernous as some of the bigger vans, but for many businesses and trades people, it’s more than adequate and being relatively low to the ground, accessibility is better than many.
The 1,552mm wide rear compartment can be accessed either through the 1,185mm x 1,129 rear tailgate or a single side loading sliding door in the SWB model, dual side sliders in the Maxi. Cargo space height in the SWB version is 1,244mm, while the Maxi is slightly higher at 1,262mm. Rear floor length is 1,781mm and 2,250mm for SWB and LWB Maxi models respectively.
The cargo floor is fitted with 6 lashing eyes (8 in the Maxi) for tying down the load and a full partition is fitted between the cargo and passenger area, with a grille for the upper section.
Steel wheels are standard fitment, although a number of alloy wheel options is offered, starting with a 15 inch “Keroma” (same size as the standard steels) at $1,300 through to a 17 inch “Zolder” for $3,000.
The driver gets an airbag, but side, curtain and passenger airbags are all optional extras, albeit at a fairly reasonable price – starting at $600 for the passenger front airbag and $950 for side and curtain ‘bags.
In addition to commercial vehicle models, Volkswagen New Zealand is also offering a five seat lifestyle family wagon version in a more upmarket “Caddy Life” trim level, with the option of upgrading to a seven seat configuration.
Priced from $29,990, the Caddy offers a lot for a little, and is worthy of consideration for a variety of delivery, trades and services purposes.