SYDNEY: Volkswagen has pulled the covers off its fourth-generation Caddy work van, promising improvements to fuel consumption and safety.
The Caddy is now available with a choice of four EU6 emissions compliant diesel engines and three petrol engines in various markets.
All diesel engines as 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged units, with power outputs ranging from 55 to 110kW.
As with other Volkswagen models, a Blue Motion version is available returning fuel economy of “less than” 4.0 l/100km.
Overseas markets also get the option of a 1.4 litre four-cylinder engine burning natural gas, with a fuel figure of 4.1 kg/100km – a 28 percent improvement on its predecessor.
The petrol range kicks off with a 62kW 1.2 litre four-cylinder unit, before stepping ‘up’ to a 75kW 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine while a 92kW 1.4 litre four-cylinder unit is the most powerful on offer for the new Caddy.
New safety features for the 2015 Caddy include city emergency braking, which brakes automatically in an attempt to avoid collisions at speeds up to 30km/h.
Volkswagen’s multi-collision braking system is now standard, which applies the brakes immediately following a collision in an attempt to avoid a secondary impact.
The German carmaker says around 22 percent of collisions involve an impact with more than one hazard, and multi-collision braking aims to reduce this figure.
New driver assist features include ‘front assist’ (city emergency braking), ‘light assist’ and ‘driver alert’ – which monitors the driver for signs of fatigue.
Other options include a heated windscreen, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and park assist.
Front styling has moved closer to Volkswagen’s current corporate ‘face’ with new headlights, and elements of the Golf, Polo and even the new Passat are evident. Rear styling retains its practical van features, while adding new tail lights.
In its home market, the Caddy gets a price-cut at the entry-level thanks to a new variant, with prices starting from €14,785 (AU$21,753)
The 2015 Volkswagen Caddy will arrive in German showrooms from June, with other markets to follow “quickly thereafter”.
Stay tuned for Australian pricing and specifications, with the new Caddy expected to arrive in Q4 of this year.
