BMW 4 SERIES DIESEL CONVERTIBLE

The Volkswagen Caddy Cargo van rewards buyers looking for a compact LCV with a quality feel and a depth of design engineering often missing from obvious rivals. Jonathan Crouch looks at the updated version.

Background

With almost three million sales on the board, the Caddy is well established as the core starting point for Volkswagen's commercial vehicle line-up. Its history dates back to 1978 and a Golf-based US market pick-up called the Rabbit which was brought to Europe and rebadged 'Caddy' in 1982. But the Caddy's history as a small van really began in earnest with the second generation model of 1995. That became more sophisticated in the third generation form of 2003 which was subsequently offered in lengthened 'Caddy Maxi' form. By now, MPV and Camper variants were also available - and offered with both body lengths. The 'Caddy 4' updated design of 2015 was visually very little different from its predecessor but much more sophisticated in terms of comfort, safety and efficiency. Five years on though, it was time for a more radical change, which brought us to the current fourth generation SB-series model, which was further updated in Spring 2026 to create the model we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience

As part of this update, Volkswagen has slimmed down the number of diesel engine options - there's now just one 102PS version of the 2.0 TDI unit available and you can only have it with manual transmission (which is strange as the alternative Caddy People PV only comes in diesel form as an auto). If you want your Cargo Cargo with an auto, then you'll have to have the 1.5 eHybrid petrol PHEV version (an engine not offered in the MPV model), which offers 150PS. This uses a 6-speed DSG auto. Most customers will choose the diesel, but it's worth taking a closer look at the eHybrid 1.5-litre PHEV drivetrain. This uses a high voltage battery and electric motor to deliver a combined 150PS, with 350Nm of torque through the 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission you have to have. With this Plug-in Hybrid there are various drive modes you'll need to master: 'EV Now', which drives using only the electric motor; 'EV Auto', which balances electric and petrol power to best suit driving conditions; 'EV Later', which drives using only the petrol engine, saving all the battery energy for use later; and 'EV Reserve', which saves a driver-defined level of battery energy for later use. Towing capacity's up to 1.5-tonnes - the same as the diesel.

Design and Build

Visually, the Caddy hasn't looked much different since the third generation version was launched back in 2003. So the complete styling re-think for this SB-series model at its original launch in 2020 was somewhat refreshing. Little else was needed visually for this mid-term update, so Volkswagen has contented itself with minor revisions to the front apron and bumper, plus revised wheel rims which, as before, are between 16 and 17-inches in size. As previously, the high bonnet is a bit like that of a compact SUV and both the radiator grille and the headlights also look car-like. As usual with this model line, the standard body shape is joined by a lengthened Caddy Maxi model but the ordinary SWB Caddy Cargo may in this current form be sufficient for your needs, being 93mm longer and 62mm wider than its pre-2020-era predecessor. Under the skin of all variants is this SB-series design's stiff MQB platform. Behind the wheel, the main change as part of this update is a larger, free-standing 12.9-inch central display, complemented by the now-standard Digital Cockpit Pro instrument screen. Customers also benefit from enhanced smartphone charging capability - 25W wireless charging is standard across the range, with increased USB-C output in the front and an additional USB-C point in the dashboard. The cabin refresh includes an illuminated touch slider for temperature control, revised trim finishes and new seat upholstery designs. As before, the cabin is all neat and unfussy, with dark grey plastics prevailing on every surface but quite a high quality feel prevailing and quite a high level of infotainment including a wide range of connectivity options that work via an integrated eSIM. Where fitted, the AGR-approved ergoComfort seats are particularly supportive, approved by the German campaign for Healthy Backs Society. And an electronic handbrake is standard, plus buyers can specify electric closing aids for the sliding doors and the tailgate.

Market and Model

The ex-VAT pricing for this Caddy Cargo starts at just over £26,000 ex-VAT for the base 2.0-litre TDI diesel model, which has to be had with manual transmission. If you want an auto, you'll have to have the only alternative powertrain, the 1.5 eHybrid PHEV, which starts from around £29,000 ex-VAT. The Caddy van variant is known as the 'Caddy Cargo', while the passenger-carrying MPV model (priced from around £29,000 ex-VAT) is now called the 'Caddy People'. The Caddy Cargo is our focus here and there are three trim levels available across the range ('Commerce', 'Commerce Plus' and 'Commerce Pro') and two wheelbase options, standard or 'Maxi'. All mainstream models get a touchscreen infotainment system. This Caddy is also equipped with an 'always connected', integrated eSIM, which allows infotainment systems to be prepared to access mobile online services and functions of 'We Connect'. The interior also gets an electronic handbrake, cruise control and a heat-insulating windscreen. 'Commerce Plus' trim adds and ergoComfort driver's seat, air conditioning and body-coloured bumpers. 'Commerce Pro' adds 16-inch alloy wheels, all-round parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, a rear view camera and a digital cockpit instrument screen. You can add a roof vent for better climate control and faster stationary ventilation in the back. Safety-wise, there can be a total of 19 camera systems fitted to this Caddy, including Adaptive Cruise Control, a 'Trailer Assist trailer manoeuvring system, 'Side Assist' (basically a Blind Spot system), 'Rear Traffic Alert' (which warns you of oncoming vehicles when you're reversing) and 'Emergency Assist' (assisted stopping in an emergency). There's also VW's 'Travel Assist' set-up which allows for a degree of level 2 autonomous driving.

Practicalities and Costs

Cargo space width is 1,606mm and there's enough width between the wheel arches for a Euro pallet to be loaded in and turned sideways. Cargo space length is 1,797mm in the SWB - or up to 2,150 in the longer Maxi version. You get a 3.1m3 cargo capacity in the standard short wheelbase Caddy; or 3.7m3 in the Caddy Maxi, which has a wheelbase that's 215mm lengthier. The Maxi model gets a longer sliding side door and can take two Euro pallets. There's no load-through hatch option though. Payload is up to 698kg for the diesel models - and potentially up to 740kg for the eHybrid. All right, so it's practical. And the running costs should add up too. For the 2.0TDI 102PS, it's 53.3mpg and 140g/km. The petrol eHybrid auto is rated at 45.6mpg and 40g/km. The Caddy eHybrid's Plug-In Hybrid battery can be fast charged at up to 50kW using public fast chargers - which isn't a particularly fast speed but is fine for a PHEV. You can recharge the vehicle at home using AC charging up to 11kW, but most owners will be using a more conventional 7.4kW garage wall box.

Summary

This Caddy Cargo has long set the class quality benchmark for compact van design and the improved version of this fourth generation model continues that tradition. If you want a snapshot of just how far small LCVs have come, then we'd suggest that you check one of these out. The Wolfsburg brand thinks that operator preferences will lie in areas like efficiency, safety and technology, priorities this MK4 model Caddy addresses with class-leading thoroughness. That's not to say it can't be a practical choice. The respective 3.1m3 and 3.7m3 carriage capacities of the standard and Maxi versions are nowhere near class-leading, but could be all most operators will need. And if you specify your Caddy carefully, you could create a very complete little business tool indeed. And in summary? Well there are, it's true, bigger and more affordable vans than this one in the compact LCV sector. We reckon though, that most business buyers in this segment, most of the time, would rather have a Caddy. And that really says it all.