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Volkswagen Caddy engines, drive and performance

2021 onwards (change model)
Performance rating: 3.3 out of 53.3

Written by Murray Scullion Published: 8 July 2022 Updated: 11 July 2022

  • Petrol and diesel on offer
  • No hybrids or electrics
  • Diesel best all-rounder

Petrol engines

There’s only one petrol in the lineup. It’s a 114hp 1.5-litre unit that’s found in plenty of other VW products.

If you’re watching your emissions and you don’t want to dabble with diesel, this engine is fine. It’s smooth and punchy enough when not weighed down by too much luggage. However, it can feel a bit weedy if you’re travelling five up with a load in the boot.

This engine is best if you cover mostly cover local miles and rarely venture out on long journeys.

Diesel engines

Diesels still make more sense for most people. The Caddy comes with a 102hp or 122hp 2.0-litre engine, but we recommend the latter.

The former is still a comfortable cruiser, but the more powerful model is more effortless when rammed full of stuff. We’d go as far as saying pick-up is perky, especially when combined with the manual gearbox.

What’s it like to drive?

  • Noisy engine
  • Soft suspension
  • Smooth gearboxes

There’s no escaping that this is a van-derived car. That means compared with a regular family car, it rolls a lot more in the corners. This means when travelling around a roundabout you’ll feel yourself moving around in your seat more. The Caddy is no worse than other car-derived vans such as the Citroen e-Berlingo, but is worse than a regular car.

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VW Caddy moving front
VW Caddy moving front

Another thing to consider is the noise. Engine racket in particular can really be heard in the cabin, and it’s nowhere near as quiet as its rivals.

In terms of comfort, the Caddy does a fine job of soaking up bumps in the road. The suspension is soft and there’s a bit of bounce at lower speeds, especially on speedbumps, but it regulates itself better at faster speeds.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is light with a short throw, while the optional seven-speed automatic is smooth and quick-shifting.