2024 Volkswagen Caddy 5 Review

With its large platform, the Caddy 5 stands ready for action when put to the family test, sitting as Volkswagen’s most affordable way to move a family of seven in comfort and style.

How good is the 2024 Volkswagen Caddy 5, then, and how well does its cargo-focused platform provide for Aussie families? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Volkswagen Caddy Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the entry-level Caddy TSI220 SWB Manual kick off from $40,990, with both the Caddy TDI280 SWB Manual and Caddy TSI220 Maxi Manual priced at $42,990.

Stepping up to the Caddy TSI220 SWB Automatic brings the price to $43,990, while the Caddy TDI280 Maxi Manual is priced at $44,990.

VW’s Caddy TDI320 SWB Automatic and TSI220 Maxi Automatic are both priced at $45,990, with prices for the Caddy TDI320 Automatic standing at $47,990, rising to $50,090 for the Caddy TSI220 LWB.

The Caddy TDI320 LWB is priced at $52,090, rising slightly to $52,290 for the Caddy TSI220 Maxi Automatic, while the Caddy TDI320 Automatic is priced at $54,290.

From here, prices rise to $56,790 for the Caddy TSI220 Life Maxi, with the Caddy TDI320 Life Maxi priced at $58,790.

VW’s Caddy California range is priced at $62,090 for the Caddy California Maxi TSI220, with the range-topping Caddy California TDI320 priced at $64,090.

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Volkswagen Caddy 5 Cargo TSI220 Automatic Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Volkswagen Caddy 5 Have?

Volkswagen’s entry-level Caddy Cargo comes riding on a set of 16-inch steel wheels and receives cruise control, automatic headlights, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, sliding doors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED interior lighting and wireless smartphone charging.

Stepping up to the Caddy Maxi adds a seven-seat layout and LED lighting, while the Caddy Life Maxi gains a set of 17-inch alloys, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and semi-autonomous parking.

Finally, the range-topping Caddy California receives a folding bed, LED interior lighting, as well as a folding table and chairs.

VW Caddy 5 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The Volkswagen Caddy range comes packaged with an 8.25-inch infotainment display sitting atop the dashboard which offers DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

The unit is bright and responsive, though it’s surrounded by a significant border that makes it feel as though you’re missing out on a larger display.

The display takes care of the lion’s share of inputs for things like the climate settings, with no physical buttons surrounding the unit for quick access.

Volkswagen reserves a larger 10.0-inch infotainment display as part of the ‘Navigation’ optional extra package that also adds satellite navigation.

Does the Volkswagen Caddy 5 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Volkswagen’s base 8.2-inch display requires a physical connection in order to access Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with the majority of the range missing out on wireless connectivity.

Upgrading to the optional larger 10-inch display, however, adds wireless Apple Carplay & Android Auto connectivity to access your navigation apps, music and make phone calls on the move, hands-free.

Is the Volkswagen Caddy 5 Comfortable to Drive?

Thanks to its VW Golf underpinnings, the Caddy 5 range is reasonably civilised and well-behaved on the road, though long wheelbase variants can feel a little clumsy in the urban jungle.

Volkswagen gives buyers a choice of three engines under the bonnet of the Caddy 5 range, including a turbo-petrol and a pair of hearty turbo-diesel engines.

The Caddy 5 TSI220 range receives a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that pushes out a modest 84kW of power and 220Nm of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Stepping up to the Caddy 5 TDI280 range adds a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit pushing out 75kW of power and 280Nm of torque to the front wheels via the same choice of transmissions.

The Caddy 5’s headlining engine, the TDI320 range, produces 90kW of power and a hearty 320Nm of torque, making it the pick of the engine bunch if you’re looking for the most effortless acceleration.

Acceleration isn’t going to set your hair on fire, though the ample torque - particularly in TDI variants - gives the Caddy healthy motivation off the line.

Around town, the Caddy 5’s steering is a touch heavy for the family segment, though the trade-off here is that you’ll gain more feedback as you pick up the pace.

With the shorter design, the Caddy 5 is confident on a dart through traffic or squeezing into a tight car space, while long wheelbase variants are a little trickier to manoeuvre, but remain pretty well-mannered overall.

Underneath, the Caddy 5’s suspension isn’t the most refined setup out there, with a tendency to transmit moderate bumps into the cabin, though it’s refined on smooth streets in the city.

Pick up the pace and the Caddy 5 remains confident at highway speeds, with most of the engine noise hidden away, proving itself as a solid long-distance tourer.

Overall, Volkswagen’s changes to the Caddy 5 have made it a far more refined people mover than its predecessors, making for a solid family wagon option.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With three engines on offer, fuel efficiency depends on which powertrain you’re opting for, with Volkswagen’s turbo-diesel units proving the most responsible on fuel.

Fuel economy figures of the entry-level TSI220 Manual stand at 6.4L per 100km, dropping to 6.2L per 100km in the 220TSI Automatic.

Both the Caddy 5 TDI280 Manual and Automatic, as well as the TDI320 return combined cycle figures of 4.9L per 100km, representing the most fuel-efficient members of the Caddy 5 range.

For those wondering, the Caddy 5 short- and long-wheelbase variants offer the same combined cycle fuel economy figures.

How Much Fuel does the Volkswagen Caddy use Around Town?

• Caddy 5 TSI220 Manual: 7.2L/100km

• Caddy 5 TSI220 Automatic:

• Caddy 5 TDI280: 5.1L/100km

• Caddy 5 TDI320: 5.8L/100km

• Caddy 5 California: 5.8L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen Caddy Use on the Highway?

• Caddy 5 TSI220 Manual: 5.9L/100km

• Caddy 5 TSI220 Automatic: 

• Caddy 5 TDI280: 4.2L/100km

• Caddy 5 TDI320: 4.4L/100km

• Caddy 5 California: 4.4L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the Caddy 5 and it’s clear to see how the cabin has been influenced by VW’s more civilised members of the range.

Things in the front of the cabin are, for lack of a better term, car-like, with a familiar layout to that of a Golf - which is quite a good thing for family buyers.

The seats are supportive and comfortable, with acres of headroom on offer for taller drivers thanks to the Caddy’s lofty roofline and windows that add to the amount of visibility on offer, and a clever added tier of storage at the ceiling line.

The dashboard design is clean and uncrowded, with the touchscreen handling all important controls, with the switchgear picking up VW’s typically rock-solid feel.

Storage options in the front of the Caddy 5 are healthy, with a large storage area sitting behind the small gear lever which is flanked by a small tray that is perfect for smartphones.

There’s also tonnes of storage inside the folding armrest which, combined with a large glovebox and huge bottle holders inside the doors, makes the Caddy a heavy-hitter for practicality.

Move to the second row and the Caddy offers acres of legroom for adults to get comfortable in the rear, with ample headroom.

Amenities in the Caddy’s second row include a USB-C port, bottle holders, air vents and a set of trays to rest a smartphone or tablet, keep your drink safe and have a snack.

Move to the third row and things are impressively spacious back here, with enough space for an adult to squeeze in, giving it bragging rights as a fully-fledged seven-seater, rather than a part-timer.

The Caddy’s second row picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts, with another pair of ISOFIX anchors in the third row and two top tether mounts in the rearmost of the cabin.

This brings the total of ISOFIX anchorage points inside the Caddy 5 to four, with five top tether mounts on offer, which will no doubt come as good news for large family buyers.

Is it Safe?

One of Volkswagen’s major upgrades in recent years for the Caddy 5 range has been a significant boost in its active safety equipment list.

Thanks to the upgrade, buyers of the MY24 Caddy 5 range pick up autonomous emergency braking with both cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, cruise control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and seven airbags.

Does the Volkswagen Caddy 5 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MY24 Volkswagen Caddy 5 range has picked up a five-star safety tick from ANCAP, scoring the following marks in 2021 tests.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 84%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 69%

• Safety Assist: 79% 

What Warranty Does the Volkswagen Caddy Come With?

The Volkswagen Caddy 5 range is packaged with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, as well as 12-months of roadside assistance.

The company offers both three- and five-year pre-paid servicing costs, with service intervals standing at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Volkswagen Caddy 5 Worth it?

The Volkswagen Caddy 5 range gives family buyers some serious food for thought thanks primarily to its spacious and immensely practical interior.

The Caddy 5 is a strong performer when it comes to active safety gear as standard which, combined with its impressive fuel efficiency across the range, makes it a great option for growing families.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help take the stress out of the car-buying process and find you the best possible price.

Five Volkswagen Caddy 5 Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 12-month roadside assist included

3. Short & long wheelbase variants with three engine options

4. 4.9 - 6.2L/100km fuel economy figures

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating