Next-gen Volkswagen Caddy 5 looming

Volkswagen Australia has revealed further details of its next-generation Caddy 5, confirming the latest and all-new iteration of its compact van and people mover will reach Australian dealerships early in the second half of 2021.

Unveiled in Europe in February 2020, the fifth-generation Caddy 5 sees the platform move from its previous PQ35 chassis to Volkswagen's MQB architecture, which the light commercial will now share with the Golf 8.

That could well spell more passenger-car-like dynamics, even as LCV-firm suspension continues to meet the platform's commercial requirements. The nameplate will be offered in Caddy Cargo (van), Caddy Crewvan and Caddy People Mover formats.

Details are yet to be revealed of the local specification of the new platform's engine and drivetrain, but the new Caddy will land with a range of new Euro 6 engines – a number of diesels at launch, followed later in 2021 by petrol options – along with new bodywork, a new interior, and a comprehensive array of new technology.

In Europe, power options include a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel or 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, but fall short of the electrified powertrains offered in the Volkswagen Golf.

What we do know, however, is that the Caddy Cargo will continue to be complemented by a longer-wheelbase Caddy Maxi variant, and that both the Caddy Cargo and Caddy Maxi will feature longer load compartments, up by 58mm and 82mm in length respectively.

The new Caddy 5's rear aperture is now 51mm wider, while two sliding door widths will be available, with the Caddy Maxi gaining an additional 135mm.

Volkwagen Australia is yet to announce wheelbase, payload and load-capacity specifications, although it has said van versions will accept up to two Euro pallets.

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Inside the cab, a revitalised interior features a new dash design with a choice of 8.25-inch or 10.0-inch high-definition displays with App-Connect integration. Volkswagen's futuristic Innovision Digital Cockpit, a next-gen infotainment system, is available as an option.

In fact, technology has been ramped up significantly in the new Caddy 5, with Volkswagen Australia saying the new generation now offers a total of 17 driver assistance systems, with four that are new to the compact LCV segment.

While the brand is yet to issue a comprehensive list, systems such as adaptive cruise control, dynamic lane keeping, and rear cross traffic alert are all said to be on offer, while a reversing camera is standard across the range.

Volkswagen Australia says the new Caddy 5 boasts "levels of technology not yet seen in the light commercial space".

The Caddy 5 has some particularly big shoes to fill, with the current generation Caddy Van accounting for 70.7 per cent of the compact LCV (up to 2500kg GVM) segment, with 1533 examples sold in 2020 to the end of November (VFACTS data). Next was Renault's Kangoo (19.5%), followed by Peugeot's Partner (8.2%) and Fiat's Doblo (1.6%).

In contrast, in the People Mover (under $60,000) category, the Volkswagen Caddy holds a far more modest 3.4 per cent market share.

"While Caddy 5 is an all-new model, it is still 100 per cent a Caddy," says Volkswagen Australia.

"For over a decade, the Caddy has been the market leader in its segment, representing around 80 per cent market share. While new customers will be attracted to the Caddy 5 for its practicality and technology, existing customers, many of whom have owned several previous generations of Caddy, will see this latest evolution as simply making a good thing even better."

Pricing and full specifications for the new Volkswagen Caddy 5 will be announced closer to the model's local introduction, early in the second half of 2021.