Volkswagen, caddy, maxi, interior, seats

You cn’t fault the practicality of the Maxi Combi Window Van version of the Volkswagen Caddy

What’s hot

  • Well you can’t fault the practicality of this van. With five up, there is still plenty of legroom and 1.6 cubic metres of cargo space in the back. The seats can be folded down or removed altogether, although be warned – it’s not a job for shy retiring types. And once you’ve managed to wrestle them out, it’s an even bigger job trying to get them back in again.
  • This variant features a wipe clean floor in the front and back, plus half-height load protection in the cargo area, so users won’t be afraid to take muddy feet and dirty loads on board and spoil the carpets as there aren’t any.
  • The engine is quiet and smooth and on the road the Caddy is just about tops in the sector for handling, bar possibly the new Ford Transit Connect. And look at those fuel economy figures! Nearly 50mpg on the combined cycle for a van of this size is extraordinary. Mind you, as we always warn, those official figures are calibrated indoors on a rolling road so once you get a few burly blokes on board plus half a load and then drive up and down a few steep hills, you are unlikely to get anywhere near the official figures.
  • As mentioned above, the Caddy is beautifully built. It feels like a really upmarket quality vehicle with the doors snicking shut quietly and efficiently and everything feeling as though it will last for eternity.

Volkswagen, caddy, loadspace

Those windows and seats mean you won’t be able to reclaim the VAT on this Volkswagen Caddy

What’s not?

  • Thanks to the vagaries of the British taxation system, you won’t be able to reclaim VAT on this van unless it is used exclusively for business purposes (which is unlikely). It’s all down to those side windows, which make it officially a car in the eyes of the taxman. If you need five seats and baulk at paying the VAT, then Volkswagen obliges by offering a Kombi with no side windows as well. It’s a cheaper option but if you need to lug the kids around at weekends they won’t thank you for shutting them in with no views. It will also be liable for company car tax too, so you need to watch that if private use entails.
  • While this van is generally highly specced we were surprised to see that electric windows and electrically-operated heated mirrors are an extra at £295. We expect items like this to be thrown into the standard spec list nowadays.

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