Volkswagen's new Caddy Life is the ingenious people mover built on Volkswagen's acclaimed Caddy platform. Caddy Life can seat up to seven adults comfortably with ample headroom. Take a couple of rows of seats out, and Caddy Life effectively becomes a Caddy - the smartest cargo van in town, with over 3 cubic metres of carrying capacity. Caddy Life is a neat blend of form and function to meet a range of people and cargo carrying needs.

Caddy Life is aptly named. Busy people have busy lifestyles and require plenty of space, functionality and quality. This is where Caddy Life excels. Caddy Life effectively rethinks automobile tradition by setting new standards for loading volume, both people and cargo.

Caddy Life benefits from Volkswagen Golf DNA, sharing similar attributes to the Golf's on-road manners, impeccable build quality and engine and transmission technology through the 1.9 TDI with the acclaimed DSG gearbox. Caddy Life is smooth, well controlled and easy to drive.

With a total length of 4.4 metres, a width of 1.8 metres, and a height of 1.8 metres, the Caddy Life has enough space to fit everything in your life. Pick the kids up from school, go shopping with the family, go to an away game with the whole team on board (or most of them!), head away on holidays with the bike in the back and a board on the roof or a thousand and one other life challenges that require flexibility and space.

EXTERIOR
Ease of access

Caddy Life features intelligent exterior equipment for true vehicle flexibility. The two rear sliding doors on either side of the vehicle are a smart solution - making it easy to get in, get out, load and unload. When retracted, the sliding doors yield an ample entry of 70 cm. Both sliding doors feature an inset sliding window and all glass areas are dark tinted to reduce the impact of the harsh Australian sun.

The 1.6 Caddy Life comes with 15" steel wheels as standard with full wheel trim. Alloy wheels are standard for the 1.9 TDI and can be ordered as an option for the 1.6 petrol engine equipped model.

INTERIOR
Individuality and functionality

Adjustable driver seat and steering wheel: The contoured driver's seat is height-adjustable. The height adjustment for the front seats is standard for the 1.9 TDI and optional for the 1.6 engine. To ensure safe handling and provide a clear view of the instruments, the angle and height of the steering wheel can also be adjusted.

Seven-seater capability:
Caddy Life comfortably accommodates the whole family. Seven amply sized adult passengers pose no problem whatsoever with the optional rear seats installed. The 3-seater bench in the rear provides plenty of legroom and is surprisingly comfortable. It can be double-folded in a 2/3rds or 1/3rd configuration depending on who or what you're carrying. In other words, fold them together, then fold them forwards to optimise space.

The seating in the Caddy Life has been cleverly height adjusted through the rows, so that passengers travel in true cinema-style - each row being slightly higher than the one in front. This improves visibility for all passengers making long trips more appealing for all.

Carrying capacity:
The load compartment capacity in the 5-seater configuration is 750 litres and can be extended to 2,890 litres. By removing the optional two-seater bench, the length of the cargo space is 1,354 mm and the volume is 2.3 m3. Even with the optional third row of seating, the 7-seater boasts an impressive 190 litre load compartment.

If you're looking to carry even more cargo, Caddy Life is capable of towing up to 1,350 kg (1.9 TDI engine).

Innovative storage solutions:
The Caddy Life offers a huge array of storage options. There's a storage compartment in the driver's door and on the front passenger's door that will take a 1-litre bottle, there's an ample centre console compartment with an armrest, two cup holders out front and one out back.

More pockets are found in the rear passenger compartment in the sliding doors and in the footwell of the first row of seats in the passenger compartment. For small items, net pockets under the roof in the passenger's compartment are handy and there's even a compartment with lid and document clip for the driver with an open compartment on the instrument panel.

Back in the rear load compartment, Caddy Life has four lashing eyes to tie down odd sized cargo.

SAFETY

No stone left unturned

Brake and vehicle management systems: The most important thing Caddy Life carries is people. Which is why it has been built to take you safely through the day. Control systems like ABS, TCS (traction control system), EBD (electronic brake-pressure distribution) and ASR (anti-spin regulation) come into play in critical situations by intervening in the brake or management systems.

ESP (electronic stability programme) can be ordered as an option.

Airbags: An airbag for the driver and for the front passenger are standard for each model. As an option, front side air bags can be ordered.

TECHNOLOGICAL FEATURES
Clever German thinking

Electric front windows, central locking, semi-automatic air conditioning, a dust and pollen filter, two vents on the centre console, and the RCD 300 single CD FM/AM stereo with security coding and six speakers are standard in every Caddy Life.

Storage under the front seats, cruise control and multifunction indicator are optional for the 1.6 petrol - standard on the 1.9 TDI.

Heated seats, CD changer and navigation system with a large colour display are optional for all models.

ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
Impressive performance delivered

Caddy Life offers the choice of two engines: a 1.6 petrol engine delivering 75 kW and a 1.9 TDI delivering 77 kW.

The diesel engine features unit injector or "pumpe düse" technology. Optimal utilisation of the fuel quantity is assured through this direct injection significantly improving consumption and reducing emissions. This power plant is closely related to the very same 1.9 TDI that is fitted to the Golf A5 which is also developing 77kW at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 1,900 rpm. The 1.9 TDI meets the stringent EU IV emissions standard whilst maintaining a fuel consumption of 6.2 litres/100km with the 5-speed manual and 6.7 litres/100km with the 6-speed DSG (according to ADR 81/01).

The combination of performance and lower fuel consumption also applies to the petrol engine. The petrol engine is also related to the Golf A5 1.6 and develops 75kW at 5,600 rpm and 148Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm. The 1.6 also meets the EU IV emission requirements whilst maintaining a fuel consumption of 8.4 litres/100km (according to ADR 81/01).

The 1.9 TDI is mated to the 5 speed manual transmission and optional DSG which can transmit torque of up to 250Nm. The 1.6 engine is also fitted with a 5 speed manual transmission with a maximum transmission torque of 148Nm.

The Volkswagen Caddy Life, versatility and practicality, and the Volkswagen brand experience for 7 people from only $27,990 for the 1.6 litre petrol manual and $31,990 for the 1.9 litre TDI.

Petrol or diesel .... our Editor prefers the diesel because of the excellent performance and unbelievable economy!

Important:
All data, specifications and equipment mentioned in this article applies to the model range offered in Australia. Models for other countries will differ. Modifications and errors excepted. The terms FSI, TDI and DSG are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other Volkswagen Group companies in Germany.