ROAD TEST - VW CADDY MAXI 2.0 TDI 81KW:
If you're on top of your game, in breeding terms, and have in the region of R300 000 to spend on family transport, there is really no shortage of seven-seat MPVs to choose from.
Problem is, and despite what the carmakers claim, those sixth and seventh back row seats are usually only good for small kids and when they're in place there's virtually no room for luggage - go on holiday seven up and you'll need a trailer.
But there is an alternative to squeezing into one of the mainstream compact MPV contenders and it's been on our market for quite some time - Volkswagen's Caddy Maxi.
Recently upgraded with its clone of VW's latest family face and endowed with a new 2-litre TDI engine, the Maxi falls slap bang into middle of the compact MPV sector with its price of R269 880 for the 81kW manual model (or get a 103kW DSG for R292 080).
But as you open one of its large rear sliding doors, you'll realise that there's a lot more space in there than you'd find in any of those aforementioned MPVs.
There is easily enough room in the second and third rows to keep five adults happy and even with these seats in place, there is still a relatively large 530-litre load space to play with. Sure, it's not the most versatile seating arrangement (no sliding or reclining functions) but the seats do fold to give you a 1350 litre boot with the third row down and 3700 litres with all back seats out the way. This cabin seriously evokes memories of earlier Kombis.
The next question you might ask is why, then, is such a spacious vehicle actually cheaper than the TDI versions of the smaller VW Touran? There is a perception that the latter and the Caddy share a platform, and I'm sure there is a lot of shared Golf 5 architecture beneath both but take a drive in the Caddy and you'll soon realise why it’s cheaper.
After all, the Caddy Maxi is really just a panel van that's been converted into a bus. Gone is that lovely (and complex) multilink rear suspension that provides superb ride and handling qualities in the Touran and Golf - in its place a set of rudimentary leaf springs like you get in bakkies and other panel vans.
Despite this, the Caddy feels relatively well damped and its suspension doesn't transfer a lot of shock into the cabin, but it is quite bouncy and the road holding is not in the same league as the Touran. Luckily the Caddy does have traction control as a back up.
In fact, this vehicle constantly reminds you of its van origins through its lack of rigidity and sound deadening - it's creaky and rattly on virtually every road surface and you also get to hear a fair amount of road noise.
So yes, it does lack a lot of polish compared to MPVs like the Touran but that's not to say it's uncomfortable. On a 1200km round trip from Gauteng to KZN recently, I was impressed with the overall comfort levels and did not feel unduly fatigued after the journey despite traversing some horrible (supposedly tarred) country roads.
The engine also punched above its perceived weight. The spec sheet reads: 81kW at 4200rpm and 250Nm between 1750 and 2750rpm - not a lot of shove for a rather big van weighing 1600kg. Despite this, performance (albeit with just two on board) was more than adequately strong by bus standards and with good power delivery throughout the rev range, it was punchy enough in town and never disappointed when overtaking became necessary on the open road.
Consumption on these open stretches was also rather good, the trip computer registering only 5.9 l/100km on the down trip and 6.0 on the way back.
VERDICT:
It's simple really. If you're after the most interior space for your money and you can live with a few creaks and rattles and boxy, van-like styling then the Caddy Maxi is an excellent buy with good performance and economy to boot. Want sophistication? Try squeezing the family into a Touran or something similar.