VANALYSIS - The VW Caddy in 2020
Tom Roberts
LCV Reviewer/Specialist, Content Marketing Manager (Bikes, Leisure & Commercial Vehicles) at Auto Trader. Responsible for reviews, news, features and content marketing management of Auto Trader's non-car content.
42 years! Has the VW Caddy really been around for 42 years and almost 4 generations?! Can it really be time for a 5th generation already? If so, it's older than me, which makes me feel young, so let's just go with it.
The VW Caddy has been a staple of the small van sector ever since the first version was derived from the VW Golf Mk 1 when it went under the name "Rabbit" and was actually a vintage looking pickup truck (check it out below).
The most conventionally-recognisable generation of the VW Caddy as a panel van - the 3rd generation - emerged in 2003. It shared 50% of its modules with the Golf and Touran, and looked more like a stocky medium van.
Facelifts followed in 2010 and 2015, giving the small van a less stocky appearance and making it finally look like the van we know and love today. But... there's a new kid on the horizon...
The 2020/21 VW Caddy - 42 Years In The Making
The fourth-generation Caddy will make its debut towards the end of 2020 - but it's spy shots are out there and first-glimpse photos like the one above. Official details are out there, but the simplest to report on are that it will be built on the MQB car platform that's used by cars such as the VW Golf - good stock, eh?
The SWB version will be 4,501mm long, 1,855mm wide and 1,797mm high, the LWB version has the same height and width, and is now 4,853mm long. The Maxi version will take two Euro pallets loaded sideways, helped by the increased measurements of the sliding side loading door. The engine will be standardised with a 2.0-litre TDI in 75, 102 or 122hp outputs with AdBlue.
The next-gen Caddy will also undoubtedly serve as a test bed for the new Ford Transit Connect. After all, it's easy to forget the agreement signed between Ford & VW that was announced - this is what it's no doubt heading towards. In my recent article on the top 5 vans for 2020, the reason I put this at number 1 is because of THAT agreement.
Who knows what the future holds when 2 powerhouses like VW & Ford partner up? I, for one, am really excited to see what other details emerge over 2020.
To read more from me and to find out my views on the LCV industry in 2020, head to the blog pages at Vanarama.com, or check out my video reviews of all the major LCVs available on the market right now on the Vanarama YouTube channel.