Volkswagen Caddy Life Camper 2006 Review

What we liked
Cheap full-size seating for seven
People or cargo flexibility
Frugal diesel and DSG option

Not so much
Petrol version underpowered
Commercial feel and looks
Expensive when optioned

OVERVIEW
Australia missed a whole generation of European vans that combined the front section of a passenger car with a large box attached behind the front seats. Because Australian panel vans did the same job with much more style, these European vans were not sold here apart from an occasional early Peugeot. The Holden Combo van based on the Barina/Corsa was the first to reach here in volume and like its ancestors based on the Citroen 2CV and its early rivals, it continued the look of a snail pulling a large shell or a dog sitting in its kennel. Although the new Caddy Life is based on this heritage, it reflects the latest European trend which marks a clear departure in looks and construction.

Today's Citroen Berlingo, Holden Combo, Renault Kangoo and VW Caddy are all sold locally and have evolved into more streamlined vans similar to past Australian efforts and feature inside access to the rear cargo area. Because it's now common to use these vehicles as combined family wagons and delivery vans in Europe, the best of them feature comprehensive safety structures. In the Caddy's case, there is a shell within a shell, a comprehensive inner structural shell covered in large one-piece panels. This sturdy construction is a compelling reason to take a closer look at what these compact European vans offer.

Volkswagen is the first to launch its seven seat people-carrier version with a useful choice of engines and transmissions to match. Based on the Golf V, the Caddy Life feels more grown-up than expected when earlier efforts like the Combo are based on the class below. The Caddy Life is not to be confused with the Golf-based Touran which performs a similar function but is Volkswagen's passenger car-based MPV equivalent to the Holden Zafira.

The Polish-built Caddy Life is unashamedly based on the commercial range and does little to hide it. While the styling carries a Golf family resemblance, its proportions are more like a small Transporter van than a station wagon. It is a unique combination that can perform the role of a compact city runabout with seats for seven starting well under $30,000.

Volkswagen has also launched a five-seat Camper version of the same vehicle that converts into a roomy double bed sleepover for two but is not a full camper conversion. It features clever storage and a rear tent extension reminiscent of Holden's Hatch Hutch once offered on the Torana Liftback.

More wieldy than the massive Transporter-based Kombi Beach, the Caddy Life Camper would make an ideal Monday to Friday commuter or second car always ready for an outdoors getaway on the weekend. Compared to erecting tents and spending the next week drying and airing them, it has a lot going for it. It is a whole new concept that could be the perfect escape package for apartment-bound inner-city dwellers.

Caddy Life: The key to its seven-seater capacity is a clever centre seat with 60:40 split that not only features a folding backrest for rear access but the whole seat tumbles forward to reveal a flat floor.  Both rear seats can be accessed through sliding doors on both sides that are 700mm wide and 1240mm high. These doors are a huge advantage in tight parking.  The third-row seat which seats two and also folds is easily removeable but weighs 50kg so it is really a two person job.

Unlike so many four-wheel drives and dedicated people movers, the Caddy's high roof commercial origins allows a high hip point and full-size seating in all rows. The legs of passengers can drop down to the floor instead of being crunched up around their ears. This is one people mover where you could undertake a reasonably long trip with all seats filled without complaint providing you don't need much luggage space. The optional opening rear side windows at a pricey $395.00 is a must for regular seven passenger journeys otherwise you will end freezing front and centre occupants to provide fresh air for the back.

Storage is everywhere including deep pockets in all doors, deep storage drawers under the front seats (diesel only), overhead storage built into the ceiling above the front occupants, deep hidden storage boxes under the middle row footwells, side pockets and storage nets in the rear compartment. Several 12-volt sockets are spread throughout the vehicle.

Caddy Life Camper: In line with its higher price ($39,990 manual, $42,990 DSG), the Camper is better-equipped bringing the 1.9TDi diesel engine, alloy wheels, cruise control and an electric sunroof standard. The third row seat is swapped for a roll out bed for two. The front seats also fold forward to create extra space. There is additional internal lighting, rear blind, two folding chairs for outside and a folding table. The rear-mounted tent and side mounted storage bags are also standard.

Unusually for VW, both models come with a choice of seven solid and seven metallic/pearl paint colours, several of which are bright and cheery. There is also a choice of bright red or blue trim highlights available with certain colours. Some of the decals shown on the Camper add some fun to what should be a light-hearted lifestyle vehicle.

COMFORT
Although the overall effect is dressed-up commercial, all the necessary comfort features are there. Both front seats are full-sized and contoured. The rear seats are mounted stadium style so that the second and third rows can see ahead.

There is tilt and reach adjustment for the steering wheel, power mirrors which are also heated, front fog lights, climate control air-conditioning, front electric windows, sliding window inserts in the rear doors, remote central locking and single CD sound system.

Comfort is enhanced by the outstanding vision afforded to all occupants by the low waistline and large windscreen. Although the vehicle is quite compact, it never feels claustrophobic.

Ride comfort, which is always tricky in a smaller people mover with such a big difference in weight between fully loaded and empty, is addressed. VW solves the problem by adding an extra leaf to each rear spring which doesn't come into operation until the vehicle is fully loaded. While typical German firmness will be the order of the day, it promises to be quite comfortable and reassuring even when empty.

ABS, Traction control (TCS)/Anti-Slip (ASR) are standard on all models. Brake Assist and Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) come as an option package and are well worth considering if the vehicle is fully loaded on a regular basis at highway speeds.  

MECHANICAL
There are two mechanical packages both based on existing Golf models. The entry level Caddy Life features a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 75kW and a modest 148Nm of torque at 3800 rpm. It comes as a five-speed manual only. It is not available in the Camper. Claimed fuel economy is 8.4 litres/100km.

The optional Diesel is the 1.9-litre TDi unit with 77kW and a whopping 250Nm at only 1900 rpm. It can be ordered as a 5-speed manual or with VW's clever six-speed DSG with Tiptronic which replicates an automatic transmission while providing an outstanding manual function. Claimed fuel figures are 6.2 litres/100km for the manual and 6.7 for the DSG.

Both feature electro-mechanical power steering which provides the best of both worlds at highway speeds and low speed parking while saving fuel and allowing the vehicle to be towed. The upgraded front suspension features a new bonded anti-roll bar bush and  coupling rods that are more effective than the usual type and necessary with the extra height and laden weight of the Caddy Life. The rear axle is a tubular beam axle with twin leaf springs on each side with a 20mm anti-roll bar attached to the body via coupling rods. It's all very simple and effective.

Front brakes are 288mm ventilated disc, the rears are 260mm solid discs. Both are more than adequate for this application when some heavier 4WD models still run drums at the back.

This leaves the Golf Caddy Life in a unique position with its commercial flexibility and giant carrying capacity when not used as a people mover. However, VW identifies the Kia Carnival, Hyundai Trajet and Toyota Avensis Verso as potential rivals and offered a feature comparison which predictably paints the Caddy Life in a reasonable light at its $27,990 entry point.

At this level, you would also have to include the Mitsubishi Grandis when it looks the most modern and palatable of all these at its sub-$40,000 entry point.

Don't overlook a third-row seat conversion in a the current Ford BF Falcon or Holden VZ Commodore station wagon range when some really good deals can bring these into a similar price range or even cheaper when you start comparing features.

Both the Kia Carnival ($29,990) and Hyundau Trajet ($32,990) offer powerful V6 engines and autos over the comparatively feeble Caddy Life petrol engine and manual only. The Avensis Verso at $36,990 is simply in another class in terms of space and its powerful and efficient 2.4-litre petrol engine.

The reality is that the delivery van styling of the Caddy Life and the lack of luggage space behind the rear seat is not comparable with any of these purpose-designed people movers. For some buyers, these factors alone will be enough to veto either the Caddy Life or its rivals.

What the Caddy Life can offer is a much more compact package, significantly better fuel economy in both petrol and diesel specification and a more passenger car feel in the way it drives. The Diesel versions especially with 6 speed DSG have no rivals in a full 7 seater package with their clever blend of performance and fuel economy. Dressed-up in some of the Camper's funky decals and stripes, the Caddy Life could look as though you are having more fun than the fluffy-slipper people-mover brigade.

There is nothing ex-factory that comes close to the Caddy Life Camper with its double bed and rear camping facility, sunroof, full ADR five seat capacity and frugal diesel running costs except the Kombi Beach which is too big to double as a city runabout. That said, starting with a basic Toyota Town Ace or Mitsubishi Express van and a visit to a camping conversion company could generate something similar for the same money.

For the driver of the petrol engine model, the fewer distractions the better. With a full complement of passengers on board combined with the extra wind resistance of the van body over the Golf hatchback, the driver needs to be constantly working the gear lever to ensure that the engine is always close to its 3800 rpm torque-peak. Add air-conditioning into the equation and the battle is almost lost before it has started if there are hills involved. The drivetrain is pleasant and willing enough but there just simply isn't the margin for a payload of up to 5-700kg inside and 100kg on the roof when the starting weight is 1406kg. Any fuel economy advantage would also be at risk.

At best, the entry Golf Caddy Life petrol in base spec is a cheap, frugal and reasonably willing suburban carry-all at city speeds which at the end of the day is all it needs to be in so many applications.

The diesel version on the other hand punches well above its weight especially in combination with VW's breakthrough six-speed DSG transmission. With its colossal torque at just 1900rpm it nevers sounds busy and finds a loping, easy-going pace at 100km/h that feels like it can maintain forever without using much fuel. If the family budget is tight, this is one vehicle that will cover an extraordinary range of functions and works brilliantly as the Camper.

That leaves ride and handling which is better than expected thanks to the two-stage rear springs. The rear wheels of front drive commercials with stiff rear springs too often leave the ground when empty but the Golf Caddy Life's rear end is relatively supple and compliant over all surfaces. Strong understeer is the order of the day thanks to the extra height and basic dead axle rear end that doesn't have any self-correcting toe-control geometry but it all feels very safe and predictable. The ride is quite comfortable for this type of vehicle over most surfaces and directional stability is good.

Overall, there is an honesty and practicality about both Caddy Life models which is very endearing. The biggest issues are its basic $20,000 commercial origins. As for every upper-level variation of any commercial vehicle, these can never be too far away in appearance and finish no matter how good the additions are, which in this case are first class.