2008 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Van First Steer
21 Apr, 2008
29 Comments 
2008 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Van First Steer & Review
- By David J Twomey
With the Australian car market more crowded than almost anywhere in the world, the latest game for car makers seems to be re-inventing market segments, the latest to do so is Volkswagen with the Caddy Maxi, which apparently re-invents the small van segment.
The VW Caddy Maxi is a stretch version of the market segment leading Caddy small van, which the German manufacturer says is aimed at “tradesmen, courier services and service providers requiring a very high load capacity in a compact van”.
Compared to the regular Caddy, the Maxi has been stretched from 4.41 metres to 4.88 metres by adding 320mm to the existing model’s wheelbase of 2682mm and extending the rear overhang by 150mm.
This has created an extremely spacious vehicle with up to 4200 litres, up from 3200 litres, of stowage volume, and makes the Caddy Maxi one of the largest models among the compact vans and small transporters available.
With a load capacity of up to 4.2 m3, an 810-kilogram payload, up to 1500-kilogram trailer load and load area up to 2250 millimetres long, depending on the interior configuration – these are all record figures in this segment.
There are three powertrain combinations on offer; a 75kw/148Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox, and a 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine with either the five-speed manual or VW’s unique six-speed DSG, manual/auto gearbox.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Does it come with rear seat option?????
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April 21st, 2008 at 11:30 am
CARL [Primo!]
Good call.
NO 2 seater only, you need the VW Caddy passenger van, NOT the load carrier!
Cheers
F-0
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April 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I like the way it looks! I mean for a van its quite a good looking one!
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April 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hey Carl, no rear seat, but big enough for a double mattress :)
No cruise standard on the petrol, because when loaded (or even when empty) cruise on a gutless little 4 cyl petrol is one of life’s worst experiences. Not only on the Caddy, pretty much any small 4cyl petrol is the same.
Good little(ish) van, but getting up a bit in price when compared to the ILoad diesel van.
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April 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
mmmmmm iload
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April 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Just looked at Hyundai site and the ILOAD and Imax are RWD!!!!
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April 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
small euro front wheel drive vans never sell here with the floral industry being the only exception. They are small, gutles expensive and have poor resale value.
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April 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ram, your comment is too far-reaching. Plenty of industries use them. Any, in fact, that require a small van.
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April 21st, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I know that almost NOBODY would agree with me but I would prefer a 1.9 TDI DSG one of these over the new (UGLY) Holden ute. I know its a small gripe but I cant like the new Holdens simply because of the foglight cutout shape. It doesnt match anything else on the car! Its too rectangular.
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April 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Ram, get real. I drive a Volkswagen Caddy van (yes, I bought it for my own business for myself to drive), 1.9 Turbo Diesel with 6sp DSG gearbox. Small? yep, nice and compact, I can park easily and fits just what I need. Gutless? nope, drags off most cars at the lights, only problem is lack of traction….expensive? it was more expensive than other vans, but is by far the best drive and the best specced van you can buy. (cruise, full trip computer, auto up and down on both windows - can’t get that on my wifes BF Fairmont ghia. reverse sensors, heated mirrirs, the list goes on.) Resale? current wheels mag lists redbook resale as 59% after 3 years, Falcon ute?? 54% commodire ute? 62/63%. Drive one or talk to someone who does before making rash generalisations like that!!!!
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April 21st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Matthew, You don’t have to have driven one to realise that these diesel WV’s aren’t gutless just read a few reviews….but some people only see CC’s and Kilowatts and don’t take notice of the massive Torque in these small diesels!!!!
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April 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
People mover version is called Caddy Life and is available as a five-seater on the SWB van.
The LWB Caddy Life, with seven seats, will be launched in a few months.
Incidentally the Caddy van is the market segemnt leader in sales so a bit more than the floral industry must be buying them.
The Maxi is a perfect vehicle for Couriers and the like who need to run around the city all day. It drives like a car.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Well said Davidt :)
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May 4th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Something like this is getting close to my ideal car…all it needs is a useable rear seat arrangement of some kind for kids/friends, and selective AWD for towing & launching/retrieving the boat. The I-load crew van is close to the mark but just too big for daily zipping about. The Volvo is much more car like, economical, and practical in this longer form, by the sounds of it. Volvo! Build me a passenger version of this car, with some kind of AWD for when it’s needed, and I’ll buy it.
My 2 cents.
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May 4th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Oh dear, but for an edit function… VW, not Volvo. I blame diesel fumes in the crappy transit for my dyslexia.
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June 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I test drove a Caddy Maxi TDi last week, it went very well indeed, I already own an VW Crafter which gets along very nicely,but the Caddy was a whole heap quicker again.
yes VW are more expensive than the competition, except Mercedes and possibly Iveco, but theres more to a vehicle than what you read on a spec sheet, such as build quailty feel, comfort etc…here the Caddy wins hands down
Rear Seat is not available from the Factory but I was told they are available thru the dealer from an aftermarket supplier fully ADR’d for $2000 ;)
I concur on the iload being to big for what I imagine a Caddy, Combo, Bertlingo, Kangoo buyer would want ie fuel efficiency and nibbleness.
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June 10th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Hi guys & girls,
I want to buy a Caddy Maxi, but I am concerned about the gearbox.
I have 2 T4 Transporter 2.5L T/Diesels and the transmission (auto) went after 80,000km on one, and 120,000km on the other.
Very, very expensive to fix.
Its the only fault I can find in otherwise great vehicles, but has me thinking VW may not be the way to go in the future.
Is the Caddy T/diesel manual a reliable unit, does anyone know?
Any info much appreciated.
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June 10th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
My Golf’s ticked over 50,000 kms, Lee1, with the engine you’re contemplating. Its only warranty claim related to a fault in the intake manifold that caused a gruff shut-down, but it drove normally until fixed. Its manual is beautiful to use.
In short, thoroughly recommended.
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thanks for the feedback Golfschwein. Good to hear you’ve had a good run.
Does anyone else have experience, good or bad, with these T/diesels with manual transmissions?
My 2nd Transporter is just about to shred its transmission, so I need to make a decision very soon.
All feedback very gratefully received.
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June 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Hey Matthew (21/04/2008),
How has your Caddy performed in terms of reliability in the time you have had it?
Do you carry much load? What sort of fuel economy do you get?
Would love to get your feedback.
Cheers.
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June 24th, 2008 at 11:26 am
hi everybody, there was no real mentioning of fuel consumption…! on top all the advandages it has my caddy 1.9 diesel takes between 4 and 6 ltr. per 100 km. i reckon thats world class. that is getting more and more an importance, just look at those fuel prices now -
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July 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Well I bought the Caddy Maxi TDi 5spd Manual this week.
3 week wait on delivery.
FTR, Did’nt go DSG on either my Caddy or Crafter as I see this as one more thing to go wrong, and its not like the manuals are hard or a chore to drive.
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July 8th, 2008 at 9:33 am
let us know how it is in fuel consumption.
Did you get any extras or just basic van ?
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July 17th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
just sold my ss ute and bought a caddy 1.9tdi 5spd man. goes great.real zippy and cruises on the hwy with power to overtake and gets 900kms to a 60l tank. cant wait to get the diesel tuner to bump up the 77kw engine to just under 100kw. should realy get up and go then.
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August 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I’ve had my Caddy for more than 2 years now and I LOVE it.Fuel economy has not changed since purchase.The only major problem was the gear box which started playing up around the 80,000 mark but was replaced by Volkswagen at 104,000 km.I can not praise Volkswagen Assist and my local service centre Mcgrath enough.Note to Rob I get the same fuel consumption. On a trip from Sydney to Armidale carring 120 kg in weight I got 916 km befor I needed to fuel up. Note I am a courier and I’m on the road for about 10 hours a day.
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August 25th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Ram - so you reckon a Kia or Holden has a better resale value? Just look on carsales.com and find out the truth buddy.
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August 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
just bought one from ferntree gully, good price. salesman actually knows what they are talking about.
bought caddy maxi in black manual been told 7 - 10 days wait.
caddy based heavily on golf so i assume it should be reliable. tdi wow enough to go around and i can get into carpark finally
can’t wait
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
ROB.. If you check these forums again please contact me i am interested in the power upgrade..
Just purchased a Caddy maxi TDI 5sp man.
Only thing that lets them down is the after sales service..
Hard to get ya car in, if they answer the phones..
Maybe they are just selling too many??
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September 24th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
having driven every van under the sun in the last 15 years and running my own service business i went for the caddy as soon as i saw it as having just come out of a hiace petrol that needced fuel every 400K and the size and handling was rubbish
the little caddy does everything it needs to in a small package that is easy to drive and park , why go for a larger van with higer lease , insurance and fuel costs when you dont need to
have just clicked over 30K in the last 11 months
as mentioned traction is a problem due to the garbage tyres which are at the wear markers at 30K
mine is 1.9 TDi manual , didnt go DSG dues to initial cost and potential repair costs $$$$$
i almost went with a berlingo petrol on the road at sub $19K but the cargo capacity wasnt there
mine weighs about 1750kg loaded with racking and parts
i do suburban driving and get around 700k till the fuel light comes on 7.5-8L/100k, i rarely rev about 2500rpm
i have it on a 2.5 year lease and resale looks to be fantastic so when the lease comes around the maxi will be the next choice
why the hell would you go with the hyundai , resale will be rubbish, unknown reliability and for the same money
you could buy a transporter or hiace
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