Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Review 2024
The Volkswagen Caddy Maxi is a longer version of the highly sought-after Volkswagen Caddy small van. Extending the body by 353mm, it offers an extra 0.6m3 of load volume and an increased payload.
Rivals to the Caddy Maxi include the Toyota Proace City, Ford Transit Connect, Peugeot Partner, Citroen Berlingo, and Vauxhall Combo Cargo.
Our Volkswagen Caddy Maxi review covers:
- Sleek exterior design with sporty features
- Comfortable interior with superb technology
- Up to 3.7m3 of boot space and a payload of up to 725kg
- 2.0-litre diesel or 1.5-litre petrol engine
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Brilliant cabin
- Loads of handy features in the rear
- 0.6m3 larger than the standard Caddy
Cons:
- Lacks a bit of power on the motorway
- Infotainment is complicated
- Road and wind noise when at higher speeds
The Caddy range is now in its fifth generation and has always been one of the better-looking small vans on the market. The Caddy Maxi has the same exterior as the standard Caddy, albeit a bit longer. You'll get a sleek yet minimalist front end, creases in the bodywork, and vertical rear lights.
The Caddy Maxi is 353mm longer than the standard Caddy, but you don't notice this inside. And this is because nothing really needs to change in the cabin. There's plenty of space for the driver and passenger to get comfortable on a long drive.
The Caddy Maxi stands out in boot space. Thanks to the extra length, it can carry a load of up to 3.7m3 and a payload of up to 725kg (with the 1.5-litre petrol engine), a 0.6m3 increase compared to the standard Caddy Cargo.
The rear also has many handy features, such as a solid bulkhead (optional), six tie-down lashings, a rubber floor cover (optional), and LED load compartment lighting.
I'll go as far as saying that the Caddy Maxi has arguably the finest interior for a small van. In fact, it's more like sitting in a car than a van. The dashboard is driver-oriented and features some nice features, including soft-touch plastics, an optional leather steering wheel, and a couple of USB connectors.
In terms of technology, you'll get a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard, but we'd recommend upgrading to the Pro trim, which gets a 10-inch display. The latter features some great tech, including navigation and connected services. Although the screen looks great, it can be a bit confusing for a novice, thanks to its lack of physical buttons.
Three trim levels are available for the Caddy Maxi: Commerce, Plus, and Pro.
Commerce has 15-inch steel wheels, an electronic parking brake, halogen main headlights, a multi-function steering wheel, rear parking sensors, and twin near-side and off-side sliding doors.
Plus has body-coloured bumpers, climatic air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, electrically adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat, and sun visors with a vanity mirror.
The Pro has 16 or 17-inch wheels, a 10-inch colour touchscreen with four speakers, LED rear tail lights, front and rear parking sensors, and We Connect Plus preparation.
The Caddy Maxi is powered by either a 2..0-litre diesel engine or a 1.5-litre petrol. Both come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, however a seven-speed DSG is available on the range-topping diesel engine.
For the diesels, you can choose between a 102PS or 122PS unit. We'd recommend going for the more powerful version as it adds that extra power but doesn't sacrifice much fuel economy, with both reaching up to 50mpg.
The petrol engine returns 116PS and goes from 0 to 62mph in around 11.5 seconds. It's worth noting that fuel economy is much less, coming in around the early 40s.
The Caddy Maxi is a great van to drive and if we're being honest, feels a bit more like a car than a van. Although slightly bigger than the standard Caddy, the Maxi is still great for driving around town.
Its handling is accurate and light, which makes parking and tight turns a breeze. There's also loads of assistance, such as parking sensors as standard.
On the motorway, the Caddy Maxi is a decent van to drive, but you can tell it wants to be in the city. The engines take quite a while to get up to speed, especially if you've got cargo in the rear, and once there, they make a fair bit of noise.
If you're after a better long-distance cruiser, we'd recommend the Ford Transit Connect.
Prices for the new Volkswagen Caddy Maxi start from £29,124.00 OTR* or to lease from £354.86 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest van leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
