VW Caddy Maxi Life 2.0 TDI 140: Test Drive

Date: 20 August 2008   |   Author:

Category: Mini-MPV P11d price: £17,995 Key rival: Renault Laguna

Aimed primarily at hotel shuttles or taxi companies, VW has launched a seven-seat version of its van-based Caddy mini-MPV.

Called the Caddy Maxi Life, the 'Maxi' describes the long-wheelbase nature of this version of the standard Caddy, while 'Life' denotes it's a passenger version, not its light commercial equivalent.

We tried the £17,995 140PS diesel, although there's also a 105PS 2.0-litre and a 104PS 1.9 diesel fitted with the automatic DSG gearbox.

Inside, there is room for seven adults plus luggage space, with the third row as roomy as the middle one.

But up front, you'd never guess that VW has prestige brand aspirations from the hard plastics and occasional rattle. It's clear that the Caddy has roots in the van world rather than passenger car.

It drives ok, much like a good van, although 169g/km of CO2 could cause BIK problems. But if you need seven seats, the Maxi - if far from cheap and only being sold through VW's commercial vehicle network - is almost alone in offering that facility without needing at least a Vauxhall Zafira-sized mini-MPV.

Verdict: Good passenger space for seven people plus luggage but no substitute in refinement or quality for a car-based mini-MPV

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