Test Drive Volkswagen Caddy since 2005 Minivan

At least in the country, at least to the theater

Volkswagen released a new generation of Caddy not only in the traditional appearance of a delivering van, but also introduced it as a family car. Skeptics prophesy that this decision can become the rakes, which are not recommended. The Germans are full of optimism.

 

In recent years, the automotive market is really experiencing breaking the stereotypes. Companies that have never been engaged in the release of a certain class machine with a non-traditional body type for them that and the case is not sitting in their sleigh. And, wonderful, many from it only in winning. The Volkswagen concern, as they say, God himself ordered experimenting the key to the reputation of the manufacturer of reliable and unpretentious commercial vehicles. However, in the field of design of family vehicles, it is necessary to act on the principle seven times to death once again.
 
For a long time to wise with the creation of a family car, the creators of Caddy did not have to: they provided a van with windows, set the interior, put the folding chairs and Kombi at your service. Universalism and minimization of costs did not remain unnoticed: gray plastic bumpers, combined with a facing of the radiator and unpainted derangers of external mirrors produce a cargo nature of a newborn, about so a person of heavy physical labor produce bombed corn. The dual purpose left its mark and on inserts closing the middle of the wheels, and on the loading height with a decent road suitcase. And only from the side glazing of the booth and the whole (and not swinging bivalve) rear doors buzzing a car.

 

Tested Caddy Kombi was in a four-door performance, and we decided to check it on practicality. As passengers, we invited people who are not editions of the editorial board and asked for an assessment on the convenience of landing. The most satisfied, naturally, the front passenger remained: there was a deep glove box and a luggage shelf above his head, pocket in the door trim and comfortable landing. On the second row of seats, the opinions about the convenience of landing were divided: the most positive emotions received the right passenger. But when it came to opening / closing the door, comments appeared. For example, the course of an undeveloped new door is tight, and the door is not closed tightly from the first time. The middle passenger said that the central place on the rear sofa is preferable to give to the child, and not an adult person at the level of shoulders and elbows, three adults are closed. Okay, if you are going to work or make a short trip to the affairs. And if you have to go not one hour? Here it is time to think about extra stops in order to raise the joints. Finally, the third passenger, who took place by the window on the left, was pleased with the review and convenience of landing, although he admitted that he did not leave his sense of stay in a minibus. According to him, the left back door would not interfere. By the way, such an option is provided.
 
In justice, such a comment was convinced of us when they wanted to pick up their jackets left on the hooks of the luggage compartment. To reach them, it was necessary to get deep into the passenger zone. But in order not to pack the seats, we made it through the opening of the rear door. In the open position, under the door can stand, without being flexing, the person is an increase in the meter eighty, but to use this loading opening you need a certain margin of free space. And in the conditions of dense urban streams, it can ensure that there is a parking with a Christmas tree.

  

The differences between the passenger version and the cargo are even more noticeable in the cabin. The airbag for the front passenger is standard, whereas on the van it is an option. Under each seat of the second row of the wagon is a dubbing box, which is not on the van. Thanks to the installation of a second rear seat with a folding back, a five-seater Caddy Kombi can be turned into a seven. The same solution used to be applied to the Touran model. The right single seat seat easily turns over and leans forward. The same can be done with the right double. At the same time, the head restraints are not necessary: \u200b\u200bthey are settled in space under the seat pillow. Here is a purely family solution of diagonal-lumbar seat belts in extreme places with a kisi children's blocking system. The fixation is very reliable: as soon as the locks of the belts snapped, the system prevents the ribbon repeated output.
 
Unlike the base gasoline engine 1.4 SRE with a capacity of 75 hp, inherited from the old model, installed on a CADDY 104-strong test 1.9 TDI shows a completely different temperament. By the way, this is the most powerful one from those intended for CADDY engines is offered on VW Transporter T5. With it, the average fuel consumption is slightly more than 6 l / 100 km. On the highway at one refueling machine can overcome almost 1000 km a worthy result. And the maximum speed of 166 km / h is enough for the eyes.
 
We have already told about the features of the design in the March and May issue of the magazine (see wheels No. 77 and No. 79). Therefore, now only about the differences of the passenger version. At the request of the customer, an ESP electronic control system is installed on it, combined with an emergency braking amplifier. It turns on if the movement speed of the brake pedal exceeds the set value. There were no such conditions during the test, and we did not happen to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. But the driving quality was checking in different modes. Outcome: Controlness and maneuverability Caddy Kombi can be compared with the same characteristics of the passenger car, but for the empty state of the suspension is harsh. Still, truck makes itself felt.
 

The car is provided by Volkswagen Rus Group.
 
Text: Alexander Trokhachev
Photo: Yuri Dorodonov
 
 
 
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [№80 / 2004]