Can we please give the birthday bumps to the Volkswagen Caddy - a vehicle that has turned 40 years old this week.
It’s a landmark anniversary that highlights the staying power of a van/MPV/camper that first rolled off the production line way back in 1982.
And because the Caddy can be enjoyed in so many different guises, it’s still highly relevant for lease customers today.
So, first up, a history lesson.
The Caddy started life as the ‘Rabbit’ pick-up truck in America in the late 70s before making the jump to Europe.
Those early UK-bound versions of the Caddy pick-up are popular, affordable classics these days - and look amazing when given the full ‘pimp my ride’ treatment. That’s not surprising, really, considering they were based on the iconic Mk1 VW Golf.
The second generation Caddy came along in 1995, and was available as either a panel van or high-roofed estate.
As a VW spokesperson explains, ‘the Caddy 2’s versatility made it ideal for everyone from couriers to tradesmen and service providers.’
The Mk3 Caddy joined the party in 2003 and VW says the improvements on this gen were ‘substantial’ - coming with a better payload, load space, and the flexibility of having a seven-seat family MPV option for the first time.
The Caddy 4 arrived in 2015 and saw the vehicle becoming safer and more efficient than ever before, making it practical for ‘work and leisure, city driving or countryside excursions, family life and beyond’, says VW.
And the Caddy is now into its fifth generation, where you can find three distinctive variants.
The first one is obvious - the Caddy Cargo panel van. It’s a small van that competes with the likes of the Ford Transit Connect, Citroen Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo.
There’s a payload of up to 700 kg and enough load space to swallow two Euro pallets loaded sideways.
While there’s no electric version (yet), there’s a choice of engines with power of up to 122 PS and the option of VW’s ‘4MOTION’ all-wheel drive system.
Away from the traditional van, you can also lease the brilliant Caddy California camper, which VW describes as
'the perfect companion for those seeking adventure, from the spacious foldout bed to the versatile mini-kitchen and al fresco dining set.'
It also comes in a couple of wheelbases so you can really get the right camper for you and your needs.
And, finally, there’s the versatile Caddy MPV, which can be had with either five or seven seats.
The range-topping ‘Life’ models also come loaded with a suite of driver assistance and safety systems as well as those all-important sliding doors for ease of access.
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