The Volkswagen Caddy is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle (M-segment) produced by the German automaker Volkswagen Group since 1979. It is sold in Europe and in other markets around the world. The Volkswagen Caddy was first introduced in North America in 1979 and in Europe in 1982. The first and second generations also had pick-up (coupe utility) variants.
The following vehicles are related to the Volkswagen Caddy and are also manufactured by the Volkswagen Group. Typ 14 was derived from the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, Typ 9K was derived from the Volkswagen Polo Mk3 (Volkswagen Caddy) / SEAT Ibiza Mk2 (SEAT Inca) platform, Typ 9U was rebadged Škoda Felicia pickup, Typ 2K was derived from the Volkswagen Touran platform with Golf Mk5 front suspension, Typ SB was rebadged for the third generation of the Ford Tourneo Connect since 2021. __TOC__
First generation (Typ 14; 1979)
Released in 1979, the first Volkswagen Caddy is a coupe utility and van based on the Volkswagen Group A1 platform, shared with the small family car Volkswagen Golf Mk1.
Volkswagen Typ is: 147 = LHD (Left hand drive) 148 = RHD (Right hand drive)
Rabbit Pickup
The Caddy came to fruition when Volkswagen of America was experimenting with Golf derivatives, developing an estate and a pickup truck with a bed. VW of America's engineering team was led by Duane Miller, who acknowledged the initial design was completed in partnership with Sheller Globe.
Volkswagen of America was interested in the pickup, and Volkswagen released the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup in North America, produced at the Volkswagen Westmoreland Assembly Plant in Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1984. Trim levels such as LX and Sportruck were available.
In North America, the Rabbit Pickup was equipped with one of two engines: originally a 1.6-litre petrol engine, joined by a 1.5-litre diesel for 1980. These were soon replaced by a 1.6 diesel with or a 1.7 petrol engine with . One unique feature of the diesel was that it came with a five-speed gearbox, with the fifth gear, carrying a 0.76:1 ratio, labeled as E for "Economy". Fuel consumption was rated at on the EPA city/highway cycles for the petrol engine with the four-speed manual and a corresponding for the five-speed diesel. Observed fuel consumption for the diesel with no load and driven at a steady in fifth gear was , dropping to at . The maximum interior width of the bed was and the rated payload was . In Canada and many other markets outside of the United States, a turbodiesel version was also available.
The first cars under the name Rabbit Pickup were sold in the United States in late 1979 for the 1980 model year, delayed from a planned early 1979 rollout. It was not sold as the Caddy until three years later, when the model was introduced to Europe as the Caddy. Cosmetically, the North American Rabbit Pickup had rectangular headlamps, while the rest of the world received round headlamps.
The Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup competed with compact pickups, such as the Ford Courier, Datsun Truck, Toyota Hilux, Dodge Rampage and Subaru BRAT.
Worldwide The Caddy nameplate was never used in North America. Its first use was in 1982, when the vehicle was released in Europe. European Caddys were built in Volkswagen's plant TAS in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (at the time SFR Yugoslavia), between 1982 and 1992. A fibreglass-reinforced plastic box cap was available to cover the open bed, turning the Caddy into a small panel van with an enclosed of cargo volume, and it also could be used as a caravan with an appropriate in-bed unit.
The original Caddy also was produced in Uitenhage, South Africa, from 1981 until 2007, alongside the first generation Golf itself (which was sold until 2009).
Worldwide production of the first-generation Typ 14 Rabbit Pickup/Caddy totaled more than 207,000 vehicles. For the pickup truck market, Volkswagen sold the Taro, a rebranded Toyota Hilux, from 1989 to 1997; the Caddy name continued in 1995 as a slightly smaller panel van and multi-purpose vehicle developed with Škoda and SEAT.
Engine specs The 1979–1984 Caddy pickup used the following engines:
International 1.5 EA827: , at 2500 rpm 1.6 EA827: , at 2500 rpm 1.6 diesel EA827: , at 2300 rpm 1.6 turbodiesel
North America 1.6 49-state: EA827: at 5500 rpm, at 3200 rpm (1979–1980, FI) 1.6 California: at 5500 rpm, at 3200 rpm (1979–1980, FI with catalytic converter) 1.7 49-state: EA827: at 5500 rpm, at 3000 rpm (1981–1984, FI) 1.7 California: at 5000 rpm, at 3000 rpm (1981–1984, FI with catalytic converter) 1.7 petrol 1.5 diesel: at 5000 rpm, at 3000 rpm at 5000 rpm (1980) 1.6 diesel EA827: at 4800 rpm, at 3000 rpm (1981-1984) 1.6 turbodiesel (Canada only)
South Africa 1.6: 1.6: 1.8: 1.6 diesel:
Gallery
Second generation (Typ 9K/9U; 1996)
Released in 1995, the Volkswagen Caddy Typ 9K, or Volkswagen Polo Caddy, was a light van, designed by Volkswagen's Spanish subsidiary SEAT, and derived from the SEAT Ibiza 6K, on the Volkswagen Group A03 platform. The area of the cargo floor is , while the loading volume is . Typical payload is , depending on drivetrain and market specifics, and the two rear cargo doors are of a 60/40 split design. Safety features were improved from the previous generation, reflecting a changing market: Driver airbag was standard and a passenger airbag was optional, ABS and what Volkswagen called an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) was also available. In spite of the name, EDL is not a true differential lock: sensors monitor wheel speeds, and if one is rotating substantially faster than the other (i.e., slipping), the EDL system momentarily brakes it. This effectively transfers all the power to the other wheel. Air conditioning was an available option.
It was built in Spain, at the Martorell factory of SEAT, from 1996 to 2004. Its twin, the SEAT Inca, was quickly phased out when the SEAT marque was realigned as the "sporty" branch of the Volkswagen Group.
It was in production in Argentina until 2008 for the Latin American market. In 2005 the Argentinian-made Caddy (called the Derby Van or Pointer Van, depending on the market) received a facelift which was never sold in Europe, with a front treatment similar to that of the Polo Classic (6K; 2004 facelift).
Engines
+1996–2003 MY EnginesModeldesignationEngine codeDisplacementengineconfigurationMax. power at rpm(Directive 80/1269/EEC)Max. torque at rpm0–Top speedYearsPetrol engines1.4 MPIAEX, APQI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,700 @ 2,800–3,20018.8 sec1996–20041.4 MPIAUAI4 DOHC 16v @ 5,000 @ 3,80014.9 sec2000–20041.6 SPI1FI4 SOHC 8v @ 5,500 @ 2,60017.5 sec1995–19971.6 MPIAEEI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,800 @ 2,800–3,60016.6 sec1997–2000Diesel engines1.7 SDIAHBI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,200 @ 2,200–2,600 1996–20001.9 D1YI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,400 @ 2,000–3,00020.6 sec1996–20041.9 SDIAEY, AYQI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,200 @ 2,200–2,80020.1 sec1996–20041.9 TDI1Z, AHUI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,000 @ 1,90014.4 sec1996–20001.9 TDIALE, ALHI4 SOHC 8v @ 3,750 @ 1,90014.4 sec1997–2004
Caddy Typ 9U
Released in 1996 to complement the pickup-bodied Typ 9K Caddy range, the rebadged Škoda Felicia Utility was the entry level light commercial vehicle for the VWCV range.
The Typ 9U Caddy was built in Škoda Auto's Kvasiny, Czech Republic, plant.
+EnginesModeldesignationEngine codeDisplacementengineconfigurationMax. power at rpm(Directive 80/1269/EEC)Max. torque at rpm0–Top speedYearsPetrol engines1.6 MPIAEEI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,500 @ 3,50012.5 sec1996–2000Diesel engines1.9 DAEFI4 SOHC 8v @ 4,300 @ 3,00016.5 s1996–2000
Features of Typ 9U Caddy payload rating 2.0 m2 loading area length: width: turning circle: 3 point seatbelts option of twin airbags option of ABS brakes option of air conditioning, standard in Petrol engined models.
Safety
Third generation (Typ 2K; 2003)
The third generation of Volkswagen Caddy debuted in October 2003, at the RAI Commercial Vehicle Show in Amsterdam, with production at Poznań commencing in November 2003.
The Typ 2K shares 50% of its modules with the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 and Volkswagen Touran. The new model Caddy has a more aerodynamic design, the angle of the windscreen and A pillar is more horizontal, making the dashboard bigger and the bonnet (hood) smaller.
There are two body sizes: "normal" and Maxi. These can both be configured as a Panel Van, a Window Panel Van, Kombi (spartan passenger version), Caddy Life (family version), and a Camping version called the Caddy Tramper or Caddy Life Camper.
A Caddy Life or Kombi seats up to five in two rows while a Caddy Life Maxi or Kombi Maxi seats up to seven in three rows. The Life version has interior trimmings like that of a conventional five seater wagon while the Kombi is a naked panel van with windows and seats. The difference in road noise between the two is described by some as substantial.
Caddy Panel (2010–2021) The Caddy Panel grew in size over the Caddy Typ 9K, it measures in length, width , height , and wheelbase . It has a payload, and a loading volume of . The current shape Typ 2K Caddy, on sale in Europe since 2003, is a leisure activity vehicle with Volkswagen Golf Mk5 front suspension.
It resembles the compact MPV Touran, and is assembled at the Poznań factory in Poland. In May 2007, British Gas signed a landmark deal which saw 1,000 vans being supplied to the firm, which were fitted with a bespoke racking system and a speed limiter, designed by Siemens. The deal was renewed in September 2015.
Caddy Life
The Caddy Life, a seven-seat passenger oriented People Mover, debuted at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. It comes with twin sliding doors and a payload.
The Caddy Life has a flexible seating system. The two rear bench seat rows can be taken out of the vehicle altogether to give the vehicle 2850 litres of cargo room; in addition, the Caddy Life has a towing capacity.
In 2005, a Special Edition Caddy Life Colour Concept with two distinctive colours, Red Spice and Ravenna Blue, was released with upholstery fabrics, floor mats and a variety of other elements on the dash panel in the same colour as the exterior body, and a leather trimmed steering wheel, gear and handbrake lever.
Caddy Maxi and Caddy Maxi Life
Debuting at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presented the Caddy Maxi Life the people mover version of the Maxi range. The Caddy Maxi range carried over all of the Caddy engine and debuted the 2.0L TDI engine producing .The VW Gazette Caddy Maxi – World premiere at the IAA Frankfurt 2007
The Caddy Maxi family is longer version of the Caddy with 4.2 m3 loading space, this is due to extensions of the wheelbase which measures an extended, rear overhang became in length, plus the growth between the sliding doors and the rear axle at and payload is up to to on commercial versions.
The Caddy Maxi Tramper, the camping version of the Caddy Maxi, debuted at the 2008 AMI Leipzig Motor Show along with the Caddy Maxi EcoFuel Study.
Caddy Life Tramper (Camper)
Based on the Caddy Life the Tramper or Camper (Australia) package comes with two seats and a table, a fold out awning that is packaged within the rear tailgate, a bed that is made by folding down the seats measures 1.10 m x 2.0 m, also curtains are standard for privacy, options include a seven-litre cool box.
Carrera Cup Edition The Caddy Carrera Cup Edition is a limited (250 units) version for the Swedish market. It is based on the 2.0-litre TDi model with black 17-inch wheels with 225/45R17 tyres, a new body kit, white body with red trim, black and red leather sport seats, a fire extinguisher under the passenger's seat, and a sport leather steering wheel and gear knob.
Caddy 4Motion At the 2008 IAA (Hannover Motor Show), Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed the all-wheel drive Caddy 4Motion range teamed with the 1.9 TDI engine and manual transmission.
Early in 2010, the Caddy Maxi range will receive the 4Motion drivetrain.
Caddy in Australia