Practicality
ROAD TEST/ A new engine and enhanced refinements sweeten the Caddy recipe, writes Phuti Mpyane
WVW hile ’eyeballs s push are transfixed on of electric cars like the I.D.3, there is something else the company still sells and that’s quite impressive: the Caddy.
It hasn’t a tough job on its hands. Though the MPV sector has been declared just about dead Peugeot in’ s this 5008 market, trying there to resuscitate are fresh models of differing spectrum, from Renault’s Triber to this sensible genre.
The Caddy is the one with the longest service despite low volumes as people don’t want to drive around in van-based MPVs, of which there’s only one other of its type, the Opel Combo Life. If one wants flexible space for five, or even seven, nothing comes close in offering as much cargo space as these two.
There’s a plethora of technology and refinements in the Caddy that naysayers would be surprised to find on the options list, not least stop/start for saving fuel and the same infotainment system you’d find on Tiguans.
It’s a bit of both MPV and van in that the utilitarian bit is still there but not shaky or creaky. Good-quality materials cover the commercial bones very well and the seats can be configured to reflect either of the genres.
The Caddy on test is the latest to be fitted with a smaller, vigorous three-cylinder 1.0 TSI petrol motor, and it’s made it into quite a peach above the four-cylinder motors of old. By dropping a cylinder, the Caddy doesn’t struggle to fend off loads or steep inclines.
It’s mated to a slick fivespeed manual gearbox, and I suspect an auto would be perfect. Nevertheless, this new engine and transmission combo brings an altogether more refined and engaging level of performance and frugality.
The new engine makes 75kW and 175Nm and it’s a nicely refined motor, with a smooth, hushed delivery. This Caddy can return impressive economy —