2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi review (video)

At first glance, it looks like something that should be hauling garden supplies or making pastry deliveries. But spend a week behind the wheel of the 2025 Volkswagen Caddy, and it quickly reveals itself as a cleverly practical, unpretentiously comfortable, multi-purpose vehicle.

Volkswagen has long had a knack for injecting premium touches into utilitarian formats – think of the Amarok or Transporter – and the Caddy continues that tradition. It’s the fifth generation of the van-that’s-not-quite-a-van, and it straddles the line between MPV and commercial workhorse with all the grace of a well-balanced acrobat in high-vis.

This new-gen Caddy rides on Volkswagen’s MQB platform, shared with the Golf, which might be why it feels less van-like from behind the wheel. And the TDI320 Life 5 Maxi long-wheelbase variant that we have here targets MPV purpose with room for seven passengers.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 90kW@2750-4250rpm / 320Nm@1500-2500rpm
Gearbox: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 17×6.5, 215/55
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1813kg
Power-to-weight: 20.14:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 5.5L/100km
Our consumption: 6.5L/100km

Fuel tank/Fuel type: 50L/Diesel
Power efficiency: 16.36kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 5.06 seconds*
0-100km/h: 11.35 seconds*
60-110km/h: 8.31 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.96 seconds at 127.9km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.505g*
100-0km/h braking: 37.81m in 3.38 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.243g*
Starting price: $59,225

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: How much does it cost?

The 2025 Caddy TDI320 Life 5 Maxi rings in at $59,225 (excluding on-road costs). That’s third from the top in a 16-variant range, which spans from $41,225 to $64,225. So, there are many other forms that might suit your needs. There are manuals, autos, short wheelbases, long wheelbases, four-doors, five-doors, petrols, diesels and two, five and seven seats to choose from.

Competitors that come closest to stealing the Caddy’s deliveries are the Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo. Though, they are more like vans that only offer one row of seats. As a result, they offer cheaper prices from $40k to $46k.

An industry average five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is offered, with 12 months of free roadside assistance. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. Volkswagen’s website assures the first five services will cost $562, $792, $562, $887, and $562, which irks on the dearer side as far as maintenance costs go.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Interior & packaging

This is where the Caddy starts to flex its functional muscles. Inside, it’s super practical, super spacious, and surprisingly comfortable. Don’t expect quilted leather or mood lighting, but it’s clever in a way that makes other family cars feel a bit daft.

There’s a roof shelf up above, perfect for hiding away your itinerary documentation or a Gregory’s map. A full dash-width shelf holds everything from phones to muesli bars, and the door pockets are cavernous – think full drink bottles, umbrellas, or a handbag.

In the second row, there’s a pair of fold-out tray tables, which is ideal for road trip snacks or colouring books (or, realistically, iPads and fries). The seats are more than just folding – they have the power to fully transform the space. The backrests can fold flat, and then the bases can flip up, all in one rolling motion, adding extra vertical room for bulkier cargo. Or the second and third row seats can be removed from the car altogether. The seats are also surprisingly comfortable for long distance travel.

There are dual sliding rear doors – wide, smooth, and blissfully easy to operate. Kids can jump in without scraping the car next to you. You can load gear and passengers from both sides. Whether you’re juggling a toddler, a guitar case, or an awkward IKEA flatpack, entry and exit is simple. Simpler than an SUV.

It’s bigger inside than you expect. From the outside, it looks like a medium van. From the inside, it feels like a small bus, with copious amounts of headroom. It’s easy to live with. You’ll forgive the lack of leather and mood lighting.

Further back, rear space will blow any SUV out of the water. Offering 3700 litres of cargo, and still 446 litres when the three rows are in use. It’s so big, we were able to cram in and transport a queen-sized mattress on an angle.

In the way of interior tech, you get a clear digital cockpit display, a 10-inch centre touch-screen, a six-speaker sound system, USB-C charging ports, and two 12-volt outlets. Sadly, no wireless app connection – wired only.

Safety is also just as beefed up as other vehicle types, with items like auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, travel assist, lane keeping assist, and lane change side assist with blind-spot monitor and rear traffic alert.

Other mentionable highlights include four-way power-adjustable lumbar support on the front seats, adaptive cruise control, advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor, park assist, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, a key proximity sensor, and a full-sized (steel) spare wheel.

When you check out the external styling, yes, overall, it’s boxy. But we think Volkswagen has done a fine job to move it away from the courier van workhorse look, and put a modern, residential spin on it. The LED taillights with gloss black surrounds look contemporary, the fine wafer pattern in the front lower grille looks cool, and there are loads of colours to choose from other than van white.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Powertrain & handling

Under the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, making 90kW and 320Nm. That 320Nm figure is the real headline here. It arrives early (1500rpm) and makes the Caddy feel lively off the line. We recorded 0-100km/h in 11.5 seconds.

There’s genuine muscle down low, so you rarely need to flog it to make decent progress. Need to merge onto a freeway or climb a hill with a boot full of sports gear? No problem. The torque does the talking, and it does so without breaking a sweat.

Volkswagen claims a combined average fuel use of 5.5L/100km, and in our real world test, we averaged 6.5L/100km. For a car this functional, we think that’s impressive. Run it on long highway stints and you might even flirt with the high fives.

What surprises most is how easy it is to drive. Thanks to the Golf-derived underpinnings, it doesn’t feel like a commercial van. It handles more like a tall wagon, with well-weighted steering, minimal body roll for this class, and a level of refinement that’s just shy of an SUV.

Around town and in the parking lots, it’s no more cumbersome than your average SUV, but with way more useful space and a higher gross vehicle mass rating of 2450kg. This means you can load in 603kg of payload inside.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Space, glorious space: The Polish-built Caddy Maxi lives up to its name. Whether you’re carting kids, kayaks, or crates of Bunnings gear, there’s room for all of it.
• Diesel economy and torque: The TDI320 engine is a gem – quiet, efficient, and full of torque where you need it.
• Packaging: Ceiling shelf, dash shelf, flip-up seats, giant pockets, fold out trays, sliding doors – the kind of thoughtful practicality most SUVs only dream of.
• Car-like driving experience: It’s smooth, refined, and far less van-like than it looks and compared with its nearest rivals. Even nervous drivers will feel comfortable behind the wheel.
• Alternative to big SUVs: If you’ve outgrown your family SUV and need room for seven passengers, but don’t want the bus-like feel of a full-size people mover, the Caddy slots in perfectly.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Key considerations before you buy

• Missing features: No LED headlights. No wireless app connection. These are not costly add-ons, but make such a big difference to drivers.
• Plain-Jane vibes: The Caddy won’t turn heads at the school pick-up, and the interior is more functional than fashionable. You’ll find hard plastics throughout, which are durable but don’t exactly scream luxury.
• Service costs: While quality is high, VW’s servicing and parts aren’t the cheapest. These are costs that are often forgotten about.
• No disguising the van DNA: It drives like an SUV, but looks like… well, a van. If you’re image-conscious or allergic to boxy silhouettes, the Caddy’s profile might not be your cup of kombucha – even if it is tremendously practical.

2025 Volkswagen Caddy Maxi: Video