The Caddy Cargo, the city delivery van from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV), is one of the top 3 finalists being honoured by the International Van of the Year jury tonight as part of the IAA Transportation gala dinner. The participating journalists and van experts have voted and included the Caddy Cargo on their shortlist. This means that the VWCV city van is already sure of a place on the winners’ podium. The favourite vehicle among tradespeople, small business owners and fleet operators recently received a major update in the interior, including a larger central display with improved operability and a digital cockpit in all model variants. The front end’s apron has also been redesigned; in addition, there are four new exterior colours, new wheels as well as new seat upholstery and interior trim.
Its success speaks for itself: the Caddy convinced more than 500,000 customers worldwide in its fifth generation and tops the list of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ most successful individual models in the 2025 financial year with over 110,000 vehicle deliveries.
The first new Caddy models are just leaving the assembly line. The Caddy has been built in Poland since 2003, with the start of the third generation. Since then, almost 2.9 million Caddy vehicles have been produced exclusively at the Pozna? plant.
The Caddy Trend, Life, Generation1 and Style, as well as the Caddy California2 are just a few of the members of the successful model family. The Cargo versions are also built in Poland – also as short and long model variants, which play an important role in many Caddy markets.
And the Caddy Cargo has already impressed the international jury of the IVotY award. The journalists and experts from 26 countries – in addition to almost all European countries also from South Africa and Turkey – have declared the new Caddy Cargo one of their favourites and put it on their shortlist of the last three candidates for the International Van of the Year. This is the most prestigious international award for commercial vans and city delivery vans such as the Caddy. And it is valid for 2027. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles last won this van award for 2023 with the ID. Buzz Cargo. Tonight, its final ranking will be announced as part of a celebratory banquet at the end of the press day at the IAA Transportation in Hanover. “We are extremely pleased to receive such tremendous recognition. It shows that our Caddy Cargo continues to define the urban delivery van segment as it has done for decades, almost six years after the launch of the current fifth-generation Caddy. At the same time, this is a wonderful accolade for the entire VWCV team,” says Dr Lars Krause, Member of the Brand Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commenting on the verdict of the top-class expert jury.
Inside all new Caddy versions, the now free-standing, larger central display with a 12.9-inch screen diagonal immediately catches the eye. Individually customisable touch controls provide quick access to popular applications. The controls for adjusting the interior temperature below the central display are also much easier to operate – thanks to touch sliders which are now illuminated. The redesigned seat covers and modified trim strips, which vary depending on the equipment line, create new visual highlights. Also on board the new Caddy are the Digital Cockpit Pro, which is now also standard in all equipment lines, and an inductive charging tray for mobile phones with a charging capacity of 25 watts.
On the outside, the Caddy models have been updated by four new metallic paint finishes in Reed Green, Sunset Red, Grenadilla Black and Grey-Brown, wheels with new 16-inch to 18-inch rims and new front end aprons (painted or grained).
With its numerous variants – including Cargo and passenger car models, normal or long wheelbase (Maxi), base version, Edition1 or California2 (not available in the UK) models, versions with the Life or Style package as well as Caddy Flexible or special conversions – this model series is optionally available with a petrol, diesel or eHybrid drive system. The latter, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with 110-kW system output based on a 1.5- litre TSI petrol engine, delivers a range of over 620 km, of which up to 122 km is allelectric (according to WLTP, combined). For inner-city journeys, up to 144 km would even be possible under electric power. The battery with a net capacity of 19.7 kWh is installed in front of the rear axle and thus maintains the full load capacity in the Caddy and Caddy Cargo.
Across generations, tradespeople and small business owners are just as enthusiastic about the Caddy’s Cargo versions and the Caddy Flexible as taxi companies and large families with children are about the passenger car versions. A particularly interesting option is the Caddy Flexible, which turns a five-seater passenger car into a fully-fledged two-seater van with partition wall or vice versa in just a few simple steps. Regardless of whether it is equipped with a boot lid or wing doors, power closing systems as standard for the large sliding doors and boot lid on the Caddy passenger model, a flexible seating concept or a large load compartment, the Caddy offers solutions for almost every application. For example, for people who want to get out into nature for a while to enjoy their favourite hobbies – whether big or small (with bikes or surfboards) – take their children or grandchildren to and from various leisure activities, head out with their dogs, or even spend a night away from home on a short weekend getaway, for example in the Caddy California2, with its bed and optional mini-kitchen.
In the passenger car version with normal wheelbase, five to seven seats already speak for themselves, while the Caddy Cargo Maxi offers more than 3,100 litres of load compartment volume. The Caddy is also the first choice for people with disabilities, whether as active drivers or passengers, thanks to the extensive range of conversion options for the high-roof van. Depending on the model, the Caddy can also tow up to 1,500 kg with a ball coupling.
The range offers the ideal Caddy for almost every need, both as a commercial vehicle or a passenger car, in other words as a city delivery van or a family van. The Caddy is the vehicle for people who have big plans! It is modular, flexible, dynamic and always achieves good resale values. After all, the Caddy is a sought-after model both new and pre-owned, too. Millions of satisfied customers cannot be wrong. It scores well in comparative tests, in the TÜV® statutory inspections and in terms of maintenance costs. Like other Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles models, the Caddy also comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of up to five years. This helps to prevent unplanned workshop costs.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also offers business and fleet customers a versatile portfolio of digital solutions, which can be accessed centrally with the ONE Business ID login credentials. With the Connect Pro digital fleet solution, fleet managers have a central overview of vehicle data, warnings and service requirements for their Caddy Cargo, for example. Alternatively, Fleet Interface offers a data interface (API) that enables seamless integration of vehicle data into existing systems. And with myVolkswagen Business, business customers can save configurations of vehicles such as the Caddy Cargo, find successor models and track the order status.
The new Caddy in brief: Two wheelbases, plenty of loading options, the most variable seating concept on the market, 5- to 7-seater versions even for the short Caddy, sufficient towing capacity, plenty of options for your free time and routine jobs – all this means you can easily stow away all the drinks you’ve bought for a party, for example – and you can even drive up to 144 km electrically with the eHybrid version (PHEV) on inner-city routes.
All in all, this makes the Caddy a functional and reliable companion for day-to-day work and family life. At the start of pre-sales, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is also offering the previously mentioned Caddy Generation1 special-edition model based on the Life specification with attractive equipment packages (not planned for UK release).
Prices and consumption/emission figures:
Caddy starting prices:
The Caddy as passenger car starts at 28,740 euros (net) (34,200.60 euros (gross)) for the normal wheelbase and the Maxi at 31,565 euros (net) (37,562.35 euros (gross)). In Germany, prices for the new Caddy Cargo start at 26,480 euros (net) (31,511.20 euros (gross)) for the normal wheelbase. As the long Maxi version, the Caddy Cargo is priced from 28,615 euros (net) (34,051.85 euros (gross)).
As for the promotional/special model Caddy Generation1 based on the Life equipment with normal wheelbase, prices start at 31,780 euros net (37,818.20 euros gross).
Further model variants can be found in the VWCV configurator: Models and Configurator | Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Consumption/emissions*:
Caddy/Caddy Maxi:
Combined energy consumption: 5.3–7.1 I/100km; combined CO2 emissions: 140–162g/km; CO2 classes: E-F
Caddy eHybrid/Caddy Maxi eHybrid (PHEV):
Weighted combined energy consumption: 14.3–14.8 kWh/100 km plus 1.7–2.0l/100 km; combined fuel consumption with discharged battery: 6.1–6.6 I/100km; weighted combined CO2 emissions: 39–45g/km weighted combined CO2 classes: B; with discharged battery: E
- Figures according to the prescribed WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) measurement procedure
