VW debuts bargain Caddy camper

Caddy Beach based on Caddy Maxi Trendline

 

Volkswagen Australia re-enters the burgeoning campervan market with the pint-sized Caddy Beach, priced from $46,990 drive-away.

Volkswagen Australia’s director of commercial vehicles Ryan Davies says the Caddy Beach is the “most affordable and the cleverest recreational vehicle on sale today”, which it just might be.

It arrives at a time when Australians are spending an average of 52 million nights caravanning and camping across a year.

This scaled down camper is less about travelling Australia for months on end, though, and more about the trend of getting out of the city with the surfboard for a quick overnight escape.

 “The Caddy Beach is a return to our roots – an inexpensive and fun campervan much like the original Kombi,” Davies says.

“The Caddy Beach will forge the same sort of connection with customers, whether they’re doing the school run, heading away for the weekend or going around Australia.”

Based on the proven long-wheel-base Caddy Maxi Trendline, the Beach scores a fold-out bed, walk-through tailgate tent, clever ventilation, block-out curtains, plenty of storage and compact camping equipment.


Read our review of the last Caddy offering, here 


Best of all and somewhat uncommon with camper fitouts, it remains a true five-seater with clever folding rear seats.

The modular layout offers a fit and finish as good, if not better, than any aftermarket option, and if you so desire it can all be removed, returning the Beach to a standard Caddy.

Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre turbocharged four-pot petrol engine drives the front wheels through a 7-speed DSG, putting out 92kW/220Nm.

The Caddy Beach also comes standard with plenty of tech such as autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and an infotainment system with app-connect. 

Maintaining its commercial vehicle roots, the Caddy Beach will tow up to 1,300kg while still offering up 3,880 litres of cargo volume behind the first row of seats.

The Caddy Beach is an ode to the iconic Kombi’s versatility as both a camper and day-to-day passenger vehicle, but in a modern city-friendly package.

 

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