2023 Volkswagen Caddy Life Review

The 2023 Volkswagen Caddy Life might just be the ultimate family car. No, really.

To demonstrate why that is, in this video CarGurus UK editor Chris Knapman gathers together his life and packs it all into the Caddy's boot to show just how practical it really is. At the same time, all aspects of the car are weighed up compared with a traditional hatchback or a fashionable SUV, including the Caddy Life's styling, interior, equipment, technology, safety ratings and driving manners.

With the Caddy range starting from £26,000, it certainly has value on its side. But is it really good enough to consider instead of one of those coveted SUVs?

Volkswagen Caddy Life full review:

With thanks to Buckland Park Lake:

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▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 – Introducing the VW Caddy
02:33 – Practicality
05:23 – Boot space
06:42 – Interior
09:05 – What is it like to drive?
13:48 – Final thoughts
15:26 – Let us know your thoughts
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#cargurusUK #vwcaddy

[tomasn]

Cool and smart people drive this kind of car!

[briquetaverne]

The last time I bought a VW was a Bug in 1970 back in the US a month after being married. It was a dealer's demo and though sticker priced at $1900, I bought it with1700 miles for $1385. It was an iconic simplistic bug (options were am/FM, 2 sideview mirrors, windshield washer, 2 speed wiper and headlight flasher on the steering column mounted headlight on-of stick (just like Porsche)! You couldn't kill it and it became mine permanently 3 years later after the big "D" gave her the Chrysler, house & contents (just after the car was paid off). It saved me during the two oil crises of the 1970's. So fast forward 8 different cars, living single for 30 years and after retiring to another country (France) in 2000 living the retired life there until marrying another (French) wife 39 years after the first marriage. All was well for 10 years until Michele-ma-belle was tired of the 23 year old Peugeôt Partner. She always loved the Golf and wanted one. Okay, now I'm now in my 70's and don't bend well (aches and pains all over) and being over a 6 footer in a land of shrimps, I can't bend and fit into small European (especially French) cars with slanted back windshields. So, we looked at the Golf at VW. ...Ha, Ha, Ha I laughed, as I tried to get into it. Then I noticed the Caddy and looked at the hood design straight on and noticed it looked like the Golf. I pointed it out and she agreed. So we compromised in classic Franco-American style I bought a 2022 Caddy dealer demo loaded with all the bells and whistles with 1200 KM (720 miles), had the dealer back me up in saying it was considered a new car not used (and would reflect this on the title) and instead of paying 41, 000 Euros, am paying 33, 000 Euros... just in time for another crisis, except this one is possibly a nuclear one!

[petrusswanepoel]

South Africa - We own the 2.0L diesel 6 speed Caddy Kombi model. We travel mostly in mountainous roads, the torque from the diesel engine comes in handy on these roads and makes the Caddy a pleasure to ride. The vehicle spec in South Africa is much lower, our Caddy have rubber carpets which is actually good as we reside in an area where it rains a lot during the summer months. Our vehicle have 7 seats and comes in handy when additional people travel with us. Built quality is great and road holding is typical VW style, our model is a bit bumpy on the "not so well maintained" roads in South Africa. The only draw back with the 7 seats fitted is the small boot space. Lekker ry!

[Oli_Hudson]

What a brilliant review of the VW Daddy!

[brianrocks]

Knee room in the back looks very tight. Any other brand would be condemned for this. But as VW are the darling of the motoring press🙄

[davidrowe]

Thanks for the thorough and informative descriptions of all the relevant stuff. Currently choosing between Caddy Life, Tourneo Connect and Berlingo, to fit my bike in and go on adventures. Currently thinking the Tourneo Connect has everything the Caddy has, but at a lower price point. Enjoyed your presentation style - enthusiastic, but not like you're on speed (like some YouTubers!)

[RonanPrestonMusic]

I bought an mk5 Caddy Life with the expensive infotainment system. I love it and I think there is a distinctness to the Caddy design it looks and feels much more slick than it's quivolents. It's now my fourth Caddy, I love them, I've all MK2, MK3 and MK5. But like the video I find the infortainment system annoying for the same reasons as in the video :)

[Jefff]

The Caddy is at the moment on the top of my list for my next car. I have MS and need something to put an electric scooter in the back along with carry things. Plus, I'm into landscape photography and I can camp somewhere then take photos the next morning. I will be taking a LHD as I'm an American living in Germany.

[anthonystevens]

A great review Chris, the good, the could do better and pointing out the warts n all. As I've got older I've moved away from the quicker sporty stuff (there are few places around here that you can enjoy oh and my old bones can let me know in painful ways from firm suspension and pot holes) I now preferring ride comfort and practicality. These vans based on cars based on spaceships based on submarines are now leaking into my future cars of interest. This car has so many great positives but those negatives are big ones for me. If I was going to get a one of this type of car/van or can if you like I think I'd look elsewhere. For now I'll stick with my SUV soft roader, it's comfy, it has plenty of room and I can fold, tilt and tumble all rear seats individually and take them out separately. Thanks for sharing.

[kevincaldwell]

K nice review, the daddy part at the end was too heart warming!

[someoneful]

Thinking about small indoor painting business as side hustle. By rear space I can see that Caddy offers a lot more vertical space than SUV such as Tucson or Sportage. I am thinking which would type of vehicle would be better. What would you choose?

[rojouk]

Good review, but you forgot to mention that cars like the Caddy and Tourneo (built in Poland in the same factory) are very popular on Motability.

[oliverstemp]

Good car being one of the last MPVs, but definitely go for a Maxi, as the standard car really doesn’t have enough legroom

[pigeonpoo]

Unfortunately these suffer from a huge (van and motability) image problem. And it's too easy for a salesman to point a customer at (in VW's case) a Tiguan. See also Honda Jazz

[pomerau]

I'll wait til they install more of these petrole points.
I do like it, save for the deep glass panel at the back.
It would have been nice to see the boot from inside, what the sides and under floor are like.
118 bhp instead of 150 bhp from the 1.5 evo with good torque. That's fine for me.
I wonder is it one of those that plonk and bob around until you put some weight in to them. (Plonk and Bob are touring at this moment at a theatre near you!)
I'm sure leaf springs are passe by now :)

Really excellent and entertaining presenter btw. 👍

[michaeltruscott]

never quite understand why vehicles like this don't have horizentally split tailgates so you can have a seat and a rain cover (and need less room to park)

[spider_hoss]

What cars have their back glass open anymore? I thought it was only the whole tailgate or nothing.

[garrygrant]

It does not have rear open windows so in sunny weather it will get very hot inside . Its very basic all the things that come fitted on most meters is all options so by getting them added makes it very expensive far far better ford tourneo comes with a lot of basic options as standard and ford tourneo is same car as caddy built in same factory in Poland

[muindidennis]

This is my dream Car.how I pray to own one

[pierred]

Hired a Renault kangoo 2024 on holiday. It is way way better. Why Renault UK does not sell it here is a mystery. I would buy one immediatly.