First drive: VW Caddy Maxi Life
- Van-based MPV
- Seven-seater practicality
- Is it better than the Touran, though?
Van-based MPVs are sound, sensible cars. Okay, so they aren’t exactly sexy, but you get bags of practicality for not much cash.
At least that’s the theory.
VW’s Caddy Maxi Life doesn’t quite hit the mark, though.
It’s certainly big enough because – unlike some seven-seaters – there’s space for a car-full of adults and their luggage. The sliding rear doors also provide easy access.
Firm ride apart, the driving experience isn’t too bad, either.
However, if you’re going to use the rear-most seats only occasionally, the Caddy’s appeal might start to wane. Most large MPVs come with nifty ways to fold the rear seats away, but the Maxi Life has a one-piece bench that you need to lift out. It’s not something you’ll want to do very often, because it’s bulky, heavy and, once you’ve got it out, you’ll need somewhere to put it.
All that palaver might be worth it if the Maxi Life was cheap but, starting at £16k with the gruff 1.9-litre diesel engine, it isn’t.
The biggest problem, however, comes from Volkswagen itself: the Touran. Yes, it’s slightly smaller, but it’s a lot more desirable, better equipped and doesn’t cost much more. The Touran also comes with stability control (£285 in the Maxi).
In everything but space, the Touran is the better bet if you must have a Volkswagen for seven.
Factfile
Price £15,995
On sale Now
Engine size 1.9 TD/2.0 TD
Power 103bhp/138bhp
0-62mph 14.3sec/11.1sec
Top speed 102mph/116mph
Economy44.8mpg/44.1mpg
CO2 g/km/tax164/21%/169/22%
What Car?
is brought to you by
Haymarket Consumer MediaWhat Car? is part of Haymarket Motoring
© Haymarket Media Group 2010
