Volkswagen push petrol engines for Caddy & Caravelle. Wonder why?

Volkswagen has revealed a comprehensive range of petrol engines for the Caddy and Caravelle – 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 2.0 TSI – in the wake of the dieselgate scandal.

We were expecting Volkswagen to offer a token petrol engine option for its van-based Caddy and Caravelle models, but it seems the #dieselgate crisis has made VW a little more keen on offering petrol-engined alternatives.

As a result, the fourth generation Caddy Life and Caddy Panel Van, as well as the Caravelle SE, won’t just get a single token petrol option – with almost all buyers ending up with a diesel engine – but will get a full range of petrol engine options to choose from – 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 2.0 litre TSI engines.

The Caddy Life will get the option of a 1.2 litre petrol with 84PS and a five-speed manual gearbox, 1.0 litre 102PS (also with a 5-speed manual) or the 1.4 litre with 125PS and a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG ‘box, and the Caravelle SE also gets the option of the 2.0 litre TSI with 150PS (manual) or 2.0 litre TSI with 204PS (DSG) .

Frankly, the Caddy and Caravell models are exactly what they look like – a van with windows – but if practicality and space matter more than looks and dynamics, there are worse vehicles to move your brood around.

So if you’re convinced a petrol-engined Caddy or Caravelle is the way to go – and clearly that’s what VW wants you to think – then the Caddy Life with the 1.2 litre engine will cost you from £18k and the Caravell SE with the 2.0 litre TSI and manual ‘box costing from around £35k.