VAN LEASING LIVE!

Lorraine from Van Leasing Quotes takes a look at the Volkswagen Caddy to see how the highly acclaimed small van compares to some of its competitors:

The new Caddy bolts onto to VW’s already impressive range of vans that includes the much loved Transporter, Crafter and Amarok. But does the Caddy perform quite as well as its bigger siblings? On the face of it, the Caddy certainly displays the modern and refined design that we’ve come to expect from VW and I’m sure all business owners would be more than happy to see their logo shining on the side of a brand new Caddy. But what else can it offer and could a VW Caddy be the perfect van lease for you? Let’s find out:

Size Matters

The Caddy range has a number of options and the CaddyMaxi versions represent the larger size configurations. Load capacity varies between 3.2 – 4.2m3 depending on the model. This is very slightly less capacity than is available on the Ford Transit Connect and Peugeot Partner but it’s there or thereabouts when comparing it to others in its class. All models come with both side sliding doors and twin rear doors, which make loading and unloading a breeze.

Creature Comforts

For a van of its size there’s a surprising amount of space in the cab with ample leg room and seats with great support even for longer journeys. As you would expect with VW everything in the cab is of a high quality and built to last. There’s plenty of storage space with drink holders, cubby holes and document holders in abundance – all within easy reach. Bluetooth Connectivity is also a fantastic standard feature along with Remote Central Locking and a CD Player.

Safety and Security have also been given serious consideration by VW who have included front and side airbags for driver and passengers, Thatcham immobiliser and an alarm as standard.

On the Road

The VW Caddy comes with 4 engine options; two 1.6 TDi’s offering 74 and 106bhp and two 2.0TDI’s offering 108bhp and 138bhp. These are fantastic engines that are quiet, efficient, Euro V compliant and can go up to 735 miles on 1 tank of fuel. The 5-speed gearbox is standard on most models but some of the higher spec variants do come with the VW’s 7-speed DSG gearbox and patented 4-motion technology – fantastic additions and well worth the small extra cost in our opinion.

The Caddy is a joy to drive. Its small footprint gives it the feel of driving a car more than a van. It is extremely manoeuvrable and the refined suspension makes for great cornering and a smooth and comfy ride – even with a full load in the back.

There are also a huge number of additional features and functions that come as standard including ABS, ESP, Traction Control, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Drag Torque Control, Daytime Running Lights and an automatic hazard light function under heavy braking. These all make for a safe and comfortable drive.

The Verdict

So, is the VW Caddy the perfect van lease or van contract hire deal for you? If you’re in the market for a small van then it has to be a big YES! Ok, so the Caddy is millimetres smaller than some of its closest competitors, but when you weigh this up against all the benefits of the Caddy this really no big deal. The VW Caddy is economical, looks fantastic, drives well and comes with so many great features as standard. Overall it really is a great van leasing deal.

Stuart from Van Leasing Quotes takes a look at the Amarok to see how it stacks up against some of its more established pickup competitiors:

The new VW Amarok is the only pickup you’ll find that’s designed and engineered in Europe. That is unless you manage to find yourself a 1980’s VW Taro, which was the German manufacturer’s last foray into the pickup world. Without going into to too much detail, it was a bit of a flop!

So have VW now cracked it with the Amarok and could it be the perfect van lease for you?

Size Matters

Like all pickups the Amarok’s open back is well suited for commercial work. It has a payload of 1000kg, can tow up to 2.8 metric tonnes and is the only pickup that can handle a Euro Pallet sideways – giving it a bit of an edge on it’s competitors. One downside is that only the doublecab version is available in the UK at the moment, which makes the new model a bit less flexible in terms of choosing a configuration that best suits what you need. However, we’re told a singlecab is on its way next year.

Creature Comforts

There’s no question about it, VW has gone refined and upmarket with the Amarok in comparison to the raw commercial feel were used to getting with most pickups available in the UK today. If you’re driving or ‘riding shotgun’ you’ll have plenty of room in the back but even in the back there’s plenty of room left for those extra passengers. It’s a very comfortable ride too, especially if you opt for the leather trim. Other features include front & side airbags, climate control, MP3 compatible CD player, and tinted windows – making the Amorok a very comfortable and enjoyable vehicle to drive.

On the Road

All versions of the Amarok come with VW’s 2.0Litre BiTDi engine, which offers all the power and torque required for a vehicle of this size. Despite having a smaller engine than most of its competitors, it still beats them all comfortably in terms of engine performance.

The top models also come with selectable drive options allowing easy switching between 2 and 4 wheel drive at the press of a button. This feature might cost a little bit extra each month in terms of van leasing costs but it offers great fuel efficiency savings, which could more than pay for itself.

The drive is surprisingly good for a pickup and it’s a smooth ride too – even on rough terrain. It’s also a quiet ride with minimal amounts of road noise in the cab area. One small niggle is that the gear change in the manual version could be a bit smoother – but that really is a small point.

The Verdict

So, is the VW Amarok the perfect van lease for you? If you’re looking for a pickup I think the answer has to be a resounding YES! It’s a great pickup that handles well, is fuel-efficient and comes with brilliant added gadgets and extra features. The Amarok has barely anything we could pick out as being negative points so it’s fair to say VW have finally cracked the art of making a great pickup vehicle. Overall it really is a great van leasing deal.

Click here to find out more about the great van leasing deals available on the new VW Amarok