Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launch petrol Caddy

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is launching the cheapest entry level van on the Irish market, a Caddy with a petrol engine, writes Brian Byrne.

The new version of the popular nameplate is powered by a 1.2 84hp engine, at a starting price of €14,995.

In combination with Volkswagen Ireland's new 'Eco Grant', which offers a range of incentives up to €4,000 against an approved trade-in to be scrapped, this can reduce to €13,995.

A 1.0 102hp and a 1.4 125hp are also available in the new petrol range, which sell alongside the 2.0 diesel that has been the mainstay engine for many years.

Announcing the move last night, MD of VW Commercial Vehicles Ireland Alan Bateson said it represents a 'strong option' for people considering a Caddy-sized van. Especially for operators who work manly in urban areas, the petrol Caddy offers increased power output with more refined driving, lower road tax costs for private users, and VAT can still be reclaimed on the vehicle for registered owners.

The offer is paired with a 0pc HP finance option.

The Eco Grant is available on Caddy, Transporter and Crafter Vans, ranging from €1,000 on the petrol Caddy to €4,000 on a Transporter or Crafter. It requires a trade-in of a vehicle from any brand which will be scrapped by an offial End of Life Treatment Centre.

To mark the grant, the company live-streamed on its Facebook the crushing of a Ford Focus at a Centre in Athlone last night, following which the buyer of a Crafter van under the schme was handed over his vehicle.

Volkswagen is this year celebrating 70 years of presence in the Commercial Vehicles business, since the launch of the first T1 Transporter.