Volkswagen has unveiled the first details of the new Caddy Life. Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, the Caddy Life is a highly versatile multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) based on the all-new Caddy van which is already on sale in Europe.

Competing with vehicles such as the Citroën Berlingo Multispace and Renault Kangoo, the Caddy Life is notable in the sector for offering the option of two extra seats over the standard five. This ability to transport up to seven people is unusual in this sector of the market - as are the Caddy's optional rear wing doors for easy access in tight spaces. The vehicle also features twin side sliding doors with sliding windows.

With a length of over 4.40 metres, the Caddy Life is larger than its direct competitors, with a spacious interior that can offer a maximum luggage capacity of 2239 litres. The standard rear triple bench seat can be partially folded, fully-folded or folded/tipped, while the optional rearmost double bench seat can be removed.

The design of the interior reflects Volkswagen's high quality values, with an appearance similar to other Volkswagen passenger cars such as the new Golf and Touran. With standard height adjustment for the driver's seat and height/reach adjustment for the steering wheel, comfort is a high priority.

As expected with this type of practical vehicle, the Caddy Life has interior stowage areas in abundance. Examples of this include a drawer under the driver's seat, a large storage module above the windscreen, plentiful cup holders and front door bins large enough to accommodate one-litre bottles.

The Caddy Life is far from being a sparsely-appointed, utilitarian vehicle. It has many of the comforts expected of a new family vehicle such as a CD player and remote central locking, and particularly on the options list where features such as climate control, heated seats, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) and satellite navigation are available.

Four engine options have been announced for the Caddy Life. These include two petrols - a 1.4-litre 75 PS and 1.6-litre 102 PS - plus two 'Pumpe Duse' (high-pressure unit injector) diesels. These consist of a 2.0-litre SDI and a turbocharged 1.9-litre TDI.

2004 Volkswagen Caddy van

The Caddy is a totally new purpose-built compact van. As one would expect with any Volkswagen vehicle, the new Caddy is designed to bring a new high quality appeal to the segment.

Despite being categorised in the so-called 'compact' van sector, the new Caddy is highly spacious. Larger than the outgoing model in all key areas, it measures 4405 mm long, 1802 mm wide, 1833 mm high, and boasts a wheelbase of 2682 mm. The Caddy's payload is class-leading at up to 819 kg, while a load volume of 3.2 m3 is 300 litres more than that of its predecessor. At 1172 mm between wheelarches and 1781 mm long, the load floor is large enough to accommodate a Euro pallet.

This load area is easily accessible from the back via twin rear doors. In addition, a sliding door allows loading from the side, while high quality construction and rigidity mean the new Caddy is also available with an optional second sliding side door.

The new Caddy van offers an impressive level of standard equipment including remote central locking; ABS; CD player; driver's seat height adjustment; and a steering wheel that adjusts for both height and reach. A full bulkhead (incorporating a solid lower section and plastic mesh upper section) is also included with every Caddy van.

The options list includes items more readily associated with luxury cars, including cruise control, colour-screen satellite navigation (increasingly relevant to commercial operators) and semi-automatic air conditioning.

UK customers will initially be able to buy the Caddy van with a new 2.0-litre 69 PS SDI diesel engine, with a turbocharged 1.9-litre 104 PS TDI PD to follow early this summer. Both units use Volkswagen's proven and award-winning 'Pumpe Düse' (or unit injector) technology for high efficiency and low emissions.

Two more versions will be added to the range throughout the year: a passenger-carrying version designed for commercial applications called the Caddy Shuttle and an MPV called the Caddy Life (see above), which will appeal to families.