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FINAL RESULTS
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And the winner is...
While there were always going to be winners and losers, what came across during our three days together was the overall quality of the vehicles.
Granted, some are a little long in tooth when stacked up against newer rivals, but in terms of overall performance none let us down on the fundamentals, driving with no discernible negatives and coming with practical cabins and well-planned load areas.
However, time waits for no van, and the age of the Vauxhall counted against it when all the points were added up, putting it in sixth place. To its credit, it's well built and functional, with an accommodating interior. What it lacked was the overall strength and size that is inherent in newer competition.
Corning in fifth, we have the Ford Transit Connect. Having broken new ground on its launch in 2001 in terms of build and design, it's been caught up by the subsequent competition, which have taken these attributes forward. Its lack of storage and intrusive overall noise levels counteracted the praise given for its road manners, knocking it down several pegs however, the addition of a bulkhead may have sharpened things up.
One vehicle that did benefit from such an addition was Fiat's Doblo Cargo, coming in at fourth. It may be the oldest in the group (along with the Vauxhall) but its multijet engine continues to impress. Coupled with low-noise levels, particularly on motorways (that'll be the bulkhead) and an easy overall drive, it proved a reassuring companion on the long journey. Next, in third position, is the Citroen Berlingo. The decision to go up half a size for the latest version has proved to be a wise move by the French company; however, this is just half the story. With the enlarged cabin comes room for a third (small) seat and more focused design, while its driving ability has also matured, with the Citroen providing an excellent ride, together with the uprated standard of build.
And the same can be said of Renault's Kangoo in second position. Although it might not have grown in size like its French counterpart, there was more cohesion to this latest version (the youngest in our test group), surprising many with its composed and fluid road manners, together with its well planned (though admittedly bland) interior, So that leaves us with the Volkswagen Caddy. While some of its rivals excelled in certain sectors, only to be criticised in others, the VW offered a well-rounded package that performed well in all the key areas.
It may not be the newest van on the block, however its design has stood the test of time, with a classy and well co-ordinated cabin, which is backed up by excellent build quality. This attribute also reflected in the way it grove.
And it was these combined factors that make the Volkswagen Caddy the winner of the Commercial Motor high-cube group van test 2009.