More than 1.5 million third generation Volkswagen Caddy vans have been sold globally, making the model an important vehicle for Volkswagen.

Yesterday the German manufacturer took the covers off the new 4th generation Caddy, which it hopes will take the fight to the all-new Ford Transit Connect and continue the big-selling tradition of the current model. It doesn’t seem to be an all-new model — rather it’s an evolution of the outgoing model, but there are some key changes nonetheless.

What’s changed?

The main engine choice for the new Caddy will be a new, Euro 6 compliant 2.0-litre diesel engine, with 75 PS, 102 PS and 150 PS power options. As is now usual, there will be a more efficient Blue Motion model, which VW says has been specially developed for city work and will deliver fuel consumption in excess of 70mpg.

VW has jumped the gun with Euro 6, which is compulsory for light commercials in the UK until September 2016. However, the firm is hedging its bets — perhaps recognising that there is buyer resistance to Euro 6 — and VW says that the new Caddy will also be available with the current range of Euro 5 diesel engines.

It’s interesting to see that VW have opted to hone the 2.0l format, rather than switch to a smaller-capacity engine, as many other manufacturers are doing (The new Vauxhall Vivaro/Renault Trafic — a larger van — uses a 1.6-litre engine, for example).

Elsewhere, the new van will have a healthy dose of new safety systems, including Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, which are primarily designed to avoid head-on collisions. VW’s Multi-Collision Brake System is also included — this automatically applies the brakes in the event of a collision where the vehicle collides with more than one obstacle, potentially leaving the driver unable to brake manually.

Now that the Ford patent on heated windscreens has expired, this highly desirable option is appearing everywhere — including on the new Caddy.  Other options include Adaptive Cruise Control and Driver Alert, which monitors a driver’s behaviour for signs of fatigue and recommends a break when necessary.

A final option is Park Assist, which offers automated parallel parking and right-angle reversing (i.e. reversing around the corner, in driving test parlance). VW says this is “an especially practical feature for courier services” — I’m not convinced that many couriers will choose this option, at least not unless it has a ‘warp speed‘ option to speed up the process…