VW dressed the Caddy PanAmericana with off-road-oriented body cladding, all-terrain tires but crucially and, more importantly, 4Motion all-wheel-drive.
The rapidly approaching electric vehicle era causes automakers to shift their focus and the majority of their resources and efforts toward electric technology research and development, as well as adding more EVs to their portfolio. However, shifting focus to new models does not necessarily mean the abandonment of niche products. Indeed, VW demonstrated just that by introducing an off-road-oriented version of the fifth-generation Caddy compact MPV.
Dubbed the Caddy PanAmericana, the new model will replace the departing Alltrack variant, which was marketed before releasing the fifth-generation model in February last year. The MPV gets some modest styling revisions, transforming it into a soft off-roader. For instance, the whole front fascia is now covered in grainy plastic cladding, extending to the wheel arches, lower side sills, and rear bumper.
Furthermore, both ends get silver-painted underbody skid plates, while the bar under the radiator grille gets a matching body-color treatment. VW also added a unique decal beneath the rear windshield reading “the road from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego as well as 17-inch silver and black wheels wrapped in beefy all-terrain tires.
Other exterior features are comparable to the standard model, such as the honeycomb-pattern lower grille, LED lighting front and back, and silver roof rails. Five color schemes are also available: Copper Bronze, Starlight Blue, Reflex Silver, Deep Black Pearl Effect, and Candy White.
The cabin also received a couple of updates, namely Pinstripe seat coverings, silver door treadplates, aluminum pedals, and PanAmericana-printed floor mats. Besides, the new model features the Digital Cockpit setup from the Style trim level, which includes a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen.
The MPV also packs 19 smart driver-assist and safety technologies, like Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind-spot Monitoring, Trailer Assist, and Travel Assist with semi-autonomous capabilities.
There are two internal combustion engine options available for the Caddy PanAmericana. Customers can pick between a 1.5-liter TSI petrol engine producing 113hp and a 2.0-liter TDI diesel unit with 101 or 121hp. The engine choice determines the transmission option, either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic, both sending power to the front axle. However, the automatic is also available with a 4Motion all-wheel drive.
The Caddy PanAmericana is now available in Germany, starting at €32,207 (~$38,000).
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