THERE seems to be a vehicle for every purpose these days, but sometimes when specific needs outweigh the options available there can be a problem.

Take the customer who needs an van for work purposes, yet wants a multi-seat transporter for colleagues, school runs and family weekends.

An MPV may not do because of the full-blown van requirement so a careful scan of what is on offer is required.

The world of commercials offers some interesting options in this field and one of the best quality choices comes from the successful Caddy range from Volkswagen.

The Caddy may be the smallest van from VW but it does offer a larger capacity Maxi version with two rear sliding doors and three rear folding seats.

This van has proved itself time and time again, achieving numerous awards including Best Small Van and Best Compact Van and is now on the road in an improved version introduced last year, featuring more efficient common rail diesel engines, revised exterior styling, improved specifications, plus added safety features including daytime running lights and ESP as standard.

This brings the Caddy Maxi Combi very much into the sights of those who want a multi-purpose vehicle that can tackle heavy loads for its size without having to pay a monumental price.

The 1.6 TDI 102ps five-speed manual version I drove cost £14,450 exclusive of VAT and on road costs, which tots up to a price you would normally expect to pay for a family car.

It may be argued that Maxi Combi is still a van. Correct, but like most light commercials these days Caddy is extremely driver-orientated.

In fact it is almost like owning a Golf except that the driving position is a little different and some of the trim is of a lesser standard.

The Caddy Maxi is extremely pleasant to drive and for a commercial visibility is good, due in many ways to its glazed tailgate with wash-wipe facility.

The easy-sliding glazed side doors provide access for three rear passengers who enjoy the benefit of the generous headroom which is a bonus of the the Caddy Maxi.

But one of the real pluses is the fuel consumption of this remarkable vehicle which turns in a combined cycle readout of 49.6mpg - better than some small family cars.

The engine is silent and responsive and power is via a smooth-changing five-speed gearbox.

When the vehicle is needed as a dedicated van the rear seats fold easily and can be returned to their position with the minimum of fuss.