Volkswagen Caddy vs BYD M9
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular People Movers compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Volkswagen Caddy
From $57,600
People Mover
Petrol
Petrol I4 Turbo TSI
84kW
6.2 L/100km
5★ ANCAP
446L
BYD M9
From $72,990
People Mover
Plug-in Hybrid
Electric Motor
218kW
—
ANCAP: no data
470L
Volkswagen Caddy: we're still completing kerb weight, 0-100km/h and ground clearance.
BYD M9: we're still completing height, turning circle and fuel consumption.
Blank cells below mean we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the Volkswagen Caddy & BYD M9
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Price Breakdown
The Volkswagen Caddy starts from $57,600 before on-road costs, while the BYD M9 opens at $72,990. That makes the Volkswagen Caddy the more affordable entry point by $15,390.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $63,360 and $80,289 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD M9 by roughly $7,085 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
36.6kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 73kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7kW AC, 73kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Volkswagen Caddy features a 8.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the BYD M9 gets a 15.6-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Volkswagen Caddy stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the BYD M9. The BYD M9 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate, V2L and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Volkswagen Caddy gets cloth (double grid) upholstery while the BYD M9 offers genuine leather.
Drivetrain
The Volkswagen Caddy uses a Petrol I4 Turbo TSI producing 84kW and 220Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed dual clutch (dsg) to a FWD layout.
The BYD M9 counters with its electric setup making 218kW and 315Nm, paired to a 1 spd auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.
The BYD M9 has the clear power advantage at 218kW vs 84kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Volkswagen Caddy measures 4,853mm long on a 2,970mm wheelbase, 292mm shorter than the BYD M9 at 5,145mm (3,045mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD M9 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 446L in the Volkswagen Caddy and 470L in the BYD M9, giving the BYD M9 a 24L advantage.
For towing, the BYD M9 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
12.1m diameter
Large
Based on 12.1m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Large
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 10.7 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.9 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,767/year for the Volkswagen Caddy and $350/year for the BYD M9. That is a $1,417 annual difference in favour of the BYD M9.
Warranty: 5 years (Volkswagen Caddy) vs 6 years / 150,000km (BYD M9). The BYD M9 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Volkswagen Caddy if: You want the lower entry price, or prefer Volkswagen's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the BYD M9 if: You prioritise performance, need more boot space, want lower running costs, value a longer warranty, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
The BYD M9 takes 4 of 5 key spec categories. The BYD M9 will save you roughly $1,417 a year in fuel. The BYD M9 adds peace of mind with a longer 6-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Volkswagen Caddy and BYD M9?
The Volkswagen Caddy is the cheapest at $57,600 before on-road costs. That undercuts the BYD M9 by $15,390.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Volkswagen Caddy uses the least fuel at 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Volkswagen Caddy holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for BYD M9, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BYD M9 has the largest boot at 470L.
Which can tow the most?
The Volkswagen Caddy has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,500kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD M9 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150k km.
Which is the most powerful?
The BYD M9 makes the most power at 218kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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