I work in commercials for a rival brand. I have sold both VW (8yrs) and Ford (5yrs).
Just come back from a test drive day where we drove Citan, Caddy & Connect at Millbrook testing ground on their city area. Have done loads of comparison driving days where you compare every single aspect from soundproofing, brake pad sizes, fuel economy, servicing, driving experience, breakdown cover, etc etc etc etc.
Always end up with the same conclusion. Once the rose tinted glasses get taken off for your own brand and the fashionable persona of the Caddy.
THE CONNECT IS BY FAR THE BETTER VAN IN EVERY ASPECT
Its better specced, price for price. Its better size (If comparing apples with apples). Its a quieter drive (VW penny pinched in later years and removed a lot of the sound rpoofing on their vans). It is available at much cheaper prices.
The fuel economy on the VW is a myth. The engine rattles and grunts due to lack of sound proofing. The dashboard is dull and its not even a good size. Its top features are that its as close to a car type shape as you can get in a van and its residual values.
I sell Mercs and the citan is now at reasonable prices (I can do a commercial customer one for under £10k + VAT brand new if they take finance). But even then for a mountain biker wanting a car type vehicle, the connect is pretty hard to beat.