An exhaust-driven turbocharger for a motor vehicle includes at least one of a variable turbine and a compressor geometry, a vane-mounting ring with guide vanes mounted rotatably thereon and a guide vane cage. The guide vane cage forms at least part of a flow duct and at the same time a mount for the vane-mounting ring. The guide vane cage is supported by spacer elements while creating an axial gap on a housing of the exhaust-driven turbocharger such that hot gas selectively flows behind the guide vane cage. Also, the guide vane cage is clamped between the turbine housing and the mounting housing of the exhaust-driven turbocharger without fixedly connecting the guide vane cage to either one of the two housings.