The primary-generation Volkswagen Amarok was persistently extra fashionable as a turbo-diesel V6, and that hasn’t modified with the brand new era that arrived right here in 2023.
Volkswagen Australia launched the second-generation mannequin – intently associated to the Ford Ranger – with not solely a brand new V6, but additionally single- and bi-turbo diesel fours and a turbo-petrol 4.
Regardless of a variety of engines, nonetheless, the V6 continues to be accounting for round 70 per cent of gross sales.
The mid-range Type trim, accessible with both the bi-turbo 4 or V6 diesels, is accounting for round half of all Amarok gross sales, and we’ve put it to the take a look at with the much less fashionable 4 to see if it’s actually value ponying up the additional cash for the bigger engine.
No matter what’s beneath the bonnet, the Amarok is a classy-looking ute, in and out. The place the Ranger has clear design hyperlinks with the F-150, the Amarok’s crisp strains give it a familial resemblance to Volkswagen’s passenger automobiles – properly, maybe not the model’s most up-to-date, extra curvaceous fashions.
The Type is rather less fleet-spec in look than the cheaper Core and Life variants with its 18-inch alloy wheels and stainless-steel sports activities bar, and goes up in opposition to the likes of the mid-range Ford Ranger Sport and top-spec Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain.
How does the Volkswagen Amarok fare vs its rivals?
View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen Amarok in opposition to equally sized autos.
Volkswagen
Amarok
How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok price?
The Amarok TDI500 Type is now priced from $69,740 earlier than on-road prices, or $4000 cheaper than the TDI600 Type which options the V6 – $2750 greater than the MY23 vary, which is now in runout with drive-away presents.
Till March 31, 2024, you will get the MY23 Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Type for $68,990 drive-away, representing hundreds in financial savings over a brand new MY24 order. The one spec change is it receives a trailer brake controller as customary, which enhances the usual tow bar and range-wide 3.5-tonne braked towing capability.
That places it up in opposition to the aforementioned D-Max X-Terrain ($67,500), Mazda BT-50 SP ($68,510) and Ranger Sport ($65,890), the latter of which makes use of the identical engine. You’ll be able to, nonetheless, get a Ranger XLT with the turbo-diesel V6 for $67,590 earlier than on-roads. Tempting…
2024 Volkswagen Amarok pricing:
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405: $55,490 (+$3000)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500: $59,490 (+$2500)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Type TDI500: $69,740 (+$2750)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Type TDI600: $73,740 (+$2750)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600: $78,990 (+$3000)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452: $82,990 (+$3000)
- 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TDI600: $82,990 (+$3000)
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Volkswagen Amarok like on the within?
Volkswagen has given the Amarok a extra engaging inside than its Ranger cousin, however usability has suffered within the course of.
There are not any cupholders on both aspect of the sprint as could be discovered within the Ranger, for instance, whereas these within the centre console are awkwardly sized and positioned and a nuisance to make use of. Gone, too, is the Ranger’s intelligent slot that may match a McDonald’s fries container.
The Ranger cleverly has each local weather controls on the touchscreen plus bodily buttons and knobs simply beneath it, however Volkswagen has discarded the latter for a row of much less helpful toggle switches.
Lastly, the Ranger’s intelligent bumper aspect step on the rear, which permits for simpler entry to the bathtub, doesn’t exist on the Amarok.
The design is extra upscale within the Amarok, nonetheless; with a crisp, angular design, a sexy two-tone brown/black colourway, refined ambient lighting, metal-look spotlight trim, and a soft-touch sprint high.
Add some extra soft-touch surfaces to, for instance, the edges of the centre console and this inside would look solely applicable in a circa-$70,000 SUV; soft-touch trim doesn’t appear to be as excessive a precedence in utes at this worth level.
The steering wheel is a traditional Volkswagen merchandise, which feels good and has logically designed and positioned switchgear.
Volkswagen has taken the Ranger’s in-car expertise however given it its personal look, which makes the Amarok mix in additional neatly with different fashions from the model. Simply don’t go anticipating a Digital Cockpit with full-screen map views within the instrument cluster.
Whereas that will be a pleasant inclusion, the interfaces are engaging and simple to navigate. The touchscreen is responsive, and we had no points with wi-fi Android Auto dropping out.
Not solely that, the wi-fi telephone charger was remarkably dependable too, and you’ll simply see your telephone. That is notably noteworthy as, in my expertise, wi-fi telephone chargers are always dropping out of cost mode, and lots of fail to carry your telephone in place securely.
The Amarok additionally has the identical digicam expertise because the Ranger, which implies crisp, high-resolution views which might be among the many greatest within the section.
We simply want there have been redundant, bodily local weather controls like within the Ranger. The shortcuts on the display are at all times viewable, whereas a bodily toggle change will take you to a display displaying among the local weather capabilities, however this setup isn’t as intuitive.
Whereas the Ranger presents FordPass connectivity, permitting you to do issues like remotely unlock and begin the car or verify the trailer lights utilizing a smartphone app, there’s no corresponding app for the Amarok.
Storage is common, with door-mounted bottle holders a bit awkwardly sized, a centre console bin that might be bigger, and a second glove field that doesn’t actually add a lot.
The entrance seats are snug, with a very good quantity of bolstering to maintain you in place. Even on some lengthy drives, I by no means felt uncomfortable although one passenger mentioned they might be barely wider.
Step into the again and there’s enough space in each route. A carload of us, measuring between 172 and 182cm tall, went on an extended street journey and there have been no complaints about rear seat consolation.
There’s loads of knee room again there, too, with the seatbacks scooped out to maximise house.
Like many utes, there are two ISOFIX and two top-tether anchor factors for youngster seats. Whereas there are air vents, a fold-down centre armrest and a 12V outlet, there’s disappointingly no USB shops again right here.
The lined tub is illuminated, and there are six logically positioned tie-down factors plus a 12V outlet. As with the first-generation Amarok, you may match a Euro pallet between the wheel arches. The bathtub measures 1544mm lengthy and 1224mm huge.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Amarok TDI500 Type is powered by a 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel with 154kW of energy and 500Nm of torque.
It’s mated with a 10-speed automated transmission and a part-time four-wheel drive system with selectable low- and high-range gearing. Choosing the V6 brings an additional 30kW and 100Nm, plus a full-time four-wheel drive system.
Over the course of per week with the Amarok, with loads of freeway driving courtesy of a visit as much as Victoria’s Excessive Nation, we averaged 8.2L/100km. The official mixed cycle declare is 7.2L/100km, 1.2L/100km lower than the V6.
Payload is 1009kg, gross car mass is 3280kg, and unbraked and braked towing capability figures are 750kg and 3500kg, respectively.
Wading depth is 800mm, floor clearance is 235mm, and strategy, departure and breakover angles are 30, 25.6 and 22 levels, respectively.
How does the Volkswagen Amarok drive?
The turbo-diesel V6 and turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines accessible in costlier Amaroks are crackers, however don’t go considering the four-cylinder oiler is a poor relation.
It is perhaps much less highly effective, however there’s nonetheless loads of grunt on faucet, despatched by means of a smooth-shifting transmission.
You’ll hardly ever really feel the necessity to shift gears manually, however in the event you do chances are you’ll bemoan the absence of paddle shifters. As an alternative, gears are shifted through awkward plus/minus buttons on the aspect of the shifter, which aren’t as nice to make use of – notably if you’re driving within the mountains.
The Amarok approaches SUV ranges of journey consolation, which is spectacular for a dual-cab ute driving on rear leaf springs.
It feels extra settled with individuals within the again or a load within the tub, certain, however the rear doesn’t skip round as a lot as different utes when unladen and impacts are absorbed properly. The Amarok feels planted, with good physique management.
The steering additionally feels decidedly un-ute-like, being good and progressive with a meaty weighting. The Amarok is confidence-inspiring to pilot, although in tighter turns there’s no getting round how lengthy and tall the car is.
Turbo-diesel engines could make a racket, however refinement within the Amarok is spectacular with little diesel rattle, a easily calibrated automated cease/begin system, and total ranges of noise, vibration and harshness extra akin to an SUV than a ute.
It’s additionally notably quiet at freeway speeds, with nearly no wind noise, and tyre roar is stored to a minimal even on coarse-chip surfaces.
The Amarok shines on the freeway because of its well-calibrated suite of driver help aids, together with its adaptive cruise management and lane-keep help.
The site visitors signal recognition system proved to be some of the correct I’ve skilled, by no means misreading indicators and even displaying an ‘!’ if it’s a time-specific pace restrict, and the pace restrict help system lets you simply change the car pace.
Volkswagen has additionally included a pace limiter perform along with the adaptive cruise management.
When the solar goes down, it’s the matrix LED headlights’ time to shine. Illumination is crisp and vibrant, with high-beam performance that doesn’t dazzle oncoming motorists – ultimate, given what number of occasions we’ve in all probability all been blinded by utes with their high-beams on.
What do you get?
Amarok Core highlights:
Exterior
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Entrance disc, rear drum brakes
- Locking rear differential
- Electrical folding aspect mirrors
- Facet steps
- Mud flaps
- 2 x entrance tow hooks
- Metal underbody safety
- Plastic gasoline tank safety
- Tow bar
- 12-pin trailer plug
- Black aspect mirrors, door handles
- Manually locking tailgate
- 6 x tie-down factors in tub
- Exterior tie-down rails
- Cargo field LED lighting
- Computerized LED headlights
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Computerized high-beam
- Halogen tail lights
Inside
- 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 4-speaker sound system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired, wi-fi)
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wi-fi charger
- Single-zone air-conditioning
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Plastic steering wheel
- Vinyl flooring
- Gray headliner
- Cloth upholstery
- 6-way guide driver seat
- 4-way guide entrance passenger seat
Amarok Life provides:
- Rear disc brakes
- LED entrance fog lights
- Physique color aspect mirrors and door handles
- Heated, power-folding aspect mirrors with puddle lamps
- Locking wheel nuts
- Tailgate carry help
- Energy tailgate lock
- Privateness glass
- 6-speaker sound system
- E-shifter
- Electrical park brake
- Leather-based steering wheel
- Carpet flooring
- Eight-way guide entrance seats
Amarok Type provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome aspect mirrors and door handles
- Plastic tub liner
- Chrome steel sports activities bar
- 12V socket in tub
- LED matrix headlights
- LED tail lights
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Rear air vents
- Insulated windshield
- Keyless entry and push-button begin
- Alarm system
- Leather-based-look dashboard and door inserts
- ArtVelour microfibre upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- 10-way electrical driver’s seat
- Encompass-view digicam
- Park Help
The pricier Aventura and Panamericana convey extra gear, together with leather-based upholstery and a Harman Kardon sound system.
Is the Volkswagen Amarok secure?
The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded a five-star ANCAP security score in opposition to the 2020-2022 testing protocols.
This outcome was drawn from testing of the intently associated Ford Ranger, with extra frontal offset and aspect influence assessments performed on the Amarok by Euro NCAP, which has harmonised testing protocols with ANCAP.
The Amarok scored 86 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 93 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 74 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 83 per cent for security help.
Normal security gear consists of:
- 9 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Bicycle owner detection
- Lane-keep help
- Swerve Steer help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Clever Velocity Limiter
- Velocity signal recognition
- Reversing digicam
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Tyre strain monitoring
Amarok Life provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
Amarok Type provides:
How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok price to run?
The Amarok is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Volkswagen presents 5 years of capped-price servicing, with intervals of 12 months or 15,000km. These providers are priced at $329, $329, $414, $329 and $400, respectively.
Ford presents solely 4 years of capped-price servicing, and every of those are capped at $379 for MY24 autos. They had been beforehand capped at $329.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Amarok
We could benefit from the turbo-petrol and the V6 turbo-diesel engines accessible within the Amarok, however the bi-turbo 4 is hardly a poor relation.
It’s thriftier than each, but nonetheless has loads of grunt and refinement. All the opposite Amarok’s robust fits additionally stay current, together with engaging styling in and out, a cushty journey, properly tuned steering, and class-competitive towing and hauling functionality.
The Amarok isn’t low cost, and the Ranger has the extra usable inside, however its refined look and manner make it some of the fascinating utes in its section.
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