An all-new Volkswagen Amarok has arrived to bring polish to the dual-cab ute market. Our family samples the mid-spec Style grade with thumping V6 engine.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
JULES: Don’t tell me. Another ute costing as much as a house?
IAIN: Not quite. But dual-cab one-tonners aren’t getting any cheaper.
JULES: And this obviously has precision German engineering with that Volkswagen badge?
IAIN: Even better. Aussie engineering, mate. VW worked with Ford to develop this new Amarok in Australia. It shares the Ranger’s V6 engine, 10-speed auto gearbox and smart off-road drive system.
JULES: Ford and VW seem unlikely bedfellows.
IAIN: They’re both brands of the people.
JULES: Selling utes at prices normal folk can’t afford?
IAIN: Well, have you seen what tradies charge these days? Anyway, our Style grade has the most potent V6 available, with 184kW and massive 600Nm of torque.
JULES: You’d expect that for $77,000 drive away.
IAIN: A basic four-cylinder Amarok Core is $58,500 on the road but most want the V6. The range topper is a showboating Adventura model for $87,000 drive-away.
JULES: I prefer the Amarok’s looks over the Ranger’s. It’s tough without being shouty: for the more grown-up buyer, and with VW badge cachet.
THE LIVING SPACE
IAIN: Despite this being a truck it feels very Volkswagen inside. As Golf owners, it’s very familiar.
JULES: But in massive form. Everything feels huge. A 12-inch iPad-like infotainment screen, digital dash, fist-sized gear shifter and vast room front and back.
IAIN: The seats are uncommonly comfortable. Their padding is mattress-like and finished in a suede-like trim, although ours had leather, which costs extra.
JULES: Power heated seats and soft plastics for dash and doors show it’s more SUV than ute-like. Wireless phone charging and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are excellent.
IAIN: The inside door handle opens with a squeeze rather than a pull – a nice touch – but the gear shifter perplexes me. It’s unnecessarily clunky and there are poorly-placed shift buttons on its side. Steering wheel paddles would be much better.
JULES: The rear seats are damn comfy, even the middle one. You sit upright which isn’t great for long trips but there’s huge leg and head room.
THE COMMUTE
IAIN: It’s important when buying a dual-cab to get one suiting your needs.
JULES: Please explain.
IAIN: Many, like the Amarok, use different suspension depending on grade. There’s a more work-specific setup for load lugging and serious off-roading, or a road-specific setup that is more comfortable and sharper through the corners.
JULES: Our Style has what?
IAIN: It’s the worker, not a full showboat Amarok. Pricier PanAmericana and Adventura grades get “dynamic” suspension.
JULES: Is that why ours bounces along like a truck?
IAIN: The Amarok’s one of the better riding utes, but unladen it bobs around and can be nauseating in the back. On poor surfaces the ride is harsh: par for the course with utes.
JULES: It still handles well for such a brute, and what a lovely highway cruiser. It peacefully hums along.
IAIN: A totally unstressed V6 engine, until you floor it and there’s serious pull. It’s a muscle-packed diesel and sounds wonderful.
THE SHOPPING
JULES: I’d rather get a taxi than take a giant ute to the supermarket.
IAIN: It’s not that bad. At least there’s a 360-degree parking camera.
JULES: It’s 5.3-metres long and there’s no tray cover. Groceries fly around in here, get rained on or boil in the sun. You must put everything in the rear footwells. Not good with kids there.
SUNDAY RUN
IAIN: This V6 is a hairy-chested monster with superb torque. There’s 235mm ground clearance, 800mm wading, 1031kg payload and a tow bar’s included with 3500kg capacity. It’s hugely capable.
JULES: We loaded bikes in the rear and hit the trails. The tub’s massive with plastic liner and six tie-down points. But I reckon for this price a soft-release tailgate should be standard.
IAIN: It’s a cost option, as is a canopy, roller cover or soft cover. I’d need one for security reasons.
JULES: It’s simple to move into low range using the rotary dial, and the Amarok’s effortlessly capable on the mild off-road tracks we drove.
IAIN: When getting bikes from the tub, I missed the Ranger’s clever bumper step. It felt less safe climbing into the Amarok. The VW misses the Ford’s off-road camera too, which is ideal for hazard checking, especially on steep ridges.
THE FAMILY
JULES: The Amarok has all the latest driver aids. I like the way it detects passing vehicles when you’re reversing out of a driveway and hits the brakes to avoid an accident. It’s ideal in car parks where visibility’s rubbish in these big utes.
IAIN: We returned 8.8L/100km: impressive for this heavy V6 but thirsty for a family vehicle. Individual services are pricey but an $1800 five-year care plan’s good value.
JULES: The high purchase price and bouncy ride means the Amarok, like all utes, don’t cut it for me as an everyday family car. Sorry.
THE VERDICT
IAIN: Looks great, hugely capable and a lovely interior, but I’d want a higher grade for more road-specific suspension.
JULES: The Amarok’s probably the best looking ute out there, and the cabin’s truly SUV-like. Some mums may be able to drive one every day, but I’d prefer a range-topping VW Tiguan instead.