2023 Volkswagen Amarok Pickup Review
We've tried out the new VW Amarok
The Volkswagen Amarok returns as a more refined model, helped by Ford.
Review
Pros: slick automatic, improved interior
Cons: infotainment could be better
Volkswagen's previous foray into the world of pickups with the Amarok was well received. Volkswagen is now collaborating with Ford for its commercial vehicles, meaning the new Amarok shares a lot with the new Ranger. However, there are still some distinct elements to separate the two.
Volkswagen Amarok Design
This time, the Volkswagen Amarok takes on a more angular appearance, and it's all the better for it. The LED headlights include a distinctive lighting signature, while the bumper treatment varies according to specification grade. Entry- to mid-grade feature a metallic lower section that underlines its off-road abilities, while the upper versions get a more cohesive ‘X-design’ front. Squared-off wheel arches add to the German pickup's chunky look.
More stylish versions include the PanAmericana, which has LED rear lights with a colour inlay, a black sidestep, a styling bar around the rear load bed and exterior decals. The range-topping Aventura model takes on a sportier road-biased look with 20-inch alloy wheels, a body-coloured ‘Sports Bar’ around the load bed and a chrome step bar. On all models, the Amarok name is stamped into the tailgate.
Volkswagen Amarok Interior
Anyone that spent time in the previous Volkswagen Amarok will immediately notice the increased digitalisation inside. Standard equipment on the Amarok includes an eight-inch cockpit display and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. From the mid-range Style version up, the touchscreen is upgraded to a 12-inch unit along with the digital instrument display, helping to lift the cabin's look further. The infotainment system is skinned in the familiar Volkswagen way but isn't the slickest. Certain functions, such as adjusting the cabin temperature, can only be done via the touchscreen, for example.
Although there is some switchgear that the Amarok shares with the Ford Ranger, the overall design, look and feel of the materials used throughout the interior are to the usual Volkswagen standard. The ten-way electrically adjustable front seats are supportive and comfortable. Other features include a smaller secondary storage compartment on the dashboard fascia above the glovebox. A wireless charging pad, a 12-volt power socket and both USB-A and USB-C charge ports sit at the centre console's base. There were no USB ports in the rear despite the presence of 12- and 230-volt power outlets, though Volkswagen may remedy this before the Amarok arrives in 2023.
The outer rear seats provide a good level of comfort, with legroom improving on this model thanks to an overall increase in body length. The middle seat gets less foot room due to the shape of the rear of the centre console and transmission tunnel, which is common in this type of vehicle.
Volkswagen Amarok Performance & Drive
The Amarok will offer a range of diesel engines, starting with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit with 170- or 205hp outputs. A manual six-speed gearbox is available with the base engine, while a 10-speed automatic can also be specified with the 205hp version. The larger and more powerful 3.0-litre V6 diesel is what we're driving here. It has maximum outputs of 240hp and 600Nm and is paired exclusively with the 10-speed automatic.
Gear shifts go almost unnoticed as it works quickly through the ratios, keeping the engine spinning at an optimum speed. For the most part, when driving without any heavy load, the engine rarely exceeds 2,000rpm. Even when you need more power for an overtake, the gearbox drops down a few cogs quickly, eradicating any semblance of lag or hesitation.
Should you need to change gears manually, there is pair of buttons on the side of the gear selector for moving up or down the gearbox, though they aren't as intuitive to use as a typical set of paddle shifters.
Even when the Amarok isn't carrying any load, the rear suspension provides a reasonably smooth and settled driving experience. Less even road surfaces unsettle it more quickly, but it will comfortably cruise over longer distances. The Amarok can accommodate up to 1.19 tonnes in the back and is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes braked on a 12 per cent incline. The payload area is a decent size, too. While it doesn't offer the same high-power electrical output in the load bed as the Ranger, there are plenty of plusses, including a tailgate that is noticeably lighter than before.
Volkswagen Amarok Pricing
Volkswagen is in the final stages of price planning for the Amarok, and will confirm this information early in 2023. We already know five specification grades will be available, with the top two — PanAmericana and Aventura — coming only with the more powerful 3.0-litre TDI engine.
Carzone Verdict: 3/5
The Volkswagen purists might not be all that enamoured with fact that the new Amarok shares much of its DNA with the Ford Ranger, but the reality is that it is no less of a pickup as a result. The exterior styling is different, and there's enough VW quality inside to keep most buyers happy. More importantly, it's a capable and polished pickup that is equally as good at the challenging work stuff as it is on the leisure front.