Amarok review by Nick Jones

VW debuted the Amarok, its first ute, back in 2010. Combining European style with precise German engineering, the Amarok gained popularity as a refined ute that still got the job done.

Last year, the all‑new Amarok was released into the Kiwi market. The second-generation Amarok has been developed through a collaborative arrangement commonly seen within the auto category whereby combining some of the best elements that are shared between manufacturers.   The results is compelling proposition with high end tech and drivability that the Ute category demands.

Sophisticated workhorse may well be an oxymoron, but the latest Amarok exterior nails the look. The VW-designed sheetmetal (unique for every panel other than the roof), seamlessly mixes European curves with macho edges. 

Kiwi punters can choose from four variants (all 4WD): the Amarok Life, the Amarok Style, the Amarok PanAmericana, and the Amarok Aventura. The Life is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel offering 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s the lowest spec offering, yet still possesses features that set it apart from the base ute models presented by some of the other brands.

The subject of this review, the Style, is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel delivering 154kW of power and 500Nm of torque, and boasts a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Style is a clear step-up from the Life, featuring 18” alloy wheels, a styling bar above the tray, ArtVelours upholstery, and other features we’ll dive into soon.

The PanAmericana and Aventura – the highest spec options – are powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel with 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD capability. The PanAmericana could be described as the premium explorer model – a strong off-road design combined with some exclusive equipment. On the other hand, the Aventurais targeted at the premium segment with special accents, up to 21-inch wheels, leather, and chrome. The Aventura also has a 4-cylinder turbo petrol option. A range of body colours are available, depending on the model variant.

Stepping into our Amarok Style, we discovered a premium, contemporary atmosphere. There are stitched dash and door inserts, ambient lighting, ergonomic heated seats, and a comfortable steering wheel. Elbow and leg room is nice for both driver and passengers, while there’s plenty of storage on offer with twin glove boxes, extra dash-top storage, pockets on the backrests, and more storage under the rear seats.

The tray dimensions (1.65x1.58x0.53m) give a large loading area to fit plenty of work or ‘out of office’ equipment. Sturdy lashing rings with 400kg ratings ensure any items that need strapping down will stay put. If you’re a roof rack aficionado, there’s also 350kg of roof load capacity. The tailgate feels featherweight when opening and closing – some kind of engineering wizardry – and is lockable with the key.

The interior tech is headlined by the huge 12” touchscreen infotainment screen that hosts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is a super handy wireless phone charger under the infotainment screen, while USB and 12V outlets ensure your gizmos will never run out of juice.

ANCAP has recognised the Amarok range as  five-star vehicles. Intelligent, active safety systems come as standard in all model variants and include autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. There’s no shortage of airbags, too.

A swag of towing-related technology, and an electric brake controller now fitted as standard across the range, augments the 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity. A selectable ‘Load/Trailer’ mode that optimises the gearbox operation when towing heavy loads by shifting gears up at higher than usual engine speeds to reduce shifting frequency, as well as enabling engine braking in all forward gears.

VW claims impressive off-roading upgrades across the body, chassis, engine, and transmission variants – from the departure angle to the increased wading depth (800mm). The Amarok Style has part-time 4WD with three modes: 2H, 4H, and 4L. Selectable, full-time 4WD is available for general driving purposes on the PanAmericana and Aventura models.

The engine, transmission, driving tech, and interior comforts all combine to make the Amarok a pleasure to drive. The 2.0L diesel delivered plenty of pace and grunt through the rev range and accelerated up the steepest of hills with ease. Our mixed city/open road driving stint (with no boat attached) delivered a fuel economy of 8.4L/100km. Given the 80L fuel tank, that equates to a serious range approaching 1,000km per tank!

The 10-speed transmission is so buttery smooth that you barely notice the gear changes. Naturally, the twin-turbo is audible when underway, although the body is well-insulated from any wind noise on the open road. Cornering is smooth and nicely balanced, and the driving position is comfortable and offers excellent visibility. The turning circle of 12.93m is pretty standard for a ute and provided no issues for us.

The Style features four different driving modes (Normal, Eco, Slippery, Load/Trailer), each suited for different driving conditions. We found the Slippery mode useful on the gravel. In this mode, gear shifts are optimised for safety and the vehicle’s response to the accelerator is reduced. The V6 Amarok variants also offer Deep Snow/Sand and Mud/Track modes for hard-core off-road enthusiasts. 

Although the fundamental framework of utes will always have some drawbacks in terms of ride quality, the Amarok Style’s overall ride was not too far from that of a premium SUV. The suspension seemed well-calibrated, even when dealing with the corrugations and potholes of gravel backroads. 

Now, to the main event – how does she tow? The experience begins with an overhead towbar camera that makes lining up your trailer for hitching on a piece of cake even on your own. Then the Amarok automatically registers that a trailer is attached and prompts you to enter your trailer dimensions (multiple different trailers can be saved for future use). Once completed, the ‘Load/Trailer’ driving mode is activated, and the blind spot sensors and driving assists are adjusted to allow for what’s being towed behind.

The chosen load for the tow test was our NZ Fishing News project boat – an Extreme 745 Game King with a Credo wireless braking system and a tow weight of approximately 2.7 tonnes (including trailer, engine, fuel, and fishing paraphernalia). Not an insignificant load, but slightly less than the maximum-rated tow capability of 3.5 tonnes.

The Amarok Style’s 2.0L biturbo made light work of towing the Extreme 745, getting up to speed with no fuss and comfortably cruising along at open road speed limits. On steeper descents, the ‘Load/Trailer’ mode does a fine job of automatically down-shifting gears to encourage engine braking, and in general, the shift methodology of the 10-speed gearbox when towing means we never got caught out in the wrong gear. Engine revs trended around 2000rpm when towing, compared to around 1500rpm without the load. Stability around corners was solid, and there was little perceptible tow ‘feedback’ to increase the heart rate. The fuel economy for our towing stretch averaged out at 14.5L/100km.

Launching and retrieving at Omaha Boat Ramp mid-tide meant backing the trailer onto the sand off to the side of the ramp to access deeper water. Switching into 4L ensured this was not a problem for the Amarok, however. The wide, large side mirrors were convenient for keeping an eye on things, too.

The new-generation Amarok is a classy ute that’s at home both in the city and the wilderness. Combining looks, power, and ride comfort with the ability and smarts to tow all but the biggest of trailerboats with ease, it must be a serious consideration for any angler in the market for a premium ute.