Volkswagen Amarok

Volkswagen Amarok at a glance

The Amarok is a ladder-frame pickup with a longitudinal front engine. More Volkswagen models are listed in our Volkswagen catalogue.

First generation (2010–2020)

Exterior (2016 facelift)

The facelift substantially changed the front and rear while leaving the rest of the body unchanged. A new chrome grille with separate sections and horizontal slats carries the VW badge and, on some versions, a V6 badge. Bi-xenon headlights with a black background and LED daytime running lights bring the design up to date. The new front bumper has a "smile"-shaped lower grille, a plastic centre insert and LED fog lamps with chrome L-shaped trims. A heavier new bonnet with lines running from the grille to the pillars needed revised hinges and gas struts; expensive versions have a heated windscreen area for the wipers.

In profile, wheel-arch extensions and side steps (standard) add a sporty touch. Door handles are body-coloured, and mirrors are body-coloured or partly chrome, with LED indicators; higher trims have electric adjustment, heating, power folding and memory. Wheels are 17-inch alloys as standard, with 19- or 20-inch alloys optional. Ground clearance is 192 mm. At the rear, new tail lights, a more massive black or chrome bumper with a step and towing hitch and a conventional tailgate complete the design. The horizontal tailgate can carry up to 210 kg, so it can be used as a seat. Accessories include a hard canopy and soft or hard tonneau covers.

Interior

At first glance the cabin looks solid and slightly plain, but everything is where it should be. The facelifted Amarok uses good leather, plastics, fabrics and some metal, and visibility improved. The compact three-spoke leather steering wheel has two button panels, and the familiar instruments combine two large dials with a trip-computer display. The seats were made more comfortable, with good leather, soft padding, heating, electric adjustment and side support. An 8-inch screen integrated into the dashboard controls infotainment and vehicle settings and supports Apple CarPlay, flanked by air vents, with connectivity sockets below. A long tunnel holds chassis control buttons, the gear selector, the handbrake, cupholders and an armrest with a divided storage box. Three adults fit comfortably in the rear, with heating, reclining backrests and an armrest with cupholders. The load bed can carry up to about a tonne and has a volume of about 2.5 m³.

Engines and transmissions (facelift)

All engines are turbodiesels with direct injection. Rear-wheel drive is standard. Two 4Motion systems are offered: with the six-speed manual, a rigidly engaged front axle and low range; with the eight-speed automatic, permanent four-wheel drive with a Torsen centre differential but no low range. The most powerful version reaches 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and 193 km/h.

Chassis

The chassis is unchanged from the original: a ladder frame with independent double-wishbone front suspension and a rigid rear axle on longitudinal leaf springs. Steering has hydraulic assistance, and the brakes are ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear, with electronic aids.

Safety and equipment

The top-spec version offers front and side airbags, curtain airbags, ISOFIX, child locks, ESP, hill-start assist, ABS, an immobiliser, coming-home lights, daytime running lights, rain and light sensors, a seat-belt reminder, a remote-controlled auxiliary heater, central locking, keyless entry, cruise control, heated washer jets, a surround-view camera, tyre-pressure monitoring, collision avoidance, heated front seats and voice control. Base versions have ABS, ESP, traction control, EBD and brake assist, fabric seats, air conditioning, heated front seats, two airbags, a four-speaker audio system and 16-inch steel wheels; higher trims add dual-zone climate control, fog lamps, 20-inch wheels, bi-xenon headlights, electric front seats, all-round parking sensors, leather, power-folding mirrors, navigation and a rear camera.

Second generation (2022 onwards)

The second Amarok was released in July 2022. It is based on the Ford Ranger platform and built by Ford in Silverton, South Africa. It is longer than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and greater wading depth, and is offered with 2.0-litre diesels, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel and a 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine, with a ten-speed automatic on the most powerful diesel.

Key specifications

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners praise the Amarok's rugged looks, good payload, fairly low fuel consumption, performance, off-road ability, space, build quality, power, four-wheel drive, sound insulation and a durable, reliable chassis with good handling. Criticisms include interior trim quality, the price, the pre-facelift audio system, firm suspension and expensive servicing. Rivals include the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-Max and, while it was sold, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class.