Volkswagen South Africa recently had several local journalists attend the international launch of the new-generation Amarok, hosted by Volkswagen Germany in the Western Cape. We attended the event and managed to sample three of the new derivatives.
The Volkswagen Amarok is often credited as the first double cab bakkie to introduce elements of a passenger car ride and drive qualities to what was always the utilitarian light commercial bakkie segment when it arrived in 2010. The product that followed suit was the T6 Ford Ranger in 2011 which also displayed elements of SUV-like ride quality and added creature comforts, so the fact that over a decade later the two automakers have teamed up to produce a new bakkie bodes well for consumers.
We were invited to sample the new Amarok recently, however, despite the event being held in the Western Cape, it was the international launch for the product, meaning a strict embargo had to be adhered to, while local pricing and specification would remain unknown until early in 2023. Here is what we surmised from our encounter with the latest Amarok.
Ranger danger
It’s no secret that the Amarok is based on Ford’s updated T6.2 platform that underpins the new Ranger, and indeed, that the Amarok will be built exclusively in Ford’s Silverton production facility in Pretoria. That being said, this was not a case of Volkswagen allowing Ford to produce a bakkie by itself as Volkswagen engineers spent over three years in Australia, where both Ranger and Amarok were developed, to oversee the Amarok product and ensure some discernable differences between the two.
Exterior
We have known since our first encounter with the new Amarok that it shares the same bakkie silhouette as its mechanical twin, however, Volkswagen designers have managed to inject some of the brand’s DNA into the exterior, which is particularly prominent up front where the Amarok inherits the brand’s corporate grille. At the rear, the Amarok-stamped tailgate and the unique shape of the taillights further distance it from the Ranger. Overall, the Amarok is an attractive and imposing-looking bakkie that should appeal to existing owners when it comes time for a trade-up.
The new Amarok is bigger than the car it replaces, with a wheelbase that has been extended by 173mm and an overall length increase of 96mm. The bakkie is slightly lower and more narrow, though, but overall space is improved. The rear load bay will be available with an electronically-operated roller shutter and can carry just over 1.1-tons, while it has retained its 3.5-ton towing capacity. There is also an increase in ground clearance, with over 230mm, while the approach and departure angles have been improved upon too.
Interior
The interior of the Amarok sees an increased emphasis on connectivity, with the same 12.3-inch screen and 10-inch digitised instrument cluster as seen in the Ford, however, the software used for the system is different and the operation of both systems is rather different, which is a relief. Whereas in the Ranger the buttons below the centrally-mounted screen are for the climate control and media volume, the Amarok’s include drive mode settings, among others. The steering wheel is also a Volkswagen original and is quite different from the units in the Ranger while some of the plastic and leather trim seen inside is unique to the Volkswagen.
Speaking of the trim, there are a few areas where cheap, hard plastics are tangible, a common trait among double cab bakkies in general, but considering that this is a new-generation product, and the variants sampled were flagship models, we may have expected more, and this rings true for both the Amarok and Ranger. Overall, the brand has done a good job of differentiating its bakkie from the Ford, and despite the similarities, most owners will still think that there is enough Volkswagen inside their new Amarok. Owners of the outgoing Amarok will rejoice in the fact that the rear seating in double cab models is both more spacious and the backrest is more angled, providing more comfort over extended trips.
Powertrains
The Amarok will be available with a variety of Ford-sourced engines and gearboxes. There are both single and double-cab body styles, with the entry-level engine being a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that produces 110kW/350Nm of torque that is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. Moving up, the other 2.0-litre turbodiesel produces 125kW/405Nm and is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
Having seen what Ford has done with the double cab introduction, we can speculate that the 110kW/350Nm engine with the 5-speed will be used on both brands’ single cab models while locally we can expect the Life and Style versions of the double cab Amaaork to feature the 125kW/405Nm engine with either one of the 6-speed gearboxes or the bi-turbocharged diesel engine with 154kW/500Nm paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox sending power to a selectable all-wheel drive system. The flagship diesel is a 3.0-litre V6 that produces 184kW/600Nm in local trim and is also paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and permanent all-wheel drive which powers both the Pan Americana and Adventura flagship models.
Driving Amarok
We had an opportunity to sample both V6 derivatives quite extensively across some picturesque Western Cape roads and also managed to take a four-cylinder bi-turbo version on a mild off-road route. Our journey started in the Adventura model, which was fitted with 21-inch wheels, road-bias tyres and a suspension and steering tune said to be more ‘sporty’. The first thing to note about the Adventura is its refinement, as the torquey lump up front effortlessly gets about its job of making quiet progress, and while we’re certain the outgoing V6 Amarok is more accelerative, the newcomer is sure to be as adept a towing vehicle and has a more progressive and ultimately linear power delivery. The Adventura feels the most removed from its Ford underpinnings when on the go, and feels notably different across a variety of driving conditions.
Stepping out of the Adventura and into the Pan Americana the more supple suspension, all-terrain tyres with smaller wheels and lazier steering feel are more akin to the Ranger Wildrak that we drove recently, which ultimately matches the V6 powertrain better. Since both V6 variants were running on local number plates we can conclude that items such as the 30-driver assist systems, wireless charging and the electrically operated rear roller shutter will be available in the flagship models, we just are not sure if these will be standard fitment.
At the lunch stop on day one of the event, there were four-cylinder variants of the newcomer to sample across a mild off-road course. Despite the off-roading not being excessive, we managed to get a sense of how the product handles the rough(er) stuff with the selectable all-wheel drive system and how its larger dimensions feel out on the trail. The all-terrain tyres fitted to the products were still being tested for feasibility, but worked well, allowing us to traverse the route, despite the Volkswagen feeling quite large through narrow sections.
Local availability
The Amarok is only set to make its local debut in the first quarter of 2023, where pricing and specification for the local range will be announced.
Verdict
Having sampled both the Amarok and the new Ranger, we can state that despite sharing so much, both products have their own identities, and feel different enough to justify their respective badges. The pricing and specification for Volkswagen’s latest bakkie are pivotal for its success within the local market though, and since we are unsure as to what the brand will offer locally, all we can state is that the newcomer is among the best double cabs we have ever driven, and the promise of a more varied range of models should have fans of the Amarok excited for when it arrives.
Sean NurseWith a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Latest Volkswagen Amarok driven in SA