Volkswagen opts for a remarkably broad range of variants, engines and transmissions for its incoming second-generation Amarok ute
- Volkswagen Amarok Australian line-up: key points
- V6 diesel, diesel four-cylinder and surprise turbo-petrol four
- Standard features in Australia for Amarok by trim grade
- The ‘Amarok’ base grade includes:
- The level-two Amarok Life grade adds:
- The mid-specification Amarok Style adds:
- The rugged Amarok Pan-Americana grade adds:
- The street-focussed Amarok Aventura caps the lineup with:
It may share platforms and engines with the latest Ford Ranger, but the incoming second-generation Volkswagen Amarok does not share the Blue Oval’s approach to product planning.
Volkswagen will sell its version of the T6.2-chassis ute in Australia with a broader range of engines than Ford has opted to do with the Ranger, while a manual gearbox will remain in the Amarok lineup – though only when paired to the most modest diesel four-cylinder engine and not with a V6.
The new Amarok has a large vertical touchscreen fitted to all grades
Set to be released in Australia in early in the first quarter of next year – likely January or February 2023 – the Amarok will be available in five trim grades.
Local pricing has not yet been released for the new Amarok, which was largely designed and developed in Australia – but the new Ranger line-up spans from $35,930 to $85,490 before on-road costs. Our team has considered how much the Amarok could cost in Australia in a previous article.
These five grades begin with the simply-named Amarok base grade, the second-tier Life and the mid-spec Style. From there, the new Amarok line diverges with a double-headed flagship strategy: a more rugged, off-road focussed Pan-Americana model, and a street-style Aventura model.
Five grades of Amarok will come to Australia, including the new Pan-Americana model
On arrival, the Amarok will compete with not only the new Ranger, but other capable dual-cab 4×4 utes like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and GWM Ute.
Volkswagen Amarok Australian line-up: key points
- Five trim grades confirmed: base, Life, Style, Pan-Americana, Aventura
- Three engines available in Australia in four configurations
- Turbo petrol four-cylinder to be optional on Amarok, unavailable on Ranger
- Base grade retains the option of a manual-4×4 configuration
V6 diesel, diesel four-cylinder and surprise turbo-petrol four
Volkswagen had already confirmed it would continue to offer a V6 engine with the new Amarok, and the diesel six-cylinder will be available across three of the five grades: Style, Pan-Americana, and Aventura.
While there was initially debate about which manufacturer would supply the Amarok’s engine, it has been clear since the reveal of the Amarok Mk II that the 3.0-litre engine would be the Ford-PSA Lion six-cylinder that makes 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque – the same as in the new Ranger.
Ford’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 engine will be available on the new Amarok
In a twist, the Aventura will be optionally available with a petrol engine: not the Ranger Raptor’s twin-turbo petrol V6, but instead a 2.3-litre single-turbo petrol four-cylinder that makes 222kW/452Nm.
The turbo-petrol four, which is only available in the Amarok Aventura, also does service in Ford’s Mustang coupe and convertible and was used in the previous-generation Focus RS in a higher state of tune.
Ford’s 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder is fitted to the base Amarok (in single-turbo 125kW/405Nm guide) and the Life (in twin-turbo 154kW/500Nm configuration). The twin-turbo diesel ‘four is the base engine in the Amarok Style, though that trim allows buyers to option the 3.0-litre diesel V6.
The Aventura grade (pictured) can be optioned with a turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine
The turbo petrol, twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder and diesel V6 versions of the Amarok use a 10-speed torque converter automatic – but the single-turbo diesel gives entry-level buyers a choice of a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. Ford does not offer a new manual Ranger in Australia.
All grades are four-wheel drive as standard, though the 4×4 systems do differ across the range. With the V6 and turbo petrol engines, it is a permanent 4WD-Auto system (with selectable low range), while in the diesel four-cylinder it is a selectable 4WD system that runs in 2WD mode (rear-wheel drive) on the road.
Standard features in Australia for Amarok by trim grade
Volkswagen says the incoming Amarok grades essentially line up with the outgoing first-gen VW ute, with the base model replacing the old Core, the Life replacing the Sportline, the Style replacing the Highline, the Pan-Americana replacing the Canyon, and the Aventura continuing.
There’s no news yet of a continuation of the Amarok Walkinshaw line that saw first-gen ‘Roks sub-assembled in Melbourne into Australia-specific trim grades, though Volkswagen has repeatedly claimed it’s hopeful the partnership will continue with the new vehicle.
A Euro-pallet can fit between the wheel arches of the new Amarok
The ‘Amarok’ base grade includes:
- LED headlights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Unpainted bumpers, mirrors and door handles
- Front and rear mudflaps
- Manually-lockable tailgate
- Tray lighting
- Vinyl flooring
- Plastic steering wheel
- Plastic gear shifter
- Fabric seat upholstery
- Manually-adjustable front seats; six-way (driver), four-way (passenger)
- 10-inch vertical touchscreen
- Four-speaker stereo
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Mechanically-locking centre differential
- Mechanical parking brake
- Speed sign recognition
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keep assist
- Reversing camera, rear parking sensors
- Knee, centre and side curtain airbags
The level-two Amarok Life grade adds:
- Painted body-coloured bumpers, mirrors and door handles
- Twin front tow hooks
- LED fog lights
- Privacy glass
- Electrically-folding, heated side mirrors with puddle lights
- Locking wheel nuts
- Power-locking tailgate
- Leather steering wheel
- Leather gear shifter
- Carpet floor
- Front and rear floor mats
- Embossed fabric seat upholstery
- Manually-adjustable front seats, eight-way (both)
- Six-speaker stereo
- Electronic parking brake
- Front parking sensors
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
The Amarok has unique switchgear and finishes inside when compared to Ranger
The mid-specification Amarok Style adds:
- Matrix ‘IQ light’ LED headlights
- Larger 18-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome rear bumper and side steps
- Stainless steel tray sports bar
- Tray liner
- Keyless entry and start
- Art Velour seat upholstery
- Electrically-adjustable driver’s seat; ten-way
- Manually-adjustable front passenger’s seat; eight-way
- Heated front seats
- Larger 12-inch vertical touchscreen
- 12-inch digital instrument cluster
- Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
- Ambient interior lighting
- 360-degree camera
- Automated parking
- Alarm
From there, the Amarok range diverges to twin high-spec variants.
The rugged Amarok Pan-Americana grade adds:
- LED taillights
- 18-inch alloy wheels in black
- All-terrain tyres
- Black front bumper with ‘X’ visual motif
- Black-painted mirrors, bumpers, door handles and side steps
- Black-painted tray sports bar
- Soft tonneau cover
- Roof rails
- Unique Pan-Americana decals
- ‘Cricket’ leather seat upholstery
- Leather dashboard
- Leather door inserts
- Eight-speaker premium stereo
- Electrically-adjusted front passenger’s seat; 10-way
- Black headliner
Wheel sizes range between 17-inch and 21-inch (as above)
The street-focussed Amarok Aventura caps the lineup with:
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome front bumper with ‘X’ visual motif
- Chrome side mirrors, door handles, rear bumper, and side steps
- Chrome tray sail plane
- Electronic tray roll cover
- ‘Savona’ leather seat upholstery
Eight colours will be available for the Amarok, with one unique to Volkswagen. The paint range consists of:
- Moroccan blue metallic (unique to the Amarok, unavailable on Ranger)
- Diffused silver metallic
- Moondust silver metallic
- Lucid red metallic
- Carbonised grey metallic
- Blue lightning metallic
- Agate black metallic
- Frozen white solid
Further details on the new Amarok, including pricing for Australia, is expected to be released ahead of the ute’s early 2023 local release.
Keyword: New Volkswagen Amarok: Australian range confirmed with petrol, diesel, manual, auto choices