We’ve been waiting a while for the new Volkswagen Amarok, but the new second-generation model is finally available to order from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Centres. As with the original Amarok, UK customers will only have a double cab body to choose from, while three engines and two gearboxes are on offer.
The line-up kicks off with the Amarok Life, which starts from £34,055 (ex.VAT). This is for a version powered by a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine, and is the only version of the Amarok with a manual gearbox. £1,300 adds a 10-speed automatic and a 201bhp version of the 2.0-litre diesel, while both come with cloth upholstery, vinyl flooring, 17-inch alloy wheels, eight-inch digital dials and a 10-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety kit includes lane assist, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and road sign recognition.
The Amarok Style starts from £42,505 (ex.VAT), which is a £7,150 premium over the Life with the auto gearbox. This adds microfibre upholstery, 18-inch diamond-cut alloys, electric front seats, carpets, larger 12-inch dials and central touchscreen, LED matrix headlamps, 360-degree cameras, park assist with rear traffic alert, wireless phone charging and tyre pressure monitors. The Amarok Style is also offered with a 237bhp 3.0 TDI V6 diesel, which costs £45,005 (ex.VAT).
The Amarok PanAmericana is a lifestyle-oriented version of the newcomer, which starts from £47,255 (ex.VAT). This comes exclusively with the V6 diesel engine, and features a more rugged look, with black alloy wheels and exterior trim, silver roof rails and an X-themed grille design. Inside there’s full leather trim and a Harman Kardon sound system, while a rear diff lock and under-body guard boost its off-road ability.
At the top of the range, the Amarok Aventura trim returns, starting from £48,055 (ex.VAT). This model features 21-inch wheels as standard, softer leather upholstery inside, a heated steering wheel and more chrome and silver trim than other models in the line-up. As with the PanAmericana, it only comes with the V6 diesel and 10-speed gearbox.
The engine and gearbox configurations will be familiar from the Ford Ranger, because the two models are a product of a joint venture between VW and Ford. However, the two trucks are distinctly different in terms of style. The only body parts that are shared are the centre section of the shell, from the base of the windscreen to the back of the passenger cab, and the roof rails, where fitted. Everything else is unique to the specific model, even the door skins.
Up front, the Amarok’s design has plenty in common with VW’s SUV range. There are squared-off wheelarch blisters, while the rear end has C-shaped tail-lights and the Amarok name stamped into the tailgate. Those Virtual Cockpit digital instruments are now available on almost every VW sold, and while the portrait-style touchscreen is a nod to the Ranger, it runs VW’s own graphics and software. The steering wheel is similar to that found in VW’s passenger cars.
The Amarok measures 5,350mm long, 1,910mm wide and has a 3,270mm wheelbase, all figures that are larger than the old model’s. Payloads of up to 1.16 tonnes can be carried, while heavy-duty lashing eyes can cope with loads of up to 500kg. A towing weight of 3.5 tonnes is on offer with every model bar the 168bhp diesel, which is only just behind at 3,420kg. VW will offer a range of accessories to make the most of the Amarok’s cargo carrying, including load covers, towing equipment, cycle racks and even a four-berth roof tent – the roof is rated to carry up to 350kg.
VW Amarok engines and performance
In the UK, the Amarok is available with either a 168bhp 2.0 TDI and a six-speed manual gearbox, or a 201bhp twin-turbodiesel when a 10-speed automatic is fitted, while the 237bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel is offered at the top end of the range. In other markets, VW will offer a 148bhp 2.0 TDI, a 206bhp BiTDI twin-turbodiesel, a 247bhp version of the V6 diesel, plus a 298bhp 2.3 TSI four-cylinder petrol. As a rule, all engines over 206bhp will come with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. As before, 4MOTION four-wheel drive is on offer, with European-spec trucks featuring permanent 4WD as standard.
Standard safety kit has been uprated significantly over the old Amarok, with VW claiming that 20 new driver assist systems have been fitted. These include adaptive cruise control with road sign recognition, LED matrix headlights, front monitoring with pedestrian detection, park assist and surround view cameras all on offer.
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