Volkswagen Amarok review

The Amarok has always been one of the more car-like pickups to drive, and first impressions of this new one are much the same. The driving position is spot on and it’s well insulated with wind and road noise never too much of an issue.

Okay, with its leaf spring rear suspension setup it’s never going to ride as well as a modern SUV, but it’s not uncomfortable and doesn’t roll too much through corners.

Which engine should I go for?

Well, we best list the varying states of tune first. You can have the four-cylinder with either 168bhp or 202bhp. It’s a strong engine but even its more powerful iteration does sometimes struggle with over two-tonnes of Amarok to shift. It never feels or sounds too strained itself, but it can make the 10-speed auto gearbox work hard with plenty of changes needed to make sure you’re always in the correct gear.

If you want something with more grunt, the V6 comes with 237bhp and 443lb ft of torque in the UK. It feels brawny and paired with the auto gearbox it allows for a 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds. Obviously, you won’t be doing that sprint in your diesel pickup all that often, but it proves that there’s ample acceleration there if you need it. The more powerful four-cylinder takes 10.5 seconds for the same feat, while the entry-level version with the six-speed manual takes 11.6 seconds. 

There won’t be too much difference in economy either – VW claims 28mpg for the V6 and between 32.1 and 33.6mpg for the four-pot, but in our real-world experience we’ve seen mid-20s in terms of miles per gallon from both powertrains.

What else do I need to know about the driving experience?

Well, the bigger wheels of the top spec Aventura trim do make for a slightly bumpier ride, but we suspect that with a few kilos in the bed things would settle down slightly. The steering is light but doesn’t feel as disconnected as you might think, and there’s a good feel to the brake pedal that helps when you’re trying to stop something of this might.

And how is it off-road?

The PanAmericana trim is the one you want if you’re heading off the beaten track more often than not. That gets a rear locking differential, softer suspension, knobbly tyres and extra underbody protection.

There’s selectable four-wheel drive modes too with high- and low-range options, as well as an auto mode where the car senses slip and can send power forward if necessary. Built into the screen are dedicated off-road drive modes, where you select the terrain you’re about to face and the Amarok will set itself up (altering things like the gearbox, diffs and throttle map) accordingly. It really is very capable in the rough stuff, and makes off-roading seem rather painless.