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Our review this week is of the Volkswagen Amarok, the newest pickup on the Australian market. Amarok, by the way, means ‘wolf’ in Inuit.
The Amarok we tested is the 2WD low cost model. Like the rest of the Amarok range it has a twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel engine and a five-star NCAP safety rating.
This is very much a wolf in a pack of Japanese utes, including HiLux, Triton, Navara, Colorado, BT50 and D-Max. Interestingly most of the Japanese models are built in Thailand while the Amarok is constructed in Argentina.
At $33,990, plus on road costs, the Amarok TDI 400 dual-cab 2WD is typical of its type, with the engine driving rear wheels that use leaf springs.
Amarok is a genuine five-seater with good head, leg and shoulder room for five burly blokes. If you require fewer seats and a longer load area a single cab variant is in the VW pipeline.
Amarok’s towing capacity is rated at 2800 kg braked with a maximum towing ball download weight of 280 kg.
At almost 5.2 metres long and 2.2 metres wide including mirrors, Amarok has a large road presence, tipping the scales at around two tonnes. Volkswagen has left no doubt about the Amarok’s heritage with a large, round VW badge dominating the wide grille and the centre hubs of the steel wheels.
The body style is fairly standard with VW sticking to a generic dual-cab appearance. Inside the cab it is functional without the bling that comes in the Trendline, Highline and Ultimate variants. But you do get power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering column, hill start assist and tachometer. Remote central locking is also standard.
Most dual cab utes offer 2.5- to 3.0-litre turbo-diesels. Amarok has a 2.0-litre with two turbochargers, one to reduce turbo lag and the other for torque and performance. The engine develops 120 kW at 4000 rpm. Between 1500 and 2500 rpm it produces a substantial 400 Nm of torque. This is run through a six-speed manual shifter - there’s no automatic option.
Fifth and sixth gears are really for the highway and around town the vehicle seems happy to potter around in third gear much of the time. First is pretty much a rolling gear with the real performance coming with second, third and fourth. VW claim 7.7 litres per 100 km although we came in a little above this figure.
It is also worth mentioning that the base Amarok 2WD has an optional rear differential lock. On muddy trails or difficult work sites this could be a great feature without having to go to the expense of the whole 4WD package, or in VW speak, 4Motion.
In terms of features VW has not cut corners, even in the entry-level 2WD model. All Amarok models come with dual front and side and thorax airbags and the crash saving Electronic Stability Program with brake assist. Other technology includes off-road ABS/ASR and EDL, engine immobiliser, front height adjustable three-point seat belts with pre-tensioners.
While Volkswagen is starting to become a high-end player, they have kept the basic Amarok just that way - basic. There is rubber floor covering, hard-wearing cloth material for upholstery, just one 12 volt socket, the radio/CD player with MP3 has two speakers and air-conditioning is standard.
While the cabin is a little spartan, it’s a good workplace and has a nice, airy feel about it.
All four doors have large storage pockets, there are grab handles above each door and the driver has excellent all-round vision, although there’s a large blind spot behind the tailgate meaning extra care when reversing, a factor in common with all dual cab utes.
We found all the seats to be extra comfortable with support and ‘give’ at the same time. There are no surprises with functionality. The driver’s armrest is conveniently home to the power windows and mirrors, the speedometer and tacho are easy to rear, there’s a read-out of which gear you are in and the handbrake is in the traditional spot, in the centre console. Audio and climate controls are large and easy to use, although there are no remote buttons on the steering wheel.
Our test Amarok did not have any load in the rear so we found it a little skittish under acceleration on wet roads, as you would expect. Most vehicles like this would have at least a 300 kg to 400 kg on board as a norm and we have no doubt his would settle the vehicle’s rear end nicely.
What we did like was the hill start control as starting off on an incline with a decent load aboard can test clutch longevity. The hill start allows the driver to take off without over-revving the engine and avoiding riding the clutch.
This engine really is sweet and even at highway speed of 100 km/h is just idling along at 1800 rpm. At 110 km/h it is still just on 2000 rpm. Amarok handles particularly well with a surprising lack of body roll in most cornering situations. As mentioned above first gear is reasonably low and is a rolling gear which comes into its own with heavy loads. Once into second and third gear Amarok has no trouble sprinting to suburban or highway speed limits. This entry level model has a 180 degree tailgate for easy tray access which will suit certain trades. Amarok will suit buyers looking for more refinement in their dual cab and those looking for excellent active and passive safety technology.
MODEL RANGE
Amarok 2WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $33,990 (manual)
Amarok 4WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $43,990 (manual)
Amarok Trendline 4WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $47,990 (manual)
Amarok Highline 4WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $52,990 (manual)
Amarok Ultimate 4WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $58,490 (manual)
SPECIFICATIONS (Volkswagen Amarok 2WD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-door ute)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.968 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 16.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 81.0 mm x 95.5 mm
Maximum Power: 120 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 400 Nm @ 1500 - 2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Not Offered
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 5181 mm
Wheelbase: 3095 mm
Width: 1944 mm
Height: 1834 mm
Turning Circle: 12.95 metres
Kerb Mass: 2000 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
Towing Ability: 2800 kg (kg with braked trailer)
CARGO AREA
Tailgate width: 1411 mm
Tailgate height: 508 mm
Load volume: 2.52 cubic metres
Length: 1555 mm
Width (widest point): 1620 mm
Width at wheel arch: 1222 mm
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Transverse link with A-frame arm double wishbone
Rear Suspension: Leaf springs
Front Brakes: Disc
Rear Brakes: Drum
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: Not Available
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 7.7 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/ unlimited km |
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