2023 Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI | Not fully German
The latest Volkswagen Amarok has a lot in common with the latest Ford Ranger, but according to our German friends, it can also flex its own muscles.
So to get straight to the point, the Amarok is a “by Volkswagen adopted Ford-baby”. The American giant and pick-up specialist had the new Ranger designed in Australia and built in South Africa, with the exception of the more powerful Raptor variant - coming from Thailand. We, Europeans, and therefore also Germans very rarely venture into the development of pick-ups themselves, the commercial potential is simply too small for that! Or did you think the deceased Mercedes-Benz X-Class was a full-blood Merc? No, it was a Nissan Navara clone. But Mercedes doesn’t like it when we talk about it. ‘Cause big flop.
Of course, the same fate doesn’t await the new Volkswagen. The sales of the Ranger worldwide will be multiple times that of the Amarok, but it is also undoubtedly awaiting another great commercial success. At Volkswagen, they also insist that a few dozen of their own engineers were at the design table almost from day one, they even ensured that the adjustment of the suspension and steering received different, and therefore their own, accents.
An American trying to speak German
The Germans are trying to convince us that the VW Amarok has a 100% Volkswagen design, but let us be honest: that only applies to the nose and the back of the car. On the side profile, you need details -such as the semicircular wheel arches- and especially some typical brand decorations to really see the difference in the sea of pick-ups. Which again isn't much of a problem. The Ranger and the Amarok are a size down compared to the imposing American pick-ups, but they are a lot less disturbing in our European-sized living environment. Don’t get us wrong, you still feel like an obese person in a Chanel “petite” Mini dress.
At the front, the so-called X-design of the bumpers provides some toughness even though the last generation looks a lot more masculine. But we would talk about an evolution instead of a revolution. LED lighting is standard on all versions and there are matrix headlights as an option if you want to. Thanks to the taillights the car looks more modern and somewhat tighter than before. The new VW Amarok is almost 10 centimeters longer than its predecessor, which was completely designed by Volkswagen, it now measures 5.35 meters. With a length of now 3.27 meters, the wheelbase also grew by 17.3 centimeters.
Function before comfort
The interior concept of the Amarok is similar to that of the Ranger, but Volkswagen managed to add enough of its own accents to be able to speak of a different design. There is still a mix of digital and -for many important functions, fortunately- also classic controls, for infotainment there is a screen of no less than 12.3 inches in the center console. Which looks modern and you get the feeling VW wants you to think it’s modern, but works and feels outdated. The materials used and the quality of the finish have clearly improved compared to the first Amarok generation. But don’t think for a minute Volkswagen has been saving on the amount of plastic. No, there is still a lot of it. The heated front seats are covered in cloth and are a bit on the firm side. Here is a clear indicator of where the Amarok should be used.
On the back seat, as in more pick-ups, it is just OK to sit. There is no shortage of headroom, but in the case of big people in the front and back, the legroom there is slightly less generous. For a longer trip with four adults, it is on the very edge of tolerability. Also important for a pick-up are, of course, the dimensions of the cargo box. With the lid closed it is 1,624 millimeters long and (between the wheel arches) 1,227 millimeters wide. The loading height is 529 millimeters.
Finally a diesel
When choosing these types of vehicles, criteria other than acceleration and top speeds come into play. The payload of the new Volkswagen Amarok is up to 1.19 tons and the towing capacity is up to 3.5 tons. Our 3-liter diesel puts out 240 hp and delivers a considerable torque output of 600 Nm. This in combination with a 10-speed automatic gearbox brings the Amarok to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and onto a top speed of 180 km/h. Thanks to the 2.2 tons of the Volkswagen Amarok, overtaking a car can be a long action with asks for some patience but above all: a loud intent (engine noise).
There are customers who will use a pick-up for heavy and even real off-road work. The short(er) overhangs and more suitable angles of inclination (30 degrees at the front and 26 at the rear) allow quite a bit of stunt work. 4Motion four-wheel drive is standard for all variants offered -in Belgium anyway. If you need the shorten the gear ratios, you can select it via a handy rotary knob on the center console. Add to that the noticeably very stiff construction, the excellent shock absorption for such circumstances and the handy descent aid and you can overcome many obstacles with this VW Amarok. There is also a choice between six pre-programmed driving modes via the gear lever and the touchscreen, for an equal number of driving conditions and surfaces.
The new Volkswagen Amarok also impresses on the asphalt, especially when compared to slightly older competitors. Of course, you can never speak of buttery smooth comfort and you have no business with this car on a circuit. A powerslide, the Amarok can put one on the wet asphalt! They should have warned me about this the first time!
Price
The Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI Style with 240 hp starts at 61.500 euros (VAT incl). And ends with that as well. Maybe you want a hardtop to cover the cargo area and that’s the only option available for the car. Never before has the starting price and the price of our test vehicle been so close together.
