First things first: how does the Amarok’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo-diesel compare to its 3.0-litre rivals? There should be a straightforward answer to this question, but I can’t give you one. On paper, the Amarok offers more torque and power than many of its 3.0-litre competitors. On-road, the Amarok delivers average to above average performance and fuel economy. Off-road, the Amarok feels punchy, responsive and more than capable.
The Amarok needs larger tyres. Currently, there are two options available: 245 / 65 / R17 and 245 / 70 / R16. While it could be said that every 4x4 would benefit from bigger tyres, the Amarok is particularly in need of an extra inch or two and would do far better off-road if it matched the Hilux’s tyre size of 265 / 75 / R16.
The Amarok is hard to fault off-road; ride quality is firm and responsive on gravel but to the extent that the vehicle feels skittish on bumpy roads. Like all bakkies, weight is needed in the loadbox to maintain traction on uneven terrain – your camping gear along with a few bags of sand should take care of that.
The Amarok boasts a number of class-leading features you won’t find in many double-cabs, such as Hill Start / Hill Descent Assist, traction control and Off-road ABS; the latter deactivates the vehicle’s ABS system allowing the wheels to lock up and form a wedge of stone / sand in front of the tyres.
The part-time 4WD system is operated via several simple controls placed close to the gear selector. Two arrow-like buttons select 2WD, 4WD and 4WD low-range while various other buttons engage / disengage the abovementioned driver aids, the rear diff-lock and the vehicle’s ESP system.
2.0 BiTDI Highline 8 Speed 4Motion Automatic
- 4Motion®
- 132kW @ 4000
- 219g/km CO2 emissions
- 8.3l/100km
- 8-speed automatic
- Alloy wheels – Aldo 17” with anti-theft wheelbolts
- ESP (electronic stabilisation programme) with brake assistant and Hill Start/Hill Descent Assist
- Dimmable dashboard illumination
EXTERIOR
No photograph you’ll see does the Amarok justice. So if you think it looks good in print, just wait until you see it in the flesh. You really need to stand next to this double-cab to appreciate its size and presence.
One noticeable difference between the Amarok and its rivals is its width. At 1 944 mm the Amarok pushes the trend of wide-bodied bakkies to new levels, measuring 109 mm broader than the Hilux and some 94 mm wider than the Navara. Other dimensions are a total length of 5 254 mm, height of 1 834 mm and a wheelbase of 3 095 mm. Approach, departure and break-over angles are 28º, 23.6º and 23º respectively.
The Amarok’s loadbox is particularly noteworthy; according to VW it boasts a best-in-class cargo capacity of 2 520 litres. What’s more, you’ll also appreciate the loadbox’s downlight for after-dark packing, and the 12 V power point for your portable fridge or compressor. It should be noted however, that our 50-litre National Luna fridge / freezer reported a low-battery warning when we ran it from this power supply – this could be due to a voltage drop caused by inadequate cabling from the battery to this power point.
