Amarok test/review

[craigy]

http://www.carsales.com.au/reviews/2009/commercial/volkswagen/amarok/volkswagen-amarok-17667.

I think they are kidding themselves if they think that being dearer than the overpriced Hilux will be acceptable.

[phaeton]

Good review :D

[apom]

What a disappointment! I was hoping for the brilliant 3.0 V6 diesel to be the engine of choice and at least 3000kg towing capacity.

Towing 2800kgs with this engines on long trips sounds like a slog to me! :(

[Transporter]

Who knows? Maybe R version later on will get V6 TDI.

[Sharkie]

For me a dualcab 4x4 is a "Family Utility Vehicle" FUV .... :rolleyes: .... Go on the beach, do Bunnings runs, cart stuff around, take the family bikes in the back somewhere to go for a ride etc etc etc ....

I'm looking at replacing a Mitsu DC this year and would have loved to say the Amarok is an option .... but I'm afraid probably not .... for 3 reasons.

1. I believe the 2.0TDI is just not going to cut it ... :frown: ... the V6s (FSI & TDI) would have been a much better bet. (or even the 2.5TDI)
2. It is beautiful to look at .... much too nice to use a workhorse or a FUV ... :frown: ... I'll be too worried about it to get much use out of it.
3. Too many electronic systems that can go wrong when you use it. It needs to be foolproof & environment proof. Sometimes a bit basic & rugged is better for a workhorse .... :rolleyes:

[phaeton]

Looks capable enough to me :D

ps the 1.4 TSI engine isn't a slow coach nor has performance being altered since the cubic capacity have been taken down a notch or to; Amarok will be the same with the 2.0L BiTDI

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba193-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba376-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba198-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba383-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba186-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba358-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba349-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba116-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba114-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokCordoba308-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/AmarokAdventurePark20097-2.jpg

[phaeton]

Amarok at the 2010 Dakar
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/Amarokatthe2010Dakar1-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/Amarokatthe2010Dakar12-2.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/01/Amarokatthe2010Dakar13-2.jpg

[Sharkie]

Sorry Ben, but that does nothing to improve my opinion I'm afraid. I suppose I'll have to wait and see how it holds up at the Dakar .....

Rear looks quite bad actually, front is really good looking ... :rolleyes:

I treat my Mitsu quite rough and it has never let me down. I have never had a VW (and I'm on my 7th now) that would have taken the same abuse without having some kind of problem, so workhorse tough ... I doubt the Amarok has it ... :frown:

Too much tech and not enough toughness .... :rolleyes: ... be happy to be proven wrong though :cool:

[Sharkie]

Looks capable enough to me :D

ps the 1.4 TSI engine isn't a slow coach nor has performance being altered since the cubic capacity have been taken down a notch or to; Amarok will be the same with the 2.0L BiTDI



Don't need a high performance small turbo (and the 2.0BITDI is just that) in a workhorse .... don't believe it has the long term reliability and ease of maintenance (and lower cost) of a bigger more "agricultural" engine .... :rolleyes:

And these places they took these proto's to, I could easily take the Tiguan to as well, does not prove toughness by any means .... :rolleyes:

BTW, my wife loves it and wants 1, but I think we'll wait and see how it stacks up. Let 4x4Australia have 1 and do a comparison test 1st.

[apom]

Sorry Ben, but that does nothing to improve my opinion I'm afraid. I suppose I'll have to wait and see how it holds up at the Dakar .....

Rear looks quite bad actually, front is really good looking ... :rolleyes:

I treat my Mitsu quite rough and it has never let me down. I have never had a VW (and I'm on my 7th now) that would have taken the same abuse without having some kind of problem, so workhorse tough ... I doubt the Amarok has it ... :frown:

Too much tech and not enough toughness .... :rolleyes: ... be happy to be proven wrong though :cool:

sadly, i agree!!! I want a proper ute with a decent motor and the option of automatic for towing

[6thgear]

agreed. if i were in the market for this i'd wait for one of the 4wd outfits to give it a proper test!

however i do have a feeling that the amarok would tend to be driven as a shopping trolley/family vehicle rather than used as a true workhorse/offroader anyhow.

i think the hilux just has it down pat in that department...

[jb747]

I own a current model Hilux. It's been around Australia twice, once towing a caravan, and it will be off again in a couple of months. As delivered by Toyota, it was a long way short of the sort of vehicle that we wanted. But the bits needed to make it a lot closer to that goal were readily available. It has never given any trouble, and has been pretty severely 'off road'. It isn't particularly smooth, and I'd just love it to have a better engine and a much larger tow capacity.

Whilst the two litre VW diesel has the numbers (kw and torque) of the Hilux I'd have to admit that my preference would be for a bigger and lazier engine. I'm just not all that keen on having a thoroughbred out in the bush. Right now I'm seriously considering buying an Audi Q5 3 TDI (not for the bush I might add), and if VW had chosen to put that engine or a derivative into the Amarok I would be interested. But, with variants of the Golf engine, no thanks.

[phaeton]

The engine and concept has been developed by VWCV for a couple of years now.

I have no qualm with a low capacity engine powering the Amarok or that vehicle size.
We must also remember Europe is taxing high capacity engines this is VWs way of saving extra costs to the buyer and that the vehicle is built and made also for Developing markets where costs must be kept down otherwise no money would be made.

[flyingfridge]

Don't worry about the engine size chaps, we've got the same engine in the transporter now and it's a MONSTER! 400Nm at 1500rpm to HiLux's 343Nm at 1400rpm says a lot... in fact the 103 is closer in spec to the HiLux motor.

[Transporter]

Yeah, also new Euro6 emissions that are coming in 2014 are pushing manufacturers to downsize engines and reduce friction to improve fuel consumption, so the 6,8 and more cylinders engines will be soon the thing of the past. The 5 cylinder engines will replace them in prestige and high performance vehicles.

[Sharkie]

Review today ..... Safety, pricing key for inaugural Volkswagen ute (http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/safety-pricing-key-for-inaugural-volkswagen-ute-20100713-108ak.html)

And more importantly for me .... 2 bits of key information .... 6spd manual only (initially) and a 2.0 TSI (Tiguan and GTI engine) to follow next year.

Both of those will mean an Amarok may just end up at my house .... 200kw/420NM Amarok (once modded) anyone?

[team_v]

Review today ..... Safety, pricing key for inaugural Volkswagen ute (http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/safety-pricing-key-for-inaugural-volkswagen-ute-20100713-108ak.html)

And more importantly for me .... 2 bits of key information .... 6spd manual only (initially) and a 2.0 TSI (Tiguan and GTI engine) to follow next year.

Both of those will mean an Amarok may just end up at my house .... 200kw/420NM Amarok (once modded) anyone?

Sounds good.
I wouldn't mind one but i already have the Tig and see no benefit to selling it other than "proper" offroad potential

[gavs]

The comments people write after those articles always amuse me, especially the "experts" who have a friend of a brother that once met a guy in a bar who's cousin worked for 2 months in the service centre of a VW dealership.....

"It's underpowered, the Hilux is so much more betterer because it's more betterer" and the old "Toyota and Mitsubishi and Nissan are so much more reliable", which I'll bet 3 qtrs of the people that say that, havent owned a current model of any of those vehicles!

Anybody who says that their "Japanese" aka "Thailand" ute is more reliable, well, NONE of the 15 odd models of the Hilux, Navara and Triton we have at work have ever been reliable.

[team_v]

The comments people write after those articles always amuse me, especially the "experts" who have a friend of a brother that once met a guy in a bar who's cousin worked for 2 months in the service centre of a VW dealership.....

"It's underpowered, the Hilux is so much more betterer because it's more betterer" and the old "Toyota and Mitsubishi and Nissan are so much more reliable", which I'll bet 3 qtrs of the people that say that, havent owned a current model of any of those vehicles!

Anybody who says that their "Japanese" aka "Thailand" ute is more reliable, well, NONE of the 15 odd models of the Hilux, Navara and Triton we have at work have ever been reliable.

The main issue is servicing and support imho.
Any country town has a Toyota dealership and almost every car in teh outback towns is a hilux ute.

Since VW don't have dealer/service representation out there if you get a fault code or the DSG mechatronic unit fails or like in the mk6 you lose the drive gear, then you're pretty much F'd.

[phaeton]

I hope they bring the petrol variant here sounds good :D

[Sharkie]

... which I'll bet 3 qtrs of the people that say that, havent owned a current model of any of those vehicles ...

Not knowing from a commercial use perspective, but I've had 1 x Rodeo DC 4x4 and 2 x Triton DC 4x4s for personal recreational use and they had a relatively tough life with me doing beach and semi-serious off-road traveling. All were 100% reliable and never let me down.

I'd be hesitant putting a new and untried VW DC 4x4 ute through the same .... apart from the fact that I wouldn't want to do that to a new VW anyway .....

My opinion on it still stands, I'll wait for some serious offroad mag to test it and deliver a verdict before I'd venture far off the beaten path.

Still would like to have one in TSI and manual form though.

[gavs]

Sharkie, as someone who has owned proper DC 4x4 utes, I value your opinion :D

We will be doing some decent testing once ours arrives off the boat (due some time in the near future) and believe me that in the 4x4 community, the amarok is creating a fair bit of hype, especially with Hilux owners who take the defensive stance of "my 2006 hilux is going to be way more better, after I can pay off the $20,000 worth of engine and gearbox repairs the Toyota refuse to warrant due to the vehicle being used in tough off-road conditions....".

The mags are really hesitant about it because they don't understand it. We have their journos here at work quite a bit and because they are typical hardcore off-roaders (with big lifts and stupid 35" tyres on patrols that spend nearly all their time in workshops because they were built in a backyard with an oxy torch and 5 cases of jim beam/bundy cans.....) and they do not understand technology. Unless it is familiar, they are scared of it and then their general reaction is they hate it because they don't understand it. I am finalising a product (that will publically debut at the Sydney 4x4 show next month) that falls into this category. They keep saying they don't get it, so they hate it.

Don't be surprised if every report that comes from 4x4 Action, 4x4 Australia etc says they don't like it. Don't take this as gospel though as most of these guys think the only good 4x4s have either Land Rover, Land Cruiser or Poo-trol badges on them....

[flyingfridge]

Didn't the Touareg win Overlander 4x4 of the year when it came out? Plenty o' tech there....

I get where you're coming from though gavs, i think one of the amarok articles i've read recently summed it up well...


VW also faces the challenge of levering buyers away from the Japanese-branded utes (most of which are built in Thailand), which boast generations of loyal, rusted-on customers.

[phaeton]

I saw that ^^ was in stitches :D

[Jayse]

from today:

new VW ute | VW Amarok ute (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/first-drive-vw-amarok-ute-20100713-108rz.html?et_lpid=118799&et_cid=13091552&et_rid=472458537&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fnews.drive.com.au%2fdrive%2fmo tor-news%2ffirst-drive-vw-amarok-ute-20100713-108rz.html)

Safety, pricing key for inaugural Volkswagen ute (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/safety-pricing-key-for-inaugural-volkswagen-ute-20100713-108ak.html?et_lpid=118799&et_cid=13091552&et_rid=472458537&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fnews.drive.com.au%2fdrive%2fmo tor-news%2fsafety-pricing-key-for-inaugural-volkswagen-ute-20100713-108ak.html)

Cheers,

Jayse.

[flyingfridge]

New review by James Stanford posted on GoAuto from the South Africa drive event.

Volkswagen 2011 Amarok - VW continues Amarok countdown | GoAuto (http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/3C79E8F351326F07CA257761000227BA)

Looking good!!

[phaeton]

Still mentions light clutch like the prototypes.

[flyingfridge]

I imagine clutch feel will be pretty similar to Transporter which is pretty light and has a very sharp take up point. I stall them around here every now and then when I forget about it.

[phaeton]

I imagine clutch feel will be pretty similar to Transporter which is pretty light and has a very sharp take up point. I stall them around here every now and then when I forget about it.

Then thats okay :D

I drove a T5 2.5 with the 96kW engine was the best drivers van I have ever drove.

[gavs]

My Golf has a light clutch which I like now that I am used to. I would HATE for this vehicle to have a Navara or Hilux-esq clutch as they are shockingly heavy. For a 4x4, I can't go past the clutch in a 100 series Landcruiser, perfectly weighted, good travel and really evident friction point.

[phaeton]

My Golf has a light clutch which I like now that I am used to. I would HATE for this vehicle to have a Navara or Hilux-esq clutch as they are shockingly heavy. For a 4x4, I can't go past the clutch in a 100 series Landcruiser, perfectly weighted, good travel and really evident friction point.

Agreed.

I drove my bosses LC 100 and it felt like I was in control and could go anywhere.

[Seano]

I second the belief that it'll have a Transporter like clutch. In fact I'd be mildly surprised if it didn't share basic clutch components with the Transporter.

The observation that the prototypes have a light clutch may be in comparison to the other vehicles in its class......which would be a win.

From an off road perspective I'd more interested in the accelerator pedal behaviour - if it isn't well damped then it is a bastard off road. I remember a truly awful experience driving the first V6 Rodeo on a rocky firetrail with my foot bouncing lightly on the go pedal and the vehicle jerking, surging & lurching with every bounce. Truly unpleasant.

I'd also be pleasantly surprised if the Amarok came with a hand throttle. And an optional drop side alloy tray.

[gldgti]

Looks like a great ute to me. I'd be happy to have one I reckon. One of the things that has stopped me getting a ute has been poor handling and fuel economy - trust VW to fix that :-D. The carsales reviewers are correct in saying most utes handle like crap, do not inspire confidence and tend to chew through fuel.... unnecessarily in many cases. Big engines in commercial vehicles are a thing of the past 15 years - people forget too easily about the sub 2.5 litre engines in almost all utes back in the 80's and beforehand... in vans too! Its really only been in the 90's and 00's that people have had the luxury of big engines in what are essentially supposed to be economy vehicles - fuel costs = running costs. Times are a changing, thats for sure, and i do think that people need to begin to consider exactly what they feel justification for a big capacity engine is.

To me, even a 2.0L 90kW 350Nm diesel engine is far and away better than a 2.8L non-turbo diesel that made the hilux the class leader it is today, long before it had turbo's and air-con.

My dad had a 1600 rodeo back in the day, with that shoddy oil guzzling petrol guzzling isuzu engine. It was a 2wd one. We still managed to fill it with a whole winters worth of fire wood and drive it out up the logging tracks no worries. I reckon its not just utes that are going soft, its the ute owners too :-)

[flyingfridge]

I reckon its not just utes that are going soft, its the ute owners too :-)

Hear, hear! Well said

[Seano]

Ha!

The 'softness' of current ute owners might have more to do with the fact that 15 years ago many of those people would never have considered themselves prospective ute owners. Then the car companies cottoned on to the highly profitable 'executive' ute with comforts and toys.....good example of if you build it (and market the hell out of it) they will come.

I remember a few old cockys out around Bre bought the new Hilux when it came out with IFS.....and they hated them because they kept getting them stuck on the property. But they kept them because the missus thought they were comfortable going into town. Now they buy Nissan Patrol utes for property work...

[gldgti]

Seano, your right ofcourse - far more "utes" around these days, and in the strangest places :-) And the way they are treated like gold.... oh!

Anyway, I think my point before was really that at least you cant order an Amarok with an r36 engine, lowered on 21" wheels, 2wd only and soft leather seats :-)


...yet.

[phaeton]

http://www.powertorque.com.au/delivery/images/DEL31-Cover.jpg
Delivery - Australia's New Ute and Van Magazine (http://www.powertorque.com.au/delivery/index.php)

First drive review in latest Delivery Aug/Sept 2010 magazine.

[Peter Jones]

Looks like Ford doesn't like the Amarok they bought.

Also there's to be a petrol option at launch.

VW defends Amarok | Sydney motor show 2010 (http://theage.drive.com.au/sydney-motor-show/vw-defends-amarok-20101015-16msr.html)

[Sharkie]

More importantly ... to me anyway ... is the confirmation by VW that the petrol 2.0TSI engine will be available in the DualCabs as well from March onwards .... about midway down that article .... The dealers haven't heard this yet, so this is good news ....

I am considering replacing the Tiguan with a petrol TSI Amarok in topspec atm ....

[Peter Jones]

Any idea on the numbers on the TSI option? 118kW at 300Nm?

[Sharkie]

Any idea on the numbers on the TSI option? 118kW at 300Nm?

Yes, 118kw/300NM is what was announced overseas on the TSI Amaroks.

Since it is the exact same EA888 engine as the GTI and the TSI Tiguans, expect around 190kw/400NM from the established tuners ....

[phaeton]

According to carsales petrol variant will be offered alongside the diesel variants from the launch next March.

AIMS: Petrol and diesel Amarok for launch (http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2010/commercial/volkswagen/amarok/aims-petrol-and-diesel-amarok-for-launch-22136)

[phaeton]

First Drives Reviews in Australia

VW Amarok Ute: first drive | carsguide.com.au (http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-reviews-road-tests/vw_amarok_ute_first_drive?origin=hpc1)

First local drive: Volkswagen Amarok (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/first-local-drive-volkswagen-amarok-20110222-1b3mt.html)

Volkswagen Amarok dual-cab ute (http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/vw-seeks-outbacktough-solutions-for-amarok-20110223-1b4ln.html)

2011 Volkswagen Amarok Highline Road Test Review | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications (http://www.themotorreport.com.au/51444/volkswagen-amarok-highline-review)

[2dr Evangalist]

More good stuff here, including dealer fit option prices
Volkswagen Amarok Review | Car Advice | Reviews (http://www.caradvice.com.au/105919/volkswagen-amarok-review/)

[Matt05x]

Just read some of the new info & it clearly states that leather is not available on the highline, not even as an option! What?? I tell you what, if getting leather means I have to get the Ultimate model, then I'm afraid I'll be putting my money away until I drive the new T6 Ranger. Why do VW bung this crap on? :mad:

[phaeton]

2011 Volkswagen Amarok 5-dr utility range | GoAuto - Our Opinion (http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/20F4600EAB0D75CBCA25783F00263704)
2011 Volkswagen Amarok 5-dr utility range | GoAuto - Launch Story (http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/A49E32D840DDD042CA25783F00268A34)

[Donny 76]

just out of interest we can re-trim in after market leather for about $3000

[Sumodog68]

Just read some of the new info & it clearly states that leather is not available on the highline, not even as an option! What?? I tell you what, if getting leather means I have to get the Ultimate model, then I'm afraid I'll be putting my money away until I drive the new T6 Ranger. Why do VW bung this crap on? :mad:

I am waiting for Ranger to be released too but for different reasons (current Hilux owner) - i want extra cab and prefer larger displacement engine.

[FLAUNTT]

I was beside a new Ford Ranger prototype the other day in my 2008 Hilux as I live near the Ford proving grounds( parked right beside it).It is easily bigger than the Hilux in size, will be interesting to see it line up against the Amarok. I feel this car may be a headache to Amarok sales.A visually good looking unit.

[Matt05x]

After I calmed down a little & got some prices, the Ultimate actually worked out to be good value, with all the included gear & I have bought one. Now (like everyone else) just waiting on delivery
I did think long and hard about which of these two utes I should get, but I kept coming back to the experience of our work Ranger & Transit.
Both these Ford utes have had quality dramas. Like A/C buttons falling off, speedo almost 10kmh out at 50kmh the cheapest silver plastic in the world, the Transit fan for the cab only has 1 speed working & when it does it fouls directly on the surround, the windows don't wind up properly, catching sideways in the tracks, it doesn't check it's fuel, so when one of our employees filled it with unleaded (it's a diesel), it cost us over $10000 to have a new fuel pump fitted.
That's what decided for me. I guess it's why you would buy a Tiguan over an escape, a Passat over a Falcon or a Golf over a Focus.

[2dr Evangalist]

I was beside a new Ford Ranger prototype the other day in my 2008 Hilux as I live near the Ford proving grounds( parked right beside it)..A visually good looking unit.

Anymore details FLAUNTT??
Having passed on a `rok for 12 months to let the landscape settle, am keen to see what the Ranger brings to the table

[Kiwi]

Looks like a great ute to me. I'd be happy to have one I reckon. One of the things that has stopped me getting a ute has been poor handling and fuel economy - trust VW to fix that :-D. The carsales reviewers are correct in saying most utes handle like crap, do not inspire confidence and tend to chew through fuel.... unnecessarily in many cases. Big engines in commercial vehicles are a thing of the past 15 years - people forget too easily about the sub 2.5 litre engines in almost all utes back in the 80's and beforehand... in vans too! Its really only been in the 90's and 00's that people have had the luxury of big engines in what are essentially supposed to be economy vehicles - fuel costs = running costs. Times are a changing, thats for sure, and i do think that people need to begin to consider exactly what they feel justification for a big capacity engine is.

To me, even a 2.0L 90kW 350Nm diesel engine is far and away better than a 2.8L non-turbo diesel that made the hilux the class leader it is today, long before it had turbo's and air-con.

My dad had a 1600 rodeo back in the day, with that shoddy oil guzzling petrol guzzling isuzu engine. It was a 2wd one. We still managed to fill it with a whole winters worth of fire wood and drive it out up the logging tracks no worries. I reckon its not just utes that are going soft, its the ute owners too :-)

This Guy knows what he's talking about!

[FLAUNTT]

Anymore details FLAUNTT??
Having passed on a `rok for 12 months to let the landscape settle, am keen to see what the Ranger brings to the table

Hi 2dr Evangalist, I managed to park right beside it and take a side by side photo against my 2008 hilux. Definately the Ranger is as big as an Amarok. Interior seems to better than the current Hilux. I couldnt take a big glance as the engineers were giving me greasys, so I couldnt tell about final fit of plastics. I wish I could chuck the photo on here for you to look at. If they can get supply sorted, which will probably happen as Im pretty sure they are going to be built in Thailand, they might be able to jump on purchasers who dont like the waiting game with buying an Amarok.

[FLAUNTT]

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/05/IMG00674201105170734-1.jpg

Sorry for not keeping it on the subject.

[twincab]

Latest 4x4 Aust. mag has a comparo test with the Rok against the Nissan 550 and Triton. Guess which one came out on top?:banana:

Pete

[tomdej]

The latest 4x4 mag also made a good point with pointing out the unfortunate absence of AWD on dirt roads, wet roads etc. The top of the range Amarok has full time 4x4 but not low range!!

Currently the only 4x4 ute with AWD ability is the Triton. Maybe the next version of the Amarok will get it.

[phaeton]

The latest 4x4 mag also made a good point with pointing out the unfortunate absence of AWD on dirt roads, wet roads etc. The top of the range Amarok has full time 4x4 but not low range!!

Currently the only 4x4 ute with AWD ability is the Triton. Maybe the next version of the Amarok will get it.

Amarok Ultimate will indeed have Selectable 4Motion available as an option (not in the first batches.)

[tomdej]

The4x4 mag review did make mention of the Amarok Ultimate having Selectable 4Motion but it also states it then misses out on low range. The Ultimate is very pricey though.

[phantomcamel]

The4x4 mag review did make mention of the Amarok Ultimate having Selectable 4Motion but it also states it then misses out on low range. The Ultimate is very pricey though.
ULTIMATE comes with either "selectable" 4Motion or "permanent" 4Motion your choice. Selectable has HI & LOW 4WD

[tomdej]

Yes, Ultimate is the only one which has the option of permanent 4WD but if you choose that you don't get low range. The 4x4 review quoted above also points out that AWD on wet and slippery surfaces is a great safety feature. VW have had other vehicles with this option available but have chosen not to make it available in the Amarok. Great vehicle but could have been better.

[Transporter]

To my understanding the Ultimate has it all, but again, I even didn't seat in one, yet.

[phantomcamel]

Yes, Ultimate is the only one which has the option of permanent 4WD but if you choose that you don't get low range. The 4x4 review quoted above also points out that AWD on wet and slippery surfaces is a great safety feature. VW have had other vehicles with this option available but have chosen not to make it available in the Amarok. Great vehicle but could have been better.Let's be realistic here - who is going to take an ULTIMATE with leather seats & 19" rims off road anyway? To pull a boat trailer the perm 4Motion is more than capable!

[flyingfridge]

Let's be realistic here - who is going to take an ULTIMATE with leather seats & 19" rims off road anyway? To pull a boat trailer the perm 4Motion is more than capable!

Let me rephrase that just a tad for you Christian;

To pull a boat trailer the perm 4Motion is more capable!

[phantomcamel]

Let me rephrase that just a tad for you Christian;

To pull a boat trailer the perm 4Motion is more capable! You win :)

[guthrie]

Car Advice have posted a new review:

Volkswagen Amarok off-road review | Car Advice | Reviews (http://www.caradvice.com.au/126254/volkswagen-amarok-off-road-review/)

Of course they liked it a lot.

[Transporter]

That's the best review I've read in a long time. Now, those who are worried about the Amarok's 4x4 capabilities can be more cofident when spending that hard earned cash.
Thanks for posting it. :)

[STIDUB]

just a brief note from a tiguan owner, for the past 13-14ish months ive had that, loved it, have had an amarok for 8hrs now and have LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT, handles awesome on road,traffic etc, not a tractor to drive, not at all sluggish, NM's RULE! and... yeah it handles other stuff nicely too, might throw a car trailer with race car or a huge caravan behind it tomorrow to see what thats like before i give it back monday, but.... SERIOUSLY considering selling my still loved tiguan for one of these suckers, im not one to like utes or diesels but this has BLOWN MY MIND.

[JPBJK]

Thread has been quiet for a while, I posted this in the 3.0L Amarok thread, worth a look.

http://www.carconversation.com.au/reviews/2017-volkswagen-amarok-v6-highline-review

[Transporter]

https://youtu.be/zi3da-HHG-E

[winchy]

Commercial Vehicle of the Year | 2019 Best 4x4 Work Ute (https://m.drive.com.au/comparison-review/ford-ranger-volkswagen-amarok-toyota-hilux-121511?trackLink=homePageMobile1st_6)

[Transporter]

Good result for Amarok.

[zed]

Car Advice have posted a new review:

Volkswagen Amarok off-road review | Car Advice | Reviews (http://www.caradvice.com.au/126254/volkswagen-amarok-off-road-review/)

Of course they liked it a lot.

I think a lot of 4WDing really comes down to experiences, knowledge and ability. All my "4WDING" as a teenager and uni student was done with crappy old underpowered fwd cars, constantly getting bogged, but you learn a lot when you don't gave the right car! So really when it comes to 4WD comparisons, I don't give them much thought, most of them are going to be equally capable for what most of us are going to be using them for e.g boggy bush tracks, beaches, dunes etc I can't see too many people taking their $80k Landcruiser or $70K Amarok up paths like this:

https://media.caradvice.com.au/image/private/w_2000,ar_16:9,c_lfill,f_auto,g_auto:car,q_auto/t_wm_sw/d65b78c40a9cbf46cd305eec4d253bdf.jpg

I lived in Saudi for a while too, a lot of 4wding there, mostly on beaches and dunes. The only cars that I never saw getting bogged were the little Suzuki 4Wds Sierras etc Everything else, Patrols, Landcruisers, Range Rovers would frequently get bogged. So yeah for me as long as it has ground clearance and the right tyres it's going to be good enough! What I liked about the Amarok when I first drove it was how well it drove on the road, so much better than my 2018 Prado.