The foreman has arrived.

It’s the Volkswagen Amarok after all, however not one we’d expect is put to work with its low-profile tyres and distinctive engine.

Whereas the unique model removed its petrol powertrain way back, this newest technology of Amarok has added one again.

It’s fairly the distinction to what most individuals are inclined to go for in Australia, as a result of in rivals just like the Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara, and even different Amaroks, the diesel engine is usually the decide of the bunch… or the one possibility.

The present Amarok shares most of its oily bits with the Ford Ranger. That partnership introduced with it a turbocharged petrol engine Volkswagen has chosen to make use of as an possibility solely on the high of the mannequin vary.

On take a look at right here is the equal-most costly Amarok out there proper now, the 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452. Below the bonnet it packs a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – an identical unit to what you’d discover in a Ford Mustang Excessive Efficiency or Focus ST.

It’s an uncommon powertrain setup, however does it maintain up in addition to it must? Or would you be higher choosing the V6 diesel TDI600 for a similar worth?

How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value?

The Aventura TSI452 is likely one of the two costliest Amarok fashions out there, sliding in at just below $83,000 earlier than on-roads.

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s the Volkswagen Amarok like on the within?

For those who in some way received inside with out noticing the tray, you’d be forgiven for considering this was merely an SUV.

It’s a pleasant inside; every part is sturdy and completed in high quality supplies that give it a surprisingly plush really feel. A number of the first belongings you’ll discover in that division are the seats, that are upholstered in leather-based with earthy brown accents.

These accents proceed to the highest of the sprint, which is completed a brown color that breaks up the black surfaces in the remainder of the cabin – together with the headliner. It’s a cultured setup, and makes for an surroundings that’s pleasing to spend time in.

You do nonetheless get the standard exhausting plastics and sturdy coverings you’d count on from a ute, however even they’re offered in an upmarket means. Take the shroud surrounding the gear selector for instance, a tough plastic panel that appears like a chunk of rock.

That clear, geometric design is carried all through the cabin, with exhausting edges and sharp angles defining most of its key surfaces. Getting in is made straightforward too, with a pair of beefy handles on the A-pillars.

Then there’s the tech. One of many first belongings you’ll see is that vast vertical 12.0-inch infotainment display screen, which has among the finest shows within the dual-cab ute class.

It’s similar to the Ranger in that regard, although it’s graphically cleaner within the Amarok. That’s a common theme right here, as there’s loads much less occurring across the cabin within the Volkswagen in comparison with its mechanical twin.

In some methods, that does loads to assist it seem as a much less intimidating expertise if you first get inside. In different methods, it makes it appear to be it isn’t as usable because it might be, otherwise you such as you don’t get as a lot management over the car as you may within the button-laden Ranger.

For a begin, there aren’t any bodily buttons for local weather management within the Amarok. Sadly that is nothing new for contemporary automobiles, however it’s a bit tedious.

Temperature adjustment alone is needlessly oblique. It’s important to first press the quantity on the display screen, which brings up a small slider to boost or decrease the temperature. I might’ve preferred some form of rotary dial as a substitute, however at the very least the numbers are at all times current on the display screen.

There are additionally separate buttons to deliver up the identical local weather management menu, that are positioned lower than 10cm aside. One is a contact button on the base of the show, the opposite is a swap – which has a pleasant tactile really feel – however you don’t want each. To keep away from that, you should utilize handy voice instructions as a substitute.

The controls for the entrance heated seats are on the backside of the touchscreen too, which I’d once more favor to have as bodily buttons. There’s loads of room for some additional buttons on the centre console, so possibly just a little extra ‘litter’ wouldn’t harm for such capabilities.

Disabling issues just like the engine auto-stop perform or adjusting the visible show can solely be performed by trawling by way of settings on that touchscreen.

Not less than in our week with the automobile the display screen was at all times very responsive, however once more there’s loads of room for a few of these controls to be given devoted buttons elsewhere.

Forward of the motive force is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which is refreshingly good to work together with. There aren’t any haptic buttons, as a substitute bodily ones that each one work as anticipated and don’t get in the best way with each arms on the wheel.

The stalks behind the wheel all do precisely what you need too, with a stable really feel and legible labelling. Aside from that, there isn’t an enormous quantity for the motive force to be interacting with on the street.

Behind the wheel is a 12.3-inch digital instrument show, which once more is crisp and good to have a look at. You get a great deal of data relying on which menu you’ve got chosen, and also you’ll nonetheless get a digital tachometer and speedometer it doesn’t matter what.

Its structure is easy and continues the borderline minimalist themes occurring elsewhere, however it works effectively right here. All the pieces it is advisable to know is clearly laid out and straightforward to learn, with nothing additional occurring in the event you don’t need it.

For those who do need extra data, it’s straightforward to deliver up any of the quite a few shows utilizing the buttons on the right-hand facet of the wheel.

As for bodily controls, the setup is disappointingly restricted. There are 5 switches on the centre console for issues like the motive force assists and drive modes, that are located above a management unit for towing changes.

There’s a stout gear selector with buttons for guide shifting within the thumb space, together with a big rotary dial for the 4 selectable 4×4 modes. You’ll discover some additional buttons for traction management and hill descent right here too.

Ending it off is a big swap for the parking brake, which requires agency and deliberate motion for it to interact or disengage. A fast flick received’t be seen by the Amarok’s laptop.

Connectivity and charging up entrance is finished through both a USB-C or USB-A port, whereas there’s a 12-volt outlet and wi-fi charging pad too. All of that is positioned in a tidy cubby forward of the gear selector, properly out of the best way.

One of many inside quirks that got here to the fore was its door handles, that are unconventional rectangular panels (versus a typical lever) positioned contained in the door armrests. Whilst you’ll rapidly discover them and find out how they work, it was amusing to look at unassuming passengers poke, prod, and pull to attempt to determine it out.

Maybe probably the most important distinction between this and the Ranger is the cupholder and common storage scenario.

There are fewer cupholders within the entrance; restricted to only two on the centre console. They’re just a little small and awkward to make use of, but when it is advisable to match a bottle there are devoted spots within the door playing cards.

There are two storage bins forward of the passenger, each of which might do with being a bit bigger. Beneath the central armrest is a few extra storage, supplying you with loads of alternative for varied odds and ends.

To the Amarok’s profit, it’s all built-in cleanly. At first look, for instance, you probably wouldn’t discover the higher dashboard storage space on the passenger facet until you had been actively in search of it or somebody confirmed you.

I like that in regards to the Amarok’s inside – it’s usually unassuming, but extremely constant all through even when it may be missing in some areas.

Getting into the again is a small hike, however the facet working boards make it straightforward to step up and in.

As is the case in all utes the rear doorways don’t open significantly huge, which can make it tough to get in in the event you’ve received mobility points or must load one thing bigger like a toddler seat. When you’re in, there’s definitely greater than sufficient house to comfortably transport passengers or youngsters.

If it is advisable to match a toddler seat, you’ll be capable of utilise the 2 ISOFIX and two top-tether anchor factors. By way of facilities, there’s a fold-down centre armrest and a 12V outlet, however there are not any USB shops right here.

The rear bench seats themselves are upholstered in the identical materials because the entrance, although they’re not as snug. Headroom is beneficiant, although taller passengers may run into bother with legroom if the entrance occupants are equally tall.

On high of that, the Harman Kardon-branded sound system is among the many best-sounding setups on supply proper now for the ute section.

Out the again you get a lined tub, although I can’t assist however really feel the remainder of the automobile nearly feels too good to be carrying round soiled equipment and instruments – I’d really feel unhealthy scratching or staining the black plastic by way of common use.

The remote-controlled powered rolling tonneau cowl is a pleasant addition, however it eats into vertical house on the entrance of the bathtub. I’d hate to by accident get dust within the cowl’s rails too; it simply looks like it’d grow to be a headache if issues began to get a bit crunchy.

When you open the tailgate and slide again the quilt although, you’ll discover a 12V outlet, six tie-down factors, and a few lighting. Once more it’s all completely usable, however I don’t know in the event you’d need to make use of it – at the very least not often.

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s below the bonnet?

With the range-topping Amarok you get a alternative of both a petroleum or a diesel engine. Our tester is fitted with the previous, whereas the opposite possibility is a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel with 154kW and 500Nm.

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

How does the Volkswagen Amarok drive?

Given its uncommon mechanics, it’d be flawed to say driving the TSI452 isn’t fascinating on the street.

With the ute physique you’d count on it to start out with a diesel rumble, whereas the SUV inside suggests it’d be extra refined.

I can finest describe it as a mixture of the 2, as a result of particularly the chilly idle of the TSI452 isn’t as easy as a typical petrol engine however continues to be extra nice than a truck.

Regardless, it begins up with the press of a button and warms up very quickly in any respect. You may definitely hear the engine working, and from the skin it could actually sound fairly robust.

Choose drive and also you’re able to go, although it received’t take lengthy to note a number of the quirks with the Amarok’s drivetrain.

Getting the ability from the engine to the wheels is a 10-speed computerized transmission. Whereas it offers you a whole lot of vary in each high- and low-speed driving, it could actually generally appear to be there are too many gears to the purpose the place it doesn’t know what to do with itself.

With average throttle enter from a standstill, it simply doesn’t rev out in every gear as you’d count on it to.

All of it means accelerating isn’t as satisfying because it might be in normal driving, however at the very least there are some methods round it. For those who really feel like embracing your inside lead foot, the Amarok’s transmission will grasp onto gears longer and presents extra punch.

You’ll discover with a hearty boot-full it revs up correctly in every gear, shifts easily and on the proper time, and actually permits the petrol engine to provide the most of what it’s received. The opposite answer is to place it in guide mode, although controlling that requires you to maintain one hand on the selector as a result of there are not any paddles behind the wheel.

Past that, that engine is the primary drawcard right here. That’s a great factor too, as a result of it’s a powerful engine.

Despite the fact that it’s an enormous automobile you continue to get all the standard traits of a turbocharged petrol engine, like that push within the again you get when increase kicks in. To make it that little bit sweeter, you possibly can hear the turbo spooling below excessive load.

It sounds first rate too, and whereas it might do with a few additional cylinders to take a number of the stress off, there’s no denying the TSI452 is a surprisingly fast automobile.

The engine’s small displacement and decrease torque output do imply it has to work tougher than its diesel counterpart does, so in the event you’re going to be towing often I’d counsel this isn’t the Amarok for you.

It’s nonetheless enjoyable to have that petrol engine although, and in the event you’re somebody who will primarily use this automobile as an on-road every day with the odd off-road enterprise, it’s truthfully fairly a great setup.

The on-road focus of the Aventura means its tyres have a a lot decrease profile, which you undoubtedly discover. It rides on fashionable 21-inch alloys wrapped in 275/45 tyres, which look good however do no favours in making the journey compliant over bumps.

Decrease Amarok grades supply 17-inch wheels with chunkier 255/70 or 255/65 tyres as a substitute, which do higher each on tough roads and off the overwhelmed monitor. If it’s aesthetics you’re after although, the Aventura has you coated.

Mix the slim tyres with the standard journey traits of a ute, and also you get a tough journey over harsh bumps. Regardless of that, it’s much more plush than what you get in a number of the ute competitors, which backs up its on-road bias.

You received’t have any bother driving it alongside the freeway over higher distances, because it’s impressively snug on the open street.

Serving to out are driving help options like adaptive cruise management and lane-keep help, which make for easy kilometres behind the wheel.

Such programs labored flawlessly throughout our week with the automobile, and the lane-keep perform specifically did a good job protecting the large rig centred in its lane.

It did have its hiccups although, like telling me to maintain my arms on the wheel the place that they had been since I received transferring. The identical warnings got here up once I had my hand on the wheel with adaptive cruise management and lane-keep enabled, which required a quick shake of the wheel to get it to face down.

Blind-spot monitoring helped to keep away from working individuals off the street, whereas there’s additionally a high-quality surround-view digicam that will help you into tight parking areas.

It’s not supreme as a metropolis automobile due to its measurement, however in the event you listen it’s actually not tough to get it round. Its sensors and cameras assist, however simply take care in these parking garages with low clearance – it could actually really feel such as you’re going to hit your head every now and then.

Whereas it does have selectable drive modes, stable floor clearance and lengthy suspension journey, I’d keep away from taking the Aventura off-road.

I’m certain in the event you do want to move down a quick path it’d be simply fantastic, however some extra succesful off-road tyres would do wonders to assist it out for something extra severe.

All issues thought-about, it truly is a cushty tourer with a tray. In comparison with another utes just like the Mitsubishi Triton or Toyota HiLux, the Amarok Aventura presents probably the most like an SUV.

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

What do you get?

The Aventura stands out in opposition to different Amarok fashions due to its silver entrance bumper and chrome grille, facet mirrors, and door handles, in addition to its rear sailplane and electrical curler cowl.

Normal gear on the Amarok Core consists of:

Exterior

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Entrance disc, rear drum brakes
• Locking rear differential
• Energy-folding facet mirrors
• Aspect steps
• Mud flaps
• 2 x entrance tow hooks
• Metal underbody safety
• Plastic gasoline tank safety
• Tow bar
• 12-pin trailer plug
• Black facet mirrors, door handles
• Manually locking tailgate
• 6 x tie-down factors in tub
• Exterior tie-down rails
• Cargo field LED lighting
• Computerized LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Computerized high-beam
• Halogen tail lights

Inside

• 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 4-speaker sound system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired, wi-fi)
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wi-fi charger
• Single-zone air-conditioning
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Trailer brake controller
• Vinyl flooring
• Gray headliner
• Cloth upholstery
• 6-way guide driver seat
• 4-way guide entrance passenger seat

The Amarok Life provides:

• Rear disc brakes
• LED entrance fog lights
• Physique color facet mirrors and door handles
• Heated, power-folding facet mirrors with puddle lamps
• Locking wheel nuts
• Tailgate elevate help
• Energy tailgate lock
• Privateness glass
• Six-speaker sound system
• E-shifter
• Electrical park brake
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Carpet flooring
• 8-way guide entrance seats
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go

The Amarok Fashion provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Chrome facet mirrors and door handles
• Plastic tub liner
• Chrome steel sports activities bar
• 12V socket in tub
• Matrix LED headlights
• LED tail lights
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear air vents
• Insulated windshield
• Proximity entry and push-button begin
• Alarm system
• Leather-based-look dashboard and door inserts
• ArtVelour microfibre upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• 10-way energy driver’s seat
• Park Help semi-autonomous parking

The Amarok PanAmericana provides:

• 18-inch black alloy wheels
• All-terrain tyres
• Dynamic suspension
• Black facet mirrors and door handles
• Panamericana decal
• Black sports activities bar and steps
• Gentle tonneau cowl
• Roof rails
• Spray-in tub liner
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Black headliner
• Leather-based upholstery
• Energy passenger seat

The Amarok Aventura provides:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Chrome bumpers, mirror, handles
• Rear sailplane
• Electrical curler cowl
• Leather-based seats (Savona)

Is the Volkswagen Amarok secure?

The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing in 2022.

This outcome was drawn from testing of the intently associated Ford Ranger, with extra frontal offset and facet influence assessments carried out on the Amarok by Euro NCAP, which has harmonised testing protocols with ANCAP.

Normal security gear throughout the vary consists of:

• 9 airbags
  • Knee
  • Centre
  • Entrance
  • Aspect curtain
  • Rear
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Swerve Steer help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Clever Pace Limiter
• Pace signal recognition
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Tyre stress monitoring

Amarok Life provides:

• Adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go

Amarok Fashion provides:

• Encompass-view digicam
• Park help

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value to run?

Like the broader Volkswagen vary, the Amarok is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Volkswagen Australia additionally presents a five-year Care Plan which prices $1801. Moreover, homeowners will obtain as much as 12 months of roadside help in the event that they service their car inside the Volkswagen supplier community.

To see how the Amarok stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability device.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

So far as utes go, the Amarok Aventura is among the many nicest you should purchase proper now.

It’s a well-presented car, helped by its massive alloy wheels and delicate hints of chrome scattered across the physique. That rear sailplane additionally does wonders to assist it stand out in opposition to the decrease Amarok grades.

Even the inside is finished in a means that would simply persuade you it was an upmarket SUV, and the tech works precisely because it ought to with hardly any main points to talk of. It’s all clear and crisp, which is what you need from a automobile at this worth level.

The belief such a car with a extremely strung petrol engine could be fascinating to drive rings true, as a result of even in the event you had been occurring sound alone it’d be distinctive. It’s surprisingly fast with that 2.3-litre turbo tucked in there, even when it may be fairly thirsty.

As with every automobile although, it isn’t excellent. The inside – whereas good and stylish – doesn’t supply the identical practicality as a few of its rivals.

Its simplicity is basically the rationale it loses marks, as storage is comparatively restricted and an excessive amount of is left to the touchscreen infotainment system. If there have been only a few extra bodily buttons right here and there, particularly for local weather management, it’d be significantly improved.

The transmission might do with some sprucing as effectively, it looks like there’s an much more cohesive automobile that might be unlocked.

Within the scope of an upmarket car, the Aventura does effectively. As a ute, I simply don’t assume it’s the one to be going for in the event you’re going to be loading it up on a regular basis. It actually belongs on the street, however it’s nearly too good to place to work as a utility car.

Do I believe you’d be higher off with a less expensive, hardier Amarok for a working ute? Sure. Do I believe the the Aventura is extra luxurious, mechanically particular, and rather more pleasing to stay with in the long term? Completely.

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