Aussies love a dual-cab ute, and Aussies additionally love doing dual-cab utes up with tailor-made equipment and add-ons to swimsuit their way of life wants.

It has meant a goldmine for the aftermarket, however in recent times most producers have been releasing an increasing number of real and warranty-backed equipment to maintain clients inside model showrooms.

In lots of circumstances, producers have established sturdy partnerships with third-party suppliers that might usually service the aftermarket.

The 2024 Volkswagen Amarok is fairly recent in market, having gone on sale final 12 months based mostly on the succesful underpinnings of the newest Ford Ranger. Like its Ford-branded relative, we expect it’s a phase benchmark.

Whereas not fairly the runaway success on the gross sales charts because the top-ranked Ford, the second-gen Amarok has been setting gross sales information in Australia, reaching an all-time month-to-month gross sales file of 1011 in October final 12 months, and a median of 854 Australian month-to-month gross sales because it launched in Could.

In 2024, VW Industrial Autos Australia says its on monitor to fulfill its 10,200-unit Amarok forecast for the 12 months, which might be virtually double its 2023 end result and rather more aggressive with the likes of the Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50 for annual quantity.

However VW Industrial Autos Australia wasn’t content material with ‘simply’ having a Ranger various in showrooms, and it’s now gone and developed a variety of equipment together with canopies, tenting gear, carry kits and extra.

All may be purchased from and fitted by the model’s nationwide supplier community spanning over 100 areas, and all are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

We joined a media showcase of quite a lot of the brand new Amarok equipment vary in Victoria, to see whether or not it’s price procuring in-house on your Amarok add-ons.

Observe: As this evaluation primarily revolves across the equipment vary, we’ve targeted on associated areas like pricing and drive impressions. Notably, inside and powertrain sections have been disregarded.

How does the Volkswagen Amarok evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen Amarok towards equally sized automobiles.

Volkswagen

Amarok

How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value?

Volkswagen Industrial Autos Australia has launched various MY24 drive-away offers for the Amarok.

2024 Volkswagen Amarok drive-away affords:

Every drive-away supply features a complimentary five-year Care Plan, which is valued at $1900 for MY24 (+$100).

The broader vary has seen value rises towards advisable retail pricing (RRP) however these have been offset considerably by added tools. All fashions get an digital brake controller as customary (usually $1180 fitted) and a tow ball ($33), whereas the bottom Core picks up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

In any other case, trim choices and basic specs stay unchanged.

2024 Volkswagen Amarok pricing:

All costs exclude on-road prices

As for the equipment, we gained’t bore you with the complete three-page desk of the entire vary plus pricing, however we’ll element the headline ones beneath with their respective costs as fitted.

For extra info on the Amarok equipment vary, go to the model’s web site.

Equipment pricing:

Off-Highway Expedition vary

Cover vary

Roof transport

Rollcover vary

Styling bar

Electrical equipment

How does the Volkswagen Amarok drive?

We had three distinct drive packages for various equipment and packs, so I’ll signpost them as such.

Towing

Our first leg was a back-to-back tow check in each TDI600 and TDI500 variations of the Amarok, with huge Jayco Silverline caravans hitched to the rear – weighing between 2930kg and 3100kg as towed.

I rode shotgun in an Amarok Model TDI600 to start with, with the heavier 3.1t Outback variant of the Jayco Silverline in tow. For the file, each caravans on check had been about 9.0m lengthy and a pair of.6m broad.

Ben Triebels, product supervisor for the Amarok at Volkswagen Industrial Autos Australia, was pilot for this leg and gave me a crash course (not actually) in towing bigger caravans, and in addition gave me tutorials for all the varied techniques.

For instance, the Amarok’s Tow/Haul Mode has numerous useful options to get you all arrange earlier than you hit the street.

As soon as the mode is chosen, you may enter the scale of your trailer and the automobile’s techniques will tailor themselves accordingly.

Blind-spot monitoring will adapt its attain to account for the size of the trailer, and rear cross-traffic alert can be deactivated when a trailer is hitched.

The journey pc may also monitor gas effectivity knowledge for the Amarok when hooked as much as that particular trailer, and can present a corresponding driving vary. It can save you as much as 10 completely different trailers within the infotainment system, and as you choose each all of the associated knowledge can be proven so you’ve got essentially the most correct info at hand.

Just like the Ford Ranger, it’s also possible to conduct a light-weight check that may run a sequence of checks for every gentle 5 occasions, so that you simply don’t have to have somebody standing out the again yelling out if every gentle does or doesn’t work.

There’s additionally a nine-step trailer connection guidelines so that you don’t miss something.

Anyway, with the three.1t caravan on the again the V6-powered Amarok pulled strongly and easily, with the chosen Tow/Haul mannequin optimising gearshifts for higher efficiency. The V6 Amarok may also mechanically interact its 4A driveline setting on this mode.

What this implies is that the Amarok will maintain gears for longer to make sure the engine efficiency is finest suited to towing circumstances, moderately than chasing effectivity with earlier shift factors. It’ll additionally engine brake in all ahead gears, and adjusts mentioned engine braking by brake pedal enter.

With Mr Triebels on the wheel it was all easy crusing, and it was fairly spectacular how the Amarok TDI600 remained settled and comparatively refined with such a giant load on the again. The check automobile was additionally fitted with the 40mm carry equipment accent, for reference.

At occasions there was somewhat little bit of bounce within the experience at increased speeds over bridge joins and harsher street undulations and imperfections, however at no level did it appear to be the VW was hitting its limits.

After a fast pit cease and driver change, it was my flip.

Full disclosure: I’m not an everyday tower, and the two.9t Jayco Silverline Tourer caravan hooked as much as the Amarok Life TDI500 I drove is well the biggest tow load I’ve ever skilled. That mentioned, I discovered all of it surprisingly straightforward.

Whereas the two.0-litre BiTurbo diesel lacks the outright punch of the V6 (154kW/500Nm v 184kW/600Nm) in addition to the extra refined four-wheel drive system with 4A mode which may interact on sealed surfaces, the four-pot Amarok did an admirable job of hauling such a giant rig with out actually feeling underdone.

Certain it needed to work that little bit more durable than the V6, however the Amarok TDI500 nonetheless managed to supply good response and was greater than able to attending to freeway speeds with ample tempo, and felt very planted and safe even on twistier sections of street.

My leg within the driver’s seat was principally spent navigating the winding again roads headed into Gembrook, passing by way of Yarra Glen, which included loads of hills, bumpy and thin B-roads, in addition to T-intersections and roundabouts that require that further little bit of thought when towing such a giant load.

Braking was made somewhat simpler because of the built-in digital brake controller, which in contrast to some aftermarket techniques screens wheel velocity and brake enter knowledge to regularly apply throttle very like the automobile’s brakes, moderately than simply activating the trailer brakes when the brake lights are on.

The acquire may be set on a scale of 1-9, and there are preset Low, Medium and Excessive settings when establishing a trailer profile within the Tow/Haul mode for added comfort. For our two huge ol’ caravans, the acquire was set to Excessive.

Quite a few occasions I needed to sluggish pretty rapidly from 80-100km/h approaching a roundabout or intersection and I used to be impressed with how linear and correct brake response was. Not as soon as did I lock them up.

The usual mirrors supplied good visibility of the trailer’s sides so I used to be in a position to place the caravan properly and maintain it between the street markings with out an excessive amount of effort.

Volkswagen can be growing correct towing mirror equipment so as to add a fair wider vary of visibility whereas additionally correctly integrating with blind-spot and surround-view digital camera techniques.

One other enjoyable reality is the one-touch indicators will mechanically swap to 5 flashes as a substitute of three when Tow/Haul mode is engaged. All of this stuff helped to encourage confidence, and take a few of the complexity out of towing.

Raise equipment on-road

Our second check was a back-to-back drive of two Amarok Model fashions – one fitted with the 40mm carry equipment accent and the opposite with the usual suspension setup. VW sources the packages from Aussie provider Previous Man Emu, a part of ARB.

I’ll flag first up that the carry kit-equipped Amarok was a TDI600 V6, whereas the usual working gear was fitted to a TDI500 BiTurbo. Both means, it was much less about engine efficiency and extra in regards to the experience and dealing with right here.

Now 40mm is sort of a considerable carry, and it’s not like the usual Amarok is a low-riding automobile. With the accent suspension system fitted, the Amarok rides 275mm excessive, versus the usual 235mm.

If that has you pondering that the carry equipment could have the Amarok flip right into a leaning, wallowing mess, you’d be incorrect.

The usual Amarok was already one of many better-riding dual-cabs in the marketplace, very like its Ford Ranger platform mate. With the carry equipment added, the Amarok’s experience noticeably improves with no actual compromise in dealing with capability or physique management.

Hitting the B-roads surrounding Gembrook en path to Phillip Island through Pakenham in Victoria’s south east, the raised Amarok drives much more like an SUV than earlier than.

Holding in thoughts this can be a industrial automobile with rear leaf springs designed to nonetheless tow 3.5t and supply over 900kg of payload, the unladen Amarok Model TDI600 with carry equipment strikes an important steadiness on street.

Bump absorption and isolation is great, whereas turn-in and roadholding stays sturdy for a automobile of this kind. It virtually eliminates the rear jitters over sharper hits and settles higher at increased speeds.

It additionally seems to scale back street noise inside because of the cabin being even additional away from the bottom.

By comparability the usual setup within the BiTurbo was nonetheless good however felt noticeably firmer and was unsettled extra simply by a few of the nastier sections of blacktop on Victoria’s Bass Freeway.

As is frequent in unladen dual-cab utilities, there’s an inherent firmness in the best way the leaf-sprung rear suspension offers with sharper and better frequency hits, although the Amarok is much from unrefined for the category.

The usual, decrease experience peak also needs to imply higher aero which suggests much less wind noise and improved gas consumption – although a extra scientific check with similar circumstances would higher decide the implications.

All instructed although, just like the BT-50 with carry equipment I sampled a few years again, the Amarok’s non-compulsory suspension upgrades make a constructive distinction on-road in addition to off the overwhelmed monitor – extra on the latter subsequent.

Raise equipment off-road

Time to get down and soiled.

On day two of the drive program, after having a stint within the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco (evaluation right here), we received a stint within the Amarok with carry equipment up some gnarly trails within the Toolangi Forest.

It was a brief however fairly intense hillclimb with very deep ruts and rocky sections which might be check for floor clearance, articulation and traction. VW instructed us the usual Amarok wasn’t in a position to full this train.

We hopped again into the Model TDI600 with the 40mm carry equipment and slowly headed up the designated path. After driving up the entry street and seeing the steepness of the trail forward and the terrain, I received somewhat nervous.

However I used to be instructed to push on, so I placed on a courageous face and solid forward, even when I wasn’t so certain I’d make it up with out dinging the underbody. We flicked the rear differential lock on, however I don’t recall placing it into its Slippery or Mud off-road modes.

A lot to my shock, the Amarok received up very cleanly and with out a lot fuss. Along with the 40mm carry, the suspension improve little doubt opens up higher strategy, departure and breakover angles, although VW doesn’t quote actual values – for reference, the usual automotive quotes 30/25.6/22 levels respectively.

The Amarok was properly conscious of the measured, gentle throttle inputs obligatory for sustaining a continuing however gradual climbing velocity.

Even because the ruts received deeper and the climb received steeper, the Amarok soldiered on. The underbody safety could have been touched as soon as, however in any other case it cleared the rutted and rocky climb with little fuss – even with working boards.

It’s price noting the accessorised Model used right here – which along with the snorkel, carry and bash plates had various fitted equipment that took it to $93,821 as examined – was additionally carrying a set of Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tyres (round $337 every) just like those you get on the higher-spec PanAmericana.

If there was something to complain about, for me it might be that the bonnet line is sort of excessive and restricts view when coming over crests. This may be offset considerably with the forward-facing digital camera, but it surely’s price noting.

On the path again down the hill we encountered some fairly huge and sharp humps that might actually check out the breakover angle. These synthetic mounds did see the facet steps graze barely with 4 grownup males on board, however apparently with two-up on earlier runs they hadn’t posed any points.

Lengthy story quick, the Amarok was fairly spectacular.

What do you get?

The Amarok lineup includes 5 distinct trim ranges.

Amarok Core highlights:

Exterior

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Entrance disc, rear drum brakes
• Locking rear differential
• Energy-folding facet mirrors
• Facet steps
• Mud flaps
• 2 x entrance tow hooks
• Metal underbody safety
• Plastic gas 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

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 handbook driver seat
• 4-way handbook entrance passenger seat

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 carry help
• Energy tailgate lock
• Privateness glass
• 6-speaker sound system
• E-shifter
• Electrical park brake
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Carpet flooring
• 8-way handbook entrance seats
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go

• 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

Is the Volkswagen Amarok secure?

The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded a five-star ANCAP security ranking towards 2020-2022 testing protocols.

This end result was drawn from testing of the carefully associated Ford Ranger, with extra frontal offset and facet impression assessments performed on the Amarok by Euro NCAP, which has harmonised testing protocols with ANCAP.

The Amarok scored 86 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 93 per cent for baby occupant safety, 74 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 83 per cent for security help.

Commonplace security tools throughout the vary consists of:

• 9 airbags
• 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 Velocity Limiter
• Velocity signal recognition
• Reversing digital camera
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Tyre strain monitoring

Amarok Life provides:

• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go

Amarok Model provides:

How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value to run?

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

Scheduled upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. VW affords a five-year Care Plan throughout the Amarok vary for $1900, $100 greater than the MY23 vary.

As famous earlier, choose Amarok variants – i.e. Core, Life and Model – are at the moment being provided with a complimentary five-year Care Plan as a part of an MY24 drive-away deal.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Amarok

There was loads to cowl right here, but it surely was fairly cool to expertise the Amarok’s numerous capabilities in real-world settings.

Whereas most house owners wouldn’t essentially be going from towing a 3.0-tonne caravan straight right into a tough and rutted path climb, the breadth of capability on faucet is sort of spectacular, as is the overall stage of composure and refinement the Amarok affords even in its manufacturing unit customary guise.

The equipment vary showcases the flexibility for house owners to construct their bespoke journey automobile inside the Volkswagen showroom, and whereas real accent pricing could also be dearer than aftermarket options from third-party suppliers, it’s all assured and warrantable by way of the identical community you purchase the automobile from.

What that additionally means is that as a substitute of coughing up lump sums every time you purchase and set up add-ons from different suppliers, you should purchase or finance equipment from the dealership as a part of the acquisition course of, too.

Just like the Amarok, a lot of the equipment vary has been designed and developed in Australia, for Australia. So, not solely is it backed by VW’s guarantee, however the gear needs to be tailor-made to native circumstances and use circumstances.

Do you like real equipment by way of the supplier or through aftermarket suppliers? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!

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