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The Amarok is an all-new vehicle in the truest sense. Designed from scratch, it represents Volkswagen's first foray for a few decades into the lifestyle pickup category. CM takes it for a drive.
Words: ian Tonkin
Volkswagen has been on the product offensive of late +‘ oh the launch of the new Transporter, Crafter Euro-5 and now the Amarok.
New from the ground up, the Arnarok pickup brings VW into a new market segment that has otherwise been dominated by the Japanese marques of Toyota. Mitsubishi and Nissan.
But before we get stuck into the driving impressions. let's take a look at the range. From launch, the Amarok is available only in double-cab form, although VW says a maxi single cab will join the line-up in the first quarter of 2011.
With the double cab,VW is claiming a best-in-class load area of 2.52m2 and payload of I ,150kg. Looking at the Nissan Navara's figures of 2.35m‘ and 1,075kg respectively and the Toyota Hilux's 231m= and 1.076kg (again, respectively), we think VW is right on the money Unlike its rivals.VW has resisted the urge to offer really big and massively powerful engines like you see with the 3.0-litre 171hp Hilux and forthcoming 231hp,550Nm 3.0-litre V6 Navara.
Instead, the Germans have opted for a single common-rail 21)-litre unit (seen first in the updated Transporter) that's available in two versions, namely 121hp with 340Nm and a 161hp hi-turbo with 400Nm. VW says it is focusing on the best possible fuel efficiency and power combination, and believes its direct-injection 2.0-litre unit is the best way to achieve this. However, we should mention that VW engineers have not ruled out larger displacement engines later in the product lifecycle.
There are three trim levels on offer, starting with the base variant, through a mid-range Trendline to the range-topping lifestyle variant named Highline. However, there is a possibility these names will be changed for the UK market.
A positive start
For this test we drove the flagship 161hp hi-turbo Trendline, and our first impressions were positive.To start with, the Amarok is attractive and, thankfully. there's not too much of the chrome you often see on certain rivals.
Because it's such a big vehicle, we found it easy to get in and out of the driver's seat. Once inside, you're cushioned on a comfy leather seat, which can be adjusted to suit just about any driver.
Once settled into a comfortable driving position, we noticed how wide and spacious the cabin is compared to a Mitsubishi L200 and even a Toyota Hilux.
VW hasn't forgotten the commercial aspect of the vehicle and there are a smattering of clever storage spaces on top of the dashboard and on the centre console. Fit and finish is, dare we say it. the best we've seen in a pickup for a long time. The interior materials give the Amarok a classy, yet robust, feel.
An impressive ride
Out on the road the ride impressed and the handling felt more SUV than LCV.The suspension soaks up all the uneven parts of the road and in the corners helps to give the Amarok an assured feel.
The 2.0-litre engine is a refined unit with VW claiming 36.2mpg on the combined cycle. Despite the large torque reserves, the unit lacked urgency when pushed and the L200 Barbarian and Hilux Invincible do brute-force acceleration much better, presuming fuel thirst isn't a major concern.
What about off-road credentials? Customers have a choice of three drivelines, namely rear-wheel drive 4x2, permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive, and selectable 4x4 with low range. We drove the selectable 4x4 on the off-road course and were impressed with its capabilities.
There's hill-start assist. hill-descent control (which works in reverse too) and even off-road ABS that VW says "dramatically reduces stopping distances" on slippery terrain. It works like normal ABS by allowing a nominal amount of wheelslip under harsh braking. However, the difference here is that it allows a touch more slip on the wheels under braking which, says VW. allows the tyres to gather more debris in front of them to help the Amarok stop more quickly.
With excellent driving dynamics, good build quality and practical load capacity. the Amarok really does have all the key ingredients to be a top contender in the pick-up market. All that remains is the price. VW is expected to announce this in the forthcoming weeks and if the price point is close to its key Japanese rivals then expect to see lots of Amaroks on the road soon. •