STYLED AND PERFECTLY ENGINEERED

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with our pharmacist, who has a new Amarok on order. Inevitably, a discussion around the controversial underpinnings of the new Amarok ensued, since it is built on the same platform as the new Ranger at Ford’s plant at Silverton, Pretoria. Was he bothered by this development? Not at all, because like us, he appreciates the irrefutable fact that the new Amarok is far from being a reskinned Ranger, and here is why…

Despite being based on Ford’s underpinnings, the new Amarok would never be mistaken for a Ranger. Apart from the side mirrors, door handles and roofline, the Amarok shares no other external design element with its cousin. VW designers were extensively involved in the development of the bakkie, and the end product is an evolution of the model it replaces. 

The Amarok is large and imposing, granting it dollops of road presence. Traditional VW design cues are present here, and this aids in retaining familiarity with the customers. There is a redesigned grille up front flanked by modern matrix-LED headlights. The front bumper is also heavily reworked and comes in different styles depending on your chosen model. The side profile still boasts the squared-off and bulging arches that have become synonymous with the Amarok model. At the far back, redesigned LED taillights and conspicuous AMAROK embossing on the tailgate will help distinguish the new model from its predecessor. Five trims are available: the base model, the Life, the Style, the PanAmericana and the Aventura. Our tester was the midrange Style which came equipped with 18” alloys, a rear sports bar, rear privacy glass, a cargo liner, and a playful blue paint job.

A CABIN BEFITTING OF THE AMAROK 

The Amarok has always prided itself in offering a car-like experience in the bakkie segment, and the new generation still needs to depart from that ethos. The cabin boasts that typical posh VW builds quality and choice of materials, making their interiors great spaces to spend time in. The design language is also intentionally VW, save for a few features pilfered from the Ford parts bin. 

The cabin features a stitched faux leather dash, 10-way powered and heated front seats with “Savona” leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an insulated windscreen and rear seat air vents. The dash is dominated by a 12.0” infotainment running Ford’s Sync 4A system. That said, VW added their skin to the touchscreen unit to differentiate itself from the one found in the Ranger. It also comes with smartphone integration which is essential in the digital age we are living in. Another welcome touch is the 12” digital instrument cluster operated through the leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel. However, we lament the lack of physical buttons for regular functions. I cannot overstate the frustration of removing your gloves on a cold winter morning so that you can dig into the touchscreen to activate the climate control. It all felt ironically unintuitive. 

The rear legroom has been increased thanks to the longer wheelbase, and three adults can sit comfortably back there. The raised bench should also help car-sickness-prone passengers who need a view of the road ahead. Overall, the Amarok cabin is a lovely place that is befitting of the machine’s price.

LIVING WITH THE AMAROK

My tester came with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine, generating 154 kW and 500 Nm. This unit is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the 4Motion system.

More powerful engines, including the lovely V6, are available, but the one in my tester proved sufficient for the average daily tasks. For the week I spent with the bakkie, I never wished for extra performance during my daily commute. The torque is enough to get you going without hustle, while the 10-speed was near indiscernible as it competently selected ratios in the background.

I found the bakkie dimensions intrusive in the CBD, where roads can feel cramped, especially during peak hours. It, however, helps you have a high sitting position with excellent visibility around the vehicle, which helps in navigating through traffic. I was also grateful for the 360-degree camera and auto park assist feature, which helped when it came time to dock the Amarok. For this generation, the bakkie also comes with lighter steering, which immensely helps slow-speed manoeuvring.

Out on the highway, the car-like nature of the Amarok was further demonstrated. VW worked hard on the suspension tuning to make it as plush as possible, making the Amarok the most comfortable bakkie on the road – ironically, even more so than the Ranger with which it was built alongside. The compliant ride was further complemented by the solid cabin insulation, which all justified the slight premium you must pay over the equivalent competitors. That said, an empty load bed will remind you that you are driving a bakkie, but not so much as to ruin the driving experience. Furthermore, that light steering we praised earlier could use a bit more heft when driving at speed on the highway.

Since my daily commute is strictly urban-centric, I could never take the Amarok off-road. However, the off-roading capabilities of the bakkie are not lost on us since we tested them at the vehicle’s launch. The likelihood of the bakkie being a poor off-road performer could have been more present since the Amarok is the brainchild of VW and Ford – who both have a history of producing competent off-roaders.

LAST WORD

The Amarok is easily one of the better bakkies on the road at any given time. VW committed to making the Amarok the most comfortable bakkie in the lifestyle segment, and it shows. We love the styling of the vehicle and the execution of the cabin. The driving dynamics of the bakkie did not fail to impress either. We are concerned about whether the market’s perception of shared underpinnings with the cheaper Ranger will affect sales. It would not be the first time a bakkie collaboration between two manufacturers failed to resonate with the customers (looking at you X-Class). Be that as it may, the Amarok proved to be a great vehicle to live with, and we would especially recommend it to customers who value comfort in their cars.

Report by BRYAN KAYAVHU | Images © VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA