Presentation and market launch: first deliveries in early 2023
Design and dimensions: Amarok is longer but narrower
The beefy front comes with a raised hood and always with LED headlights, in the highest equipment there’s matrix LED technology.
Basically, the design of the Amarok has changed significantly. The new model is now more expressive and confident, a redesigned front with raised bonnet, new grille with a kind of X design and the horizontally aligned cross bars on the radiator grille underline the VW affiliation.
The basic version is simply called Amarok, followed by “Life” and “Style”, the top marks “PanAmericana” (off-road-oriented) and “Aventura” (design variant with styling bar). LED headlights are standard on board, from the equipment “Style” even matrix LED headlights “IQ.LIGHT“.
Bucking the trend, the Amarok is getting narrower
In contrast to the first Amarok, whose flatbed dimensions corresponded to the pallets customary in South America, those of the new one, with a 1.23 meter wide loading area, are based on Euro pallets. Bucking the trend, the VW is getting narrower, the width shrinks by 34 mm to 1.91 meters – which is hard to believe given the massive appearance.
The new VW Amarok comes with shorter overhangs than before. The leaf-sprung rigid axle remains in favor of the payload.
In terms of length, it has increased by almost ten centimeters to 5.35 meters and in height by around five centimeters to up to 1.89 meters. The wheelbase has grown by 173 mm, primarily to benefit the rear legroom. Depending on the equipment, there are shoes between 16 inches and 21 inches, only 19 inches are not offered for the new Amarok.
Dimensions at a glance:
• Length: 5350mm
• Width: 1910mm
• Height: up to 1888 mm (depending on the wheel and tire combination)
• Wheelbase: 3270mm
• Wading depth: 800 mm
Interior and Equipment: Leather instrument panel at extra cost
We have already taken a seat in the new Amarok. The interior presents itself clearly as a VW. Our press vehicle with the “Aventura” equipment comes with comfortable, optional leather seats, and the dashboard and door panels are also partially leather-covered. On request, sustainable fabrics can also be ordered.
The interior is high-quality and digital, with an optional central display of up to 12 inches.
The rear row of seats is presented in the Aventura equipment with leather seats, especially the headroom is very generous even for tall people. Also convincing: The rear backrest is not as steep as in other pick-ups. The processing also fits, except for smaller areas, which are due to the pre-series condition.
The 10-inch digital cockpit looks at us from behind the steering wheel (from “Style”, in the base it is 8 inches). The center console continues with a 12-inch display, which is also standard from “Style” upwards; 10 inches are installed underneath. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are always on board.
For a surcharge, it offers ten-way adjustable, comfortable electric seats, inductive charging, mobile online services, keyless go, Harman Kardon hi-fi, even a leather-covered instrument panel is in the surcharge list. Striking: the helicopter-style overhead console switches.
In Germany it can only be ordered as a double cabin
The only visible Ford takeover is the off-road technology operation via rotary switch for the driving programs, on top fixed buttons for four-wheel shutdown and reduction. If the selectable all-wheel drive is installed via a multi-plate clutch, the latter can be locked regardless of whether the reduction is engaged.
Various driving modes can be set using a rotary control. The all-wheel drive should always provide optimal traction.
A rear axle lock can also be ordered for the new Amarok at an additional cost. The version with permanent four-wheel drive can also be ordered with a reduction gear – this combination did not exist with the Amarok I. Only the double cab (Doka) comes to Germany, with a maximum load of 1.16 tons.
Engines and drive: Four and six cylinders in the Amarok
VW also uses the Ford shelf under the hood. The new VW Amarok comes with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 turbo diesel (170 hp and 405 Nm to 241 hp and 600 Nm). There is a choice of transmissions from five-speed manual transmission to the ten-speed automatic transmission typical of Ford and wheels from 16 to 21 inches.
Diggs better than ever, even with 21 inches: The new Amarok can be ordered with permanent four-wheel drive, reduction and rear axle lock.
There is also a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that has a displacement of 2.3 liters and up to 302 hp and 452 Nm of maximum torque. The turbo petrol engine is always offered in conjunction with the ten-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive – but not in Germany. In this country, the petrol engine in combination with an electric motor could be submitted as a plug-in hybrid.
Up to 3.5 tons trailer load
In Germany, all engines are offered with all-wheel drive – optionally as permanent all-wheel drive or as an option. With permanent four-wheel drive, the driver can then choose between different driving modes, which should ensure optimal traction on any surface.
With 3.5 tons, the pick-up can pull more than before. Lashing eyes on the loading area should be able to hold loads of up to 500 kg each. The static roof load increases from 225 to 350 kg. Impressive! Whether the new Amarok keeps its promises will be shown later in the test.
