A power hike and an adjusted clutch pedal have made the range-topping Amarok four-door easier to live with and perkier in traffic, but does it represent the ultimate double-cab on the market?
With sales of the Amarok double-cab breaching the 7 000 mark since the newcomer was introduced to the market in late 2010, Volkswagen can no longer be regarded as a bit player in the lifestyle market.
Before the arrival of the Amarok, no double-cab manufacturer would dream of not offering beefy V6-engined petrol or turbodiesel models, but in the interest of efficiency, the VW’s common rail 2,0-litre four cylinder motor, with direct injection and a two-stage control bi-turbo configuration, has helped to change the market’s perception of what constitutes a flagship engine offering in a bakkie line-up.
Now the top-of-the-range model’s engine has been tuned to develop 132 kW at 4 000 r/min, which is 12 kW up on the engine’s previous output. The peak torque output remains 400 N.m between 1 500 and 2 250 r/min while the 4Motion Highline variant that I drove during the media launch is claimed to consume 8,0L/100 km and accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 10,6 seconds before going on to a top speed of 183 km/h.
The Amarok’s six-speed manual transmission has come under criticism for being notchy and some drivers have complained that the clutch was too snatchy, causing sporadic stalls and jerky pullaways. To counter that, Volkswagen has adjusted the Amarok’s clutch pedal action to allow for slick pullaways, even in second gear, VWSA’s Matt Genrich claims and sure enough, the test unit’s left pedal performed to expectation.
Seeing that the Amarok double-cab will spend most of its life performing the role of a family vehicle in town or urban environments, an improvement to drivability is no small feat. The sheer bulk of the Volkswagen’s body does already requires a heightened sense of spatial awareness and well-considered parking manoeuvres, but to the Amarok’s credit, its ride quality is appreciably comfortable (even on dirt roads) and the steering accurate, save for a biggish turning circle.
In itself, the extra power boost does not make a huge difference to the Amarok’s on-road performance apart from the fact that the bakkie feels a bit friskier when you rev up to 4 000, when overtaking acceleration is required, for example. Although the Volkswagen’s shift action still feels a bit notchy especially when starting from cold, the throw is quite positive and requires just a little familiarisation from a driver.
Interior comfort and spaciousness remain the Amarok’s greatest traits, well, apart from its cavernous load box that is. Apart from four airbags and Isofix anchorage points, the Highline comes with part-chrome side mirror housings, various chrome accents on the exterior and interior, colour-coded fender flares and 17-inch alloys.
In addition, the top equipment line is characterised by a colour contrasting instrument panel, an automatic climate control system (Climatronic), RCD 310 with 6 speakers with Bluetooth connectivity. Whereas the multi-function steering wheel and cruise control are nice-to-have items, it is a pity that leather upholstery will cost an extra R6 530 and front and rear PDC R5 300 – this is, after all, the flagship model of the range and not exactly a bargain given its list price of R425k.
Nevertheless, although the Amarok doesn’t quite have the glam factor of the Ford Ranger or the overtly- lifestyle vehicle personality of the upcoming Mazda BT-50, it is nevertheless a highly appealing double-cab. Those who write the VW off because of its small capacity engine are arguably missing out on a good bakkie…
The Amarok comes standard with a 3 year/100 000 km manufacturer warranty and 5 year/90 000 km Automotion Service Plan.
Specifications:
Model: Volkswagen Amarok 2,0 BiTDI DC (132 kW)
Engine: 2,0-litre, four-cylinder, biturbo-diesel
Power: 132 kW/4 000 r/min
Torque: 400 N.m/1 500-2 250 r/min
Fuel consumption: 8,0 L/100 km
Top speed: 183 km/h
Acceleration (0-100km/h): 10,6 sec
Price: R425 300
