The International Pick-up Award for 2018 has been handed out at a special Gala ceremony at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, France.
The Volkswagen Amarok V6 grabbed the title (its second, after the four-cylinder version’s triumph way back in 2010), winning over a 25-member jury made up of transport journalists from various countries, and forcing the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class (which is not yet offered with a V6) into second place and the Toyota Hilux into third.
“Jury members adjudged the Amarok V6 to be the best all-rounder in a very close-run competition,” said Jarlath Sweeney, chairman of the jury.
“The latest Volkswagen Amarok V6 scored 56 points with its new German rival, the all-new Mercedes-Benz X-Class, achieving 50 marks [and] the current Toyota Hilux not too far behind on 41 points.
“Marks were awarded based on powertrain efficiencies, load volume and capability, driver and passenger comfort and safety aspects, as well as low total cost of operation from a business point of view,” explained Sweeney.
The jury described the Amarok bakkie as a “top pedigree workhorse”, praising it for its fit and finish, comfortable seats, modern exterior design, eight-speed automatic transmission and 3,0-litre V6 engine.
“The engine’s refinement and elasticity set a new standard in the segment,” the jury said, adding that “performance is not a challenge for the Volkswagen Amarok V6”.
Eckhard Scholz, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said that the Wolfsburg brand had “listened to what customers want” and given them “more power, more torque and also better capability for deployment on any terrain”.
