Within the last year, the double-cab segment has been shaken up by the arrival of the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and a few Chinese upstarts. Oh, and the new Isuzu KB is just around the corner, too. Besides a minor update toward the end of 2012, Volkswagen’s just upped the Amarok’s ante significantly with the introduction of an eight-speed automatic transmission.
I’ll say from the start that even though this is not a direct-shift gearbox with a twin-clutch setup, it is comfortably the smoothest-shifting transmission in its segment. The catch is that with all those ratios in play and to save weight, Volkswagen has decided to leave a transfer case out of the equation.
Is the engine and gearbox combination tough enough to meet the expectations of South African consumers? Local and international media drove it in Southern Namibia to find out.
Cavernous interior, decent spec
The Amarok boasts the most car-like cabin in its segment, a trend that’s become increasingly popular as the drive to build leisure vehicles that are more comfortable to use everyday gains momentum. The automatic gearbox is only available in the range-topping Highline guise and as such, the auto Amarok comes equipped with most of the nice-to-haves, such as a comprehensive ESP system (combines Brake Assist, Hill Start/Hill Descent Assist), Climatronic two-zone air-conditioning, daytime running lights, storage drawers under the front seats, and a safety package that includes front side airbags, centre-rear head restraint and three-point safety belt, driver safety belt warning, and Isofix child-seat anchor points.
I’m slightly disappointed that Volkswagen has cheekily not included leather upholstery (R6 530 option) and a radio/CD system that offers the passengers more than just MP3 compatibility (the six-speaker sound system can be upgraded to include Bluetooth connectivity as SD card slot and USB port).
Otherwise, I’m a huge fan of the way the Amarok comfortably seats five adults. My sit-behind-self test revealed that the cabin could easily fit taller occupants than my 1,70-metre frame. During our test route, which mainly consisted of gravel roads and pathways, I came to really appreciate the substantial feel to the materials used throughout the interior and the high perceived quality overall, which helps the Amarok manage NVH well – even on the numerous surfaces we encountered.
Effortless on-road performance…
With a the recent upgrade in power from 118 kW to 132 kW, the Amarok was never really wanting in the output department, but Volkswagen’s squeezed more poke out of the 2,0-litre bi-turbo diesel motor to bring its peak torque output to 420 N.m. Overtaking manoeuvres are performed with just a flex of the right foot and with that many gears, the average fuel consumption can easily be kept below the 9,0 litres/100 km mark.
The eight-speed automatic puts the powerplant’s outputs to all four wheels in varying percentages. Everyday driving sees a 40:60 front-to-rear bias, but the electronically-controlled system may provide the front wheels with up to 65 per cent of the drive sent to the front axle if the ECU so decides. The former ratio was the one most used on our fairly straightforward route toward the Norotshama River Resort from Oranjemund airport, but we got to sample some of the 4Motion system’s real prowess afterward, in the hills and canyons surrounding the destination.
… and brilliant off the beaten track
To demonstrate just how capable the automatic Amarok is, Volkswagen enlisted multiple South African racing and rallying champion Sarel van der Merwe to choose a few decent off-road challenges for the assembled media. On the rocky trails the Amaroks didn’t skip a beat, with diff-lock engaged, the off-road ABS and hill-descent functions in full swing. The systems all act as a kind of low-range anyway, helping the big bakkies maintain crawling pace where needed.
Only when the sandy sections surface did we see some stumbling, but not on the part of the Amarok – this was rather due to driver inexperience on dune –style driving. With peak torque available from 1 750 r/min, the Amaroks were able to pick up good speed on the flat gravel before the main challenge – an imposing wall of soft sand. The quick-shifting box allowed for optimum momentum as the drivers chose their lines – with varying degrees of success. Those who maintained their momentum were rewarded as the bakkies climbed and climbed. On the other side, we pulled the shifter into manual mode and descended in first gear – with the Amarok more than up to the task.
Summary
Overall, the Amarok is one of the company’s stronger packages, and with the introduction of a great new gearbox, VW’s bakkie is stronger than ever. Add to that its attractive exterior, large amount of cabin room, pokey 2,0-litre motor and the formula looks set to equal a winner. I really do like it, but my only fear is that budget-conscious buyers will shun the hefty asking price, with so many options yet to be ticked off.
Specifications*
Model: Volkswagen Amarok 2,0 BiTDI 4Motion Auto
Highline
Engine: 2,0-litre, four-cylinder, turbodiesel,
Power: 132 kW at 4 000 r/min
Torque: 420 N.m at 1 750 r/min
0-100 km/h: 10,9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 8,3 litres/100 km
Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres
CO2: 219 g/km
Top speed: 179 km/h
Price: R461 100
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km
Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*Manufacturer claims
