Reports coming out of Australia suggest that the updated Volkswagen Amarok double-cab – which will finally be available with a V6 powerplant – again won’t feature airbag protection for rear passengers.
The facelifted VW Amarok is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the second half of 2017, featuring an updated interior, tweaked exterior styling, and that new 3,0-litre turbodiesel six-pot.
But both CarAdvice and motoring.com.au have reported that while the new version of the double-cab bakkie will boast rear disc brakes (an upgrade over the current model, which uses drums at the back), it won’t feature airbags for rear passengers. Which is a little strange considering that the double-cab Amarok is generally marketed as more of a leisure/family vehicle than a true workhorse.
CarAdvice asked one of Volkswagen’s product marketing officials whether curtain airbags could be added to the Amarok platform in the future, before the next-generation model arrives in around 2020.
“It is possible, for sure. And we would like it, certainly, but [for now] it is under investigation for this generation,” said Dennis Haustein, Volkswagen Group head of product marketing for the Amarok.
Interestingly, the current range-topping Amarok double-cab in South Africa offers just four airbags (driver, front passenger, and a pair of front side airbags).
In contrast, the latest flagship versions of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger each boast seven, including a knee airbag and curtain airbags. The top-of-the-range Isuzu KB, too, comes with curtain airbags.
Of course, we’ll only know the exact specifications of the local version of the Volkswagen Amarok once it arrives locally next year. Here’s hoping the option of curtain airbags has been added by then.
