The four cylinder might be overshadowed by its flashier V6 brother but it still delivers, reports Damien O’Carroll.
While it is the recent addition of a big diesel V6 engine that is getting all the attention (and, it would seem all the sales as well) in the world of the Volkswagen Amarok, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder version that has been with us since the Amarok first appeared in 2010 is still very much worthy of consideration.
The 132kW/420Nm four may be considerably down on the mighty 165kW/550Nm V6, but it is still more than respectable in comparison to its competition in the segment. The V6 just out-powers them all…
One of the big attractions of the Amarok is its styling – the Amarok is still a very handsome ute. Distinctive VW styling cues work well an a big truck and the Amarok hides its sheer size well. Mind you, the others have certainly caught up to the Amarok in the size department.
It is, however, starting to look a bit dated now, particularly as the rest of Volkswagen’s range moves on in styling terms.
Inside, the Amarok’s simple and functional interior is pleasantly devoid of styling for the sake of it, yet is still an attractive and pleasant place to be. The excellent touchscreen infotainment system, complete with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, complements the impressive audio system, something that makes the Amarok an even more pleasant place to spend time.
But the highlight of the interior is easily the extremely comfortable seats that are very likely the best in the segment.
That said, much like the exterior, the interior is all starting to look a bit dated now.
Under the bonnet the 132kW/420Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine is an impressively powerful and torquey unit that still manages to convincingly hold its own in the company of the larger capacity engined utes in the segment, while the eight-speed automatic transmission is superbly slick and fast, with seriously refined shifts, although it can occasionally be caught in the wrong gear.
Out on the road the Amarok shows off what is easily the best ride quality in the ute market. Superbly comfortable and refined, the Amarok is a relaxed and agreeable highway cruiser that is also capable of tackling the corners when required, as it is a pretty sharp handler, particularly given its considerable size and height.
You can never get too carried away in this regard however, because the Amarok’s steering is distant and overly assisted, something that doesn’t actually help it off road either.
This relatively minor niggle aside, despite its advancing age, the 2.0-litre Amarok is still a deeply impressive entrant in the highly competitive ute segment.
Superbly comfortable and refined, but also remarkably capable off road and as a load hauler, the Amarok still sets the standards for sheer car-like refinement combined with impressive workhorse capabilities.
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Specifications:
Body type Four-door double cab ute
Drive Four wheel drive
Engine type Inline 4-cylinder diesel turbo
Engine capacity 2.0-litre
Max power 132kW @ 4000rpm
Max torque 420Nm @ 1750rpm
l/100km (Combined) 8.5
C02 emissions 179g/km
Boot capacity N/a
Spare tyre Full size
ANCAP rating Five star
Price $57,990
