2023 Volkswagen Amarok manual dropped

Volkswagen Australia has quietly dropped the manual transmission version of its new-generation 2023 Volkswagen Amarok, just weeks after the first batch of utes began arriving in showrooms.

Despite being a key point of difference to the Ford Ranger on which the new Volkswagen Amarok is based, low customer take-up for the six-speed manual version of the entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel has prompted Volkswagen Group Australia to delist it from the local order book.

That now raises the point of entry to the new Amarok dual-cab 4x4 ute range by $2000 to $52,990 plus on-road costs for the Core TDI405 equipped with the same Ford-sourced 125kW/405Nm diesel, now with only the six-speed automatic.

There are no other manual gearbox options in the Amarok launch range, which is pared back to seven variants across TDI405, TDI500 2.0-litre biturbo diesel (154kW/500Nm), TDI600 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel (184kW/600Nm) and TSI452 2.3-litre turbo-petrol (222kW/452Nm) powertrains – the latter remaining exclusive to the Aussie-spec Amarok for now.

All engines bar the TDI405 are combined with a 10-speed automatic as standard.

Volkswagen claims to have received more than 12,000 expressions of interest in the all-new Amarok, but the overwhelming preference of those who have ordered the ute is for an automatic.

How much does the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok cost?
Core TDI405 – $52,990
Life TDI500 – $56,990
Style TDI500 – $66,990
Style TDI600 – $70,990
PanAmericana TDI600 – $75,990
Aventura TDI600 – $79,990
Aventura TSI452 – $79,990

* Prices exclude on-road costs