Five reasons to buy a Volkswagen Amarok instead of a Ford Ranger

The all-new second-generation 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has started rolling into Aussie dealerships and although it has many similarities with the Ford Ranger on which it’s based, there are more differences than meet the eye – and some key advantages.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or were a participant in the survival reality TV show Alone, you’d already know that the new Volkswagen Amarok is based on the same Australian-developed T6.2 ladder platform as the Ford Ranger and shares many other components.

But here are five compelling areas in which the new Amarok trumps the Ranger.

The Volkswagen Amarok is offered with a fiery 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that bangs out a respectable 222kW of power and 452Nm of torque. Snatched from the Ford Mustang and also available in the US Ranger, it’s not available in the Australian Ranger line-up, which is all-diesel except for the range-topping Raptor and its circa-300kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.

Creating a significant point of difference for the Amarok, the rev-happy turbo-petrol four-pot pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission to deliver a surprisingly engaging and responsive drive, as we discovered in our first drive of the Amarok Aventura, which is also fitted with road-focussed suspension and tyres on big 21-inch alloy wheels, creating a distinctive urban warrior variant in the process.

Advanced Matrix LED headlights come standard in the VW Amarok from mid-range Style level (priced from $66,990 with either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder or a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel), whereas only the MY24 Ranger Wildtrak with premium pack ($68,490 + $1850), Platinum ($76,990) and Raptor ($86,790) feature the high-tech headlights.

Furthermore, the Amarok Style and more expensive variants also get dual 12-inch digital screens – central infotainment and driver’s instrument cluster – which are only offered with pricier Ranger Platinum and Raptor variants.

The new Volkswagen Amarok’s exterior design is very different to the Ford Ranger’s American-style pick-up truck visuals, instead presenting a sharper-edged and more modern aesthetic. VW’s dual-cab still has degree of toughness and muscularity to its design, but with a more technical look.

It’s more than just a facelift too, with all bodywork below the window line (including the cargo box) being unique to the Amarok. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles design boss Gu-Han Kim and his team based themselves in Melbourne during the vehicle’s development to ensure local tastes were met, given Australia is now the world’s biggest Amarok market.

The Ford Ranger is a victim of its own success, with buyers of almost all V6 variants facing “extended” wait times from the factory in Thailand, says Ford, but our latest intel around new-vehicle delivery times indicates a 15-month wait list for many in-demand, high-spec models – and some wait times of up to two years depending on the colour and options.

While shipping and quarantine issues are still causing big delays for most auto brands Down Under, Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicle director Ryan Davies told carsales Amarok supplies are healthy, both in terms of production and vehicles already in transit from the factory in South Africa. It’s understood most Amarok variants can be delivered within three to six months.

The Ford Ranger is currently Australia’s top-selling 4x4 ute and will find about 50,000 Aussie homes in a good year, while Volkswagen says it can only get its hands on 8000 Amaroks in 2023 – but is hopeful of 10,000. Either way, you’re going to see around five Rangers on the road before you see an Amarok, making it a rarer and more exclusive ute.

The Volkswagen Amarok is an impressive ute – there are no ifs, buts or maybes about it – and is arguably better to drive on the road thanks to its unique suspension tunes. However, we’ve so far only driven it in isolation and we can’t wait to compare it to the benchmark in its class.

Until then, head over to our Facebook page to have your say on whether you agree, disagree or simply couldn’t care less whether the Volkswagen Amarok is a better buy than the Ford Ranger.

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