Volkswagen Amarok 2016 Review

Volkswagen Amarok V6 Aventura
International Launch Review
Munich, Germany

Volkswagen has fired the first shot in a new war -- the battle of prestige LCVs. With a version of the same V6 turbo-diesel that powers Audis and Porsches under its bonnet, the flagship of the updated Amarok range will be Australia's most expensive official dual-cab import when it goes on sale here later this year. But the whole Amarok range will benefit from many of the changes previewed here. VW is raising the bar, in more ways than one..

We're scooting down one of Germany’s famous Autobahns when, spotting a speed unrestricted sign overhead, I decide to go for it. 

Stamping on the go-pedal delivers a strong, creamy surge of acceleration, the speedometer needle rising rapidly as the cabin remains whisper quiet. Closing in on 200km/h and cruising comfortably, the meaty all-wheel disc brakes are called into action to wash off speed before I switch lanes and head for the exit…

No, I’m not in the latest performance sedan or luxury SUV, merely a humble one tonne ute, albeit one with Volkswagen and V6 badges on it and a yet-to-be announced premium price tag when it lands in Oz later this year.

What makes the German ute’s V-Max attack even more impressive is only an hour or so earlier I was punting a similar 4WD V6 Amarok, albeit one with smaller 17in wheels and off-road rubber, over a tricky off-road course where the abundant low-end torque, raft of electronic driving aids and mechanical rear diff-lock made short work of the various obstacles and climbs.

When introduced to Australia in 2011, Volkswagen’s Amarok raised the bar for space, comfort and refinement in the one-tonne ute market. With class-leading interior space as well as rear tub room, it also led the way with an eight-speed automatic transmission matched to a full-time, single-range 4x4 system. That combined with hill descent control, made more conventional dual-range systems seem decidedly archaic.

About the only thing lacking in the bold European newcomer was a big torquey engine, although its efficient 2.0-litre, four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine was no slouch.

But now Volkswagen is bringing some serious grunt to the party, introducing the only diesel V6 in its class as part of a mid-life update of the first-gen Amarok. Also powering the likes of Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 but in varying states of tune, the Amarok’s new 165kW/550Nm 3.0-litre engine will be available initially in the up-spec Highline grade as well as a range-topping special edition Aventura model.

The first thing you notice about the new V6 is how smooth and quiet it is, with little of the diesel clatter normally associated with workhorse engines.

With the windows wound up there’s just a hint of engine growl at most speeds, even when revving to the 4500rpm redline, which is rarely required given the amount of low-down torque (550Nm between 1500rpm and 2750rpm) available. Not to mention an overboost function that delivers an additional 50Nm between 3000 and 4500rpm.

Unlike the 170kW/550Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 available on the previous generation Nissan Navara, there’s little turbo lag or gruffness when accelerating hard. Matched to the same, quick-thinking eight-speed auto transmission available on the 2.0-litre Amarok, it’s rarely caught in the wrong gear, making the manual shift paddles behind the grippy steering wheel on the Aventura almost redundant. And like the 2.0-litre unit it’s wonderfully flexible; at one stage I glanced down at the instrument panel to discover it was happily trundling along at 60km/h in top gear at just on 1000rpm!

The V6 Amarok I spent most time driving and admiring at the international launch in Munich was the limited edition Aventura and for those who like blinged-up commercial vehicles, it’s a doozy. Exterior highlights extend to a body-coloured sports bar, 20-inch alloy wheels, Aventura badges, bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED licence plate lighting and illuminated side rails.

Fitted with factory options like roof-mounted spotlights and a neat sliding aluminium tonneau cover and painted in the Aventura-only bright metallic blue or optional matte grey paint, it gives Ford’s Ranger Wildtrak a real run for its money in the styling stakes.

Riding on Comfort suspension and 20in wheels with highway tyres, ride comfort and road noise was surprisingly good, although it’s hard to judge accurately on Germany’s racetrack smooth tarmac roads. Serious off-roaders will be pleased to hear that smaller 17in, 18in and 19in wheel and tyre packages will be available to fit the bigger 17in front and 18in rear disc brakes on the top-spec V6 Amarok.

Inside, the updated cabin in Aventura trim provides a very comfortable, roomy and upmarket atmosphere, even by Amarok’s already high standards. The new SUV-like horizontal-design dash still features plenty of hard plastics but there’s less of a tradie feel thanks to classy touches like stainless steel pedal caps, a frameless rear view mirror, Golf GTI-like 'needle sweep' at ignition, and nappa leather upholstery with chunky stitching.

We didn’t get much chance to play with the new premium HD infotainment system with 16cm touch screen fitted to V6 Highline and Aventura models, but with features like satellite navigation, rear camera (to go with front and rear parking sensors), digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, digital voice enhancement, and the latest App Connect, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, you’re not left wanting for much.

The Aventura also benefits from 14-way power-adjustable ergonomic front seats from Volkswagen’s Passat sedan that are easily the most comfortable and supportive in the dual-cab segment. Covered in silky-smooth leather, the multi-function steering wheel with gloss black inlays also looks straight out of the VW passenger car parts bin.

Rear seat passengers are treated almost as well with padded and contoured seating of a similar design and sufficient room for three large adults. Our only gripe is the lack of rear vents.

The major downside of throwing all the good gear at the flagship Amarok is a significant increase in weight; the Aventura tipping the scales at a hefty 2320kg, or about 280kg more than the current top-spec 2.0TDI 4x4 Amarok. It effectively reduces the Aventura’s payload capacity to just 760kg.

The extra bulk also blunts on-road dynamics, particularly in tighter corners where the front end tends to bog down and understeer and body roll are easily provoked. It’s not a deal breaker, but it does make the 2.0-litre Amarok with its less potent but 80kg lighter 125kW/440Nm engine less of a handful in the twisty stuff. Where the V6 Amarok feels most comfortable is on flowing country roads, when the new speed-sensitive Servotronic steering firms up nicely and offers decent feel.

Volkswagen claims the V6 Amarok comes close to the 2.0-litre version in fuel economy, quoting a figure of 7.6L/100km. Our real world figures were a bit higher, ranging from 9.1L/100km on a mostly freeway stretch to 10.3L/100km on a more stop-start, country/town route.

The V6 Amarok’s extra grunt and more stable platform bodes well for big towing jobs though. We also had the opportunity to tow a tandem axle trailer weighing around 2400kg over a flat road course, and the V6 Amarok did it easily.

As was the case unladen, the auto transmission quickly finds its way into top gear and is very happy to stay there despite the almost five tonne combined mass. There was also enough in reserve to accelerate in eighth gear while travelling at 100km/h.

We look forward to a proper tow test in Australia but would be confident the 550Nm Amarok is a genuine 3000kg tow tug -- unlike some of its less powerful rivals.

Considering they probably won’t get much change from $70,000 for the Aventura Amarok, some Aussie buyers could feel peeved that safety tech like radar cruise control, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, and autonomous emergency braking fitted to rivals like the Ford Ranger are not available on the updated Volkswagen ute.

Likewise the lack of rear curtain airbags as fitted to most of the competition. This is an oversight considering a big target market for this prestige ute is families and recreational buyers.

However, the new V6 Amarok does lead the pack as the only one-tonner with disc brakes on all four wheels, and its overall safety package on top-spec variants has been boosted with the addition of post-collision automatic breaking, tyre pressure monitoring and a rear camera.

The 2017 Amarok is also behind the times by retaining a lever rather than push button handbrake, which cuts into valuable centre console storage space, and a traditional rather than sensor key. These areas are unlikely to be addressed until the next-generation Amarok arrives in a few years’ time, which should also provide the platform for the first Amarok-based seven-seat wagon.

In the meantime for those with the cash and the desire to own one of the sharpest and best-equipped 4x4 utes on the market, the new V6 Amarok could be just the ticket.

2017 Volkswagen Amarok V6 Aventura pricing and specifications:

Price: TBA
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel

Output: 165kW/550Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Kerb weight: 2320kg 
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Ford Ranger Wildtrak ($60,090 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda BT-50 XT-R (from $49,675 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota HiLux SR5 ($53,990 plus ORCs)