Volkswagen Amarok Highline 2017 Long-term review - 2

Dynamic acumen isn’t usually a cited strength of dual cab utes, and for good reason.

These hardened, do-it-all trucksters already juggle myriad responsibilities: job-ready workhorses, weekend haulers and family-friendly conveyers, to name a few. Adding ‘corner carver’ to the mix might be considered over the top.

That said, our long-term Volkswagen Amarok V6 managed to really cement its place in the driveway this month by... impressing on a twisty road. True story.

This revelation is something of a turning point during our long-term loan, helping to distinguish Volkswagen’s hay-hauler from the rest of the competition.

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Bathurst to Sydney, the back way

After weeks of hard yakka – carrying decent loads, pulling trailers and providing transport for weekends away – the Amarok finally had a chance to break through the tedium last month during a de-toured return trip to Sydney.

Having spent the day in Bathurst for a work event, we rolled out of town around 3pm when a quick scan of the NSW Roads and Maritime Services website revealed a kink in the plan:

‘Accident on M7, expect significant delays,’ read the website.

Anyone who knows the western Sydney thoroughfare reasonably well also knows it can be a cruel mistress after 3pm on an ordinary day, let alone when an accident is in play.

A hasty decision was made to high-tail to Goulburn via Oberon and Taralga, then onwards to Sydney via the Hume.

The last time I’d encountered the same stretch of road, which encompasses an unforgiving but stunning section of ribbon that dissects the Abercrombie River, was aboard my old Kawasaki ZX-10R. Speed records were seemingly broken on that day (many years ago) for a swift run through to Goulburn and then Sydney; suffice to say expectations weren’t exceedingly high this time round.

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Backroad blast

The run from Bathurst towards Oberon begins innocently enough. A 100km/h sign on the outskirts of Bathurst signals open road for the next 60km.

With varying corners, gradients and forward vision to contend with, I decided against using cruise control, instead summoning the Amarok’s monstrous 550Nm of torque the old school way – with my right foot.

Progress was effortless yet swift. There was an air of composure about the Amarok on the open road that wasn’t as readily apparent in day-to-day back-and-forthing. It settled into a rhythm at 100km/h, the ride levelling out and the tacho needles sitting unflustered just above idle; without turbo lag or diesel grumble, the VW seemingly morphed into SUV mode. The drive experience was calm and fluid. Enjoyable, even.

Fuel use was another strong point. After 50km of said driving, the combined readout had fallen to 7.8L/100km – well below the 9.0L/100km claim.

At the same time, the dual cab’s steering and ride felt up to the measure of the at-times crumbling pitter-patter roads, resisting mid-corner kick-back or overt body roll or pitch through hard, fast undulations.

A major turn-off at Black Springs provided more open road fodder for our silver workhorse.

Open the taps mid-gear and the response is emphatic, the diesel drawing on variable-geometry turbo tech to summon its maximum 180kW on overboost. The car rushes up to 100km/h from 50km/h impressively, perhaps more so than the 7.8 second nought to triple figures implies.

It all seemed a bit backward, in honesty. Dual cab utes, by definition, are hard work when unladen. They tend to be bouncy in the rear (some worse than others), can require a mountain of steering input and are about as faithful as Barnaby Joyce when repeated performance is asked of their rear drum brakes.

The Amarok adopted a slightly different tack. Sure, it couldn't completely shake off the feeling that it is a utility first and foremost – think busy ride in the rear, tepid initial throttle response and a heavy duty premise to the controls – but it imbues the driver initially with steering that is full of weighting and feedback, along with disc brakes at each corner.

Even the oil burning sound track is on point, almost invoking an ethereal quality as it lays the power down.

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The descent

These feelings were only compounded when we reached the top of our hilly descent, staring over thousands of acres of spectacular bushland.

Here, under hard braking, the Amarok again gelled with the conditions. Swift changes in direction were surprisingly well received, thanks to excellent body control, direct steering and some help from the Michelin Primacy rubber.

Even when things inevitably turned awry, unwanted lateral movements felt well metered and progressive, not out of control.

Between corners, the Amarok picked up gears almost clinically with the transmission’s Sport mode engaged, rushing up on the next steep, often negative cambered downhill bend before the brakes washed off speed.

With the brake pedal showing no sign of fade and the novelty factor still in check, the decision was made to press on at the halfway point of the road, crossing the bridge at the river and then making our way up the ascent towards Taralga.

Again, the Amarok belied its utility status by charging between the bends, shaking off significant mid-corner undulations and washouts and maintaining its composure.

Before long, we’d reached Taralga, by which time the speed was tempered and the car’s front was splattered with an army bugs. They breed them big out there.

The Amarok rolled into the driveway nearly two hours later. The traffic snarl on the M7 still hadn’t retreated, with reports emerging of a circa three-hour delay for commuters.

Wearing a smeared chorus of yellow, green and brown across its grille, lights and windshield, almost as a badge of honour, the Amarok sat happily in the driveway.

I finished my Spotify playlist on Apple CarPlay before shutting the engine down, emerging from the broad, comfy front bucket feeling fresh.

Corner carver? The Amarok has never impressed more.

[Disclaimer: since utilities are not sports cars, we will resume our Amarok long-term loan next month with a more meaningful take on its interior and safety].

Related reading: Volkswagen Amarok Long-term Test Update #1

Long-Term Tests
motoring.com.au aims to make your vehicle buying decisions easier. Our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local new model launch reviews, as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time, we also take the opportunity to spend even longer with a vehicle.
These longer-term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we’ve settled on a three-month period as being indicative of ‘normal’ ownership.

Longer term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers a deeper insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and the nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

It comes as no surprise that manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests. Three months is long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nit-pick – just as real owners do.

2017 Volkswagen Amarok Highline pricing and specifications:
Price: $59,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 165kW/550Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 236g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP