Last week we were accompanied by a car that clearly fits into the category of cars that are mainly intended for "big boys". We tested the Volkswagen Amarok, a decent five-seater pick-up that had a six-cylinder diesel under the hood, was also equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, 4MOTION all-wheel drive and suitable Aventura equipment.
The Volkswagen Amarok has been with us since 2011, over the years it has been able to convince us of how versatile a car it can be. It is also one of the cars that, with its offered comfort and driving characteristics, has elevated the pick-up category to a very respectable alternative to the SUV category that is so popular today.
Unfortunately, the first generation Amarok is slowly saying goodbye to us, and we have nothing else to do but look forward to the new generation. She was lightly introduced to us in the spring of this year in quite good sketches. Volkswagen should cooperate with Ford in this segment, the Amarok will thus receive a new half-sibling in the form of the Ranger model.
Exterior – simple and practical lines
Following the example of its utility siblings, the VW Amarok is made up of simple and clean lines, which are justified in its practicality and purposefulness.
As part of the side profile, the car carries classic pick-up body shapes offering a five-seater cabin layout. A distinctive element of the side part is the elongated edges, which enrich the car with robust proportions. An elegant and quite decent element became the chrome tube step underlining the mass of the car's cabin itself. In the rear part of the car, the covering of the body with the removable Road Ranger superstructure showed quite a lot of volume.
The front part of the car is characterized by a large cutout, into which the front lamps and a bulky mask are integrated. It does not lack rich chrome plating, a large car company logo, and the V6 plaque has become a matter of course.
The optically very simple rear part is dominated by an all-chrome bumper, which, although it looks very effective, its practicality can hardly be doubted. We also have vertically oriented rear lamps and a voluminous hinged cargo compartment lid.
The VW Amarok and its external parts are purely practical, but it is still a very pleasant car that works very well with individual details, whether it is the treatment of the front mask or the very elegant "twenty-inch" wheels.
Interior – comfortable and spacious
The interior of the car is dominated by conditions that we are already well used to within the car company. Here we will see high-quality processing, which is supported by excellent internal ergonomics. The Amarok is also forgiven for its working roots for the relatively abundant presence of harder plastics.
The voluminous dashboard will offer simple and easy-to-read shapes with a clear horizontal division. Its central motif then becomes the on-board infotainment display, quite space-saving by today's standards. The classic analog speedometer and tachometer alarm clocks are located within the instrument cluster, which are accompanied by a simple on-board computer display. I don't have the slightest user problem with the size of the on-board infotainment display or with the analog indicators in the instrument panel, but the interior in this part deserves an intergenerational rejuvenation.
The multifunctional steering wheel that not only looks very elegant, but also fits perfectly in the hand, and the bulky Amarok is simply a joy to drive, impressed me the most from the entire interior.
The Ergocomfort seats in the front positions are also excellent, they offer decent comfort and ample dimensions. The rear bench traditionally suffers from the classic ailment of pick-up cars, which is the relatively vertical orientation of its backrest.
Overall, however, the interior of the Amarok is very spacious, mainly in terms of its width. This was mostly due to the already announced spaciousness of the front seats, or to the richly dimensioned central tunnel.
In terms of cargo space, the Amarok is one of the best in its class, with a length of approx. 155 cm and a width of 122 cm between the wheel arches. The voluminous body of the tested Amarok was equipped with a very practical Road Ranger superstructure. Tilting the body naturally brings certain advantages and disadvantages, but it goes without saying that it can be dismantled. I have to praise the side folding glazing of the body, which was controlled by remote control. The body is thus very elegantly accessible from both sides of the car without the need to open the tailgate.
Engine and ride
The biggest advantage of this car was hidden under the massive hood. The tested Amarok was equipped with a three-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, which had an output of 190 kW (258 hp) and a respectable torque of 580 Nm. I admit that I was probably most looking forward to the appearance of the diesel six-cylinder. With this engine, we are returning to the time when cars were simply not ashamed of bulky "clamshell" engines.
The Amarok did not disappoint me in this respect, and immediately after the first start, the sound of this engine put a slight smile on my face. The initial enthusiasm for the motorization lasted for the whole week of the editorial test.
The diesel fork engine is (was) offered in Amarok in two power variants, the weaker one offers 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque, our tested unit had the stronger of the two offered, i.e. 190 kW of power and 580 Nm of torque.
Engine power is transmitted to all four wheels by means of an eight-speed automatic transmission with a center differential. The tested car was also equipped with an electronic rear differential lock.
For more difficult terrain, the Amarok is equipped with an off-road mode, which also activates an assistant for driving downhill. The moderately difficult terrain that we completed with the car was handled with great insight. Of course, it is necessary to keep in mind that this is not a pure-bred off-road tool.
And how about the driving characteristics on asphalt? Simply very well, you will certainly feel that this is a car with a classic frame and leaf springs on the rear axle, not as strongly as with competing cars. Quite logically, the chassis sometimes undulates, but otherwise it is very "smooth" and comfortable to drive, even on the "twenties" that our tested unit wore.
The eight-speed automatic converter also behaves very well, changing the individual qualities quickly and very smoothly. Of course, there was also the possibility of shifting paddles under the steering wheel.
A comfortable chassis and a well-functioning automatic transmission are complemented by an excellent engine in the Amarok. Its power supply is enormous, in idle mode it pulls beautifully from low revs, and the automatic doesn't force you to downshift frantically, but when you step on its neck vigorously, it rewards you with a strong and quick reaction accompanied by a powerful pull and a pleasing sound.
The eight-speed automatic also works beautifully at highway speeds, its limit and the engaged eighth gear allows the engine to roll over just over two thousand revolutions. The Amarok easily overcomes the highway "one hundred and thirty" without interfering with the comfort of the crew on board.
Its driving capabilities are therefore incredibly diverse, all with fairly decent consumption, which was around 11 liters per 100 km during the weekly test.
In conclusion
The Volkswagen Amarok is a universal companion that can take on the job without embarrassing you anywhere. Its driving characteristics are very comfortable within the given class, the interior itself is spacious and well-made. But the best part is under the hood, its forked six-cylinder diesel engine is very refined and has plenty of power to spare.
Its first generation is unfortunately already out of production, and the configurator on the automaker's website is not active. But if you take a look at the stock, there is still a decent offer. You can buy a VW Amarok with a 190 kW diesel fork "three-liter" and an eight-speed automatic here on average from CZK 1,300,000 including VAT.
Source: Author's text
Image source: Author's own photos
