QUICK GLANCE
VALUE
Remember when Aussie makers built pursuit pack sedans for the highway patrol? Before Commodore SS or Falcon XR6 and XR8 models graced showrooms, chaser-spec cars combined a big V8 engine with plain looks and a basic interior. The Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Core is the modern equivalent, combining a popular dual-cab ute body with a best-in-class motor and little in the way of tech or luxury. Priced from $48,990 drive-away, the new manual model undercuts VW’s top Amarok by more than $30,000. It’s usually about $3000 cheaper than the basic V6 auto Amarok, though current driveaway deals shrink the gap to $1000. A basic equipment list includes 17-inch alloys, oldschool halogen headlamps and cloth trim. You get Volkswagen’s smallest touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and a reversing camera but not sat nav. A five-year warranty joins servicing capped at about $3000 for five years.
COMFORT
Considered one of the more car-like dual-cab utes on sale, the Amarok is a quieter and more comfortable proposition than most rivals. Some alternatives bring climate control and heated leather seats for this money, but the Core goes without basics like carpet or lumbar adjustment. You do get a steering wheel customisable in both tilt and reach, and the basic driving position is spot-on. The rear is also more spacious than most alternatives, and the practical tray is wide enough to accept an Australian or Euro-standard pallet.
SAFETY
As one of the oldest utes in showrooms today, the Amarok goes without safety gear such as rear side airbags or auto emergency braking. The new manual model is also less planted on the road, as it trades the eight-speed auto’s fulltime all-wheel-drive for part time four-wheeldrive. Rear-drive only on sealed surfaces, the manual version makes for tricky progress on slick tarmac. The trade-off is that it has proper low-range four-wheel-drive with a locking rear differential rare at this price. It also has off-road ABS and stability control modes allowing slip and slide to maintain momentum on gravel.
DRIVING
The Amarok’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 is a cracker. It’s smoother and punchier on the road than anything short of Benz’s mega-dollar XClass, offering up to 180kW of power at full throttle. Officially good for 165kW and 500Nm (180kW comes during 10 second periods of ‘overboost’), the big six brings 50Nm less than the V6 auto. And you have to settle for threetonne maximum towing capacity as opposed to 3.5 tonnes for the eight-speed model. But it punches hard, the manual transmission shifts sweetly, and the VW’s steering, ride and fourwheel-disc braking remain at the top of its class.
ALTERNATIVES
TOYOTA HILUX SR5 AUTO FROM $53,990 D/A
Australia’s most popular ute can’t match the Amarok’s punch, but you get more safety gear. ISUZU D-MAX LS-M MANUAL FROM $41,990 D/A
The 3.0-litre D-Max brings dependable power,
VW AMAROK V6 CORE PRICE From $48,990 drive-away
WARRANTY/SERVICE 5-year/unlimited km, approx. $3000 for 5 years
ENGINE 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, 165kW/500Nm
SAFETY Five stars, six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control
THIRST 9.7L/100km
a bigger touchscreen and 3.5-tonne towing for a sharp price.
TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES GX FROM ABOUT $79,000 D/A
Want a basic ute with a stonking engine? This V8-powered Landy is a classic — but it’s pricey.
VERDICT
The Core combines VW’s powerful engine with a no-frills ute ready for off-road work. Perfect for niche buyers, it needs more safety kit for mainstream appeal.