Volkswagen Amarok Highline 4Motion

Volkswagen’s Amarok majors on size, comfort and build quality, with an excellent full-time 4Motion 4WD system, eight-speed auto transmission and push-button off-road mode, it is one of the easiest to live with full-size (and it IS big) 4WD double cab utes on the market. VW’S 4Motion 4WD system means it is the only ute in our sample with full-time 4WD via a Torsen diff which distributes drive 40/60 to the front and rear wheels. It also has the biggest (longest, deepest and widest between the wheel arches) tray. Like the Nissan Navara we got to test, the Highline TD1 auto is the priciest Amarok available here, its RRP of $65,990 putting it in Ford Ranger Wildtrak territory. No one aspect really stands out, but combined the interior, driving dynamics (steering, handing and ride) and engine/ transmission/drivetrain provide a driving experience that is more than a sum of the individual parts. It’s not perfect, and in this company and the conditions we put the utes through off-road it wasn’t as fully-rounded in its capabilities as those with low range. On-road – be it seal or gravel – however, it was a contender for the top spot. Starting with comments about its abilities on road Damien was unequivocal. “Superbly comfortable seating and nicely sensible German ergonomics impress. Excellent visibility all round and absolutely amazing ride quality which is truly almost car-like. The pleasant steering is a little over-assisted and light, but nicely accurate and quick.” John was more succinct but backed Damien up 100 percent. “Comfortable and well-built and the ride is the best of the bunch on road. Comfy, quiet, but a bit pricey for what you get.” The pair also agreed that though the 2.0 litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine made impressive power (132kw) and torque (420Nm) it didn’t have the reserves of the “brutishly powerful” Ranger or, for that matter, the smooth, measured delivery of the Hilux of Mitsubishi. Before we got to our designated test area high on Duncan’s property, most of us thought that Volkswagen’s ultra-wide range transmission and one-touch “off-road” button was a master stroke. So – to a man – we all expressed surprise when Damien slithered and slid done our grassy chute, then had to take two or three goes to get up the following (slippery long grass covered) hill. Once the rest of us had worn through the grass, the Amarok found grip in the soil. But as Damien concluded: “Grass would seem to be the otherwise amazing off-road electronics’ weak spot.” Someone who spends as much time off road as he does, Kevin, should – in theory at least – have turned his nose up at this point. Instead he brushed off what he considered was a minor issue in the overall scheme of things. “No low box and only two buttons to push, ‘Off-road’ and ‘Stability Control? ’ This is good, and aligns with where I feel the market is –weekend warriors – where inexperienced people head out into the back country for other activities and may need some assistance to get back out again, but they are not really sure what is needed. (So) they just bung it into ‘Off Road’ mode and away they go. They don’t have to worry about what is displayed on the dash or what you have or have not pulled, they just drive away, and it works.”