An unlikely partnership delivers a workhorse that leaves others in its dust

Volkswagen has taken a different path to its rivals with the new range-topping Amarok W580S. Rather than developing a rugged ute with more offroad ability, the brand is offering a new machine that plays to the Amarok’s strengths.

It has teamed up with Australian tuning firm Walkinshaw to produce a tough-looking ute with superior driving characteristics.

Walkinshaw engineer Dave Kermond helped produce some of Australia’s best V8 muscle cars for HSV and was tasked with refining the Amarok’s manners on tarmac.

“We really focused on those on-road characteristics,” he says.

“It really ticks that GT-style box more so than any of the competitors in its class.”

Priced from $79,990 plus on-road costs (about $89,000 drive-away), the fully-loaded W580S costs $7500 more than a high-grade Amarok V6, or about $30,000 more than a basic V6 Core model.

Key changes include wider 20-inch wheels with Pirelli tyres, along with firmer suspension with an improved front-to-rear weight balance.

Cosmetic changes include eye-catching graphics, a chunky body kit, louder side-exit exhausts and tray-mounted “sail” plastics similar to the cult-favourite HSV Maloo. It looks tough, sitting 65mm wider and 50mm higher than regular models.

The cabin gets a limited-edition build plaque and Walkinshaw-branded headrests, along with two-tone leather trim and a sports steering wheel with shift paddles.

The W580S has the same engine as cheaper versions. Modern emissions and homologation requirements make it prohibitively expensive to eke more power out of low-volume vehicles.

That said, the Amarok already has the most powerful engine in its class — a twinturbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 190kW of power (and up to 200kW for full-throttle periods of overboost) plus 580Nm of torque. It’s a smooth and strong unit that makes most fourcylinder rivals seem weedy.

The big V6 is the best motor you can find in a dual-cab ute today. Volkswagen’s eight-speed automatic is also a key asset, serving up swift shifts to keep the big diesel in its sweet spot.

The reworked suspension delivers sharper steering responses with meatier weight at the helm. There’s less body roll and better control than the regular Amarok, and the fat Pirellis have far better purchase on wet roads than the

skatey off-road rubber of rivals. Full-time allwheel-drive helps get that grunt to the ground.

Four-wheel disc brakes are another key advantage, as is a 3500kg towing capacity. The W580S can’t disguise its age, though. While the cabin is comfortable enough, the tiny 6.5-inch touchscreen and conventional dash don’t cut it in 2021 — not when the cheapest VW Tiguan has a digital dash and the Touareg features a 15-inch central display.

The Amarok’s safety and convenience features are also sub-par for a near-$90,000 car. You don’t get auto emergency braking, lanekeeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring or active cruise control found in more modern alternatives. Rear airbags are missing in action — a serious consideration if you plan to use it as a dual-purpose family vehicle — and the fourcylinder Amarok’s decade-old five-star safety rating does not apply to the latest V6 variants.

VERDICT

Tough-looking, punchy and fun to drive, the Amarok W580S is let down by a its high price, dated cabin and absent safety features.