DARK NEW DRIVE

Banish any thought of basic paddock basher. This ute is a benchmark-setter in power and poise departments.

The VW Amarok is motivated by a silky-smooth turbo V6 diesel, and this dual-cab has played a pivotal role in redefining the market.

Even better than your basic V6 Amarok is this special-edition Dark Label — limited to 500 units.

Getting special equipment including Vienna leather trim, heated front seats, matte black sports bar and side steps, black wheel-arch flares along with 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels, the Dark Label also gets black interior trim, headlining and pillars.

You also get a touchscreen entertainment system with satnav, auto parking and full smartphone connectivity. Mighty posh for a ute.

Bottle holders in each door are useful, as are the dual cup holders in the centre console. When it comes to the driving experience, it’s just brilliant. Exercise your ankle and it hauls like a sports car.

Planting your foot is rewarded with immediate response, with no hint of turbo lag the light steering makes the ute feel nimble.

Knifing through town with ease, all that gusto makes for an easy car to drive, even with a load on the back. Most importantly, my better half loved it and returned from a journey with glowing endorsement.

There are steering wheel-mounted paddles if you want to take manual-style control, although the eight-speed box does a mighty job of selecting the right cog in varying conditions.