2024 Volkswagen Amarok Review

Fresh off a major update last year, the Amarok range looks sharper than ever before, comes packed with more entertainment and safety equipment than its replacement and offers a four-strong engine lineup.

It’s no easy feat competing with some of the biggest names in the dual-cab ute world, though, so let’s take a look at how the Volkswagen Amarok stands up against its rivals.

Volkswagen Amarok Competition

How Much Does the Nissan Navara Cost?

Prices for the 2024 Volkswagen Amarok range kick off from $55,490 for the entry-level Amarok TDI405 Core.

Stepping up to the Amarok TDI500 Life brings the price to $59,490, with the Amarok TDI500 Style priced at $69,740.

The Amarok TDI600 Style is priced at $73,740, with the Amarok TDI600 PanAmericana priced at $78,990 and the flagship Amarok TSI452 and TD600 both priced at $82,990.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405 4MOTION Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Have?

Volkswagen’s entry-level Amarok Core lineup receives 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a locking rear differential, side steps, tow hooks, underbody protection, a tow bar and trailer plug, cloth upholstery with vinyl floors, air conditioning, a wireless charger, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors.

Stepping up to the Amarok Life adds upgraded rear brake discs, LED fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, carpet flooring, a powered tailgate lock, body-coloured mirrors, an E-shifter, eight-way adjustable front seats and rear privacy glass.

Upgrading to the Amarok Style range adds 18-inch alloys as well as Matrix LED headlights, LED tail lights, chrome exterior highlights, stainless steel sports bar, microfibre upholstery with heated front seats, a plastic tub liner, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, a semi-autonomous parking system and some interior upgrades.

The Amarok PanAmericana offers black 18-inch alloys wrapped in all-terrain tyres, upgraded dynamic suspension, a soft tonneau cover, roof rails, a spray-in tub liner, decals, leather upholstery and black mirrors.

Finally, the range-topping Amarok Aventura adds an electric roller cover as well as a sailplane, chrome exterior highlights and Savona leather upholstery.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Volkswagen’s entry-level Amarok Core picks up a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is mounted vertically into the dashboard, in an identical fashion to its twin-under-the-skin, the Ford Ranger. 

The base 10.1-inch display features DAB+ digital radio and is paired with a four-speaker sound system that does leave a lot to be desired for audiophiles.

The screen looks great and is easy to use, with high brightness and a fast processor that makes it feel responsive to inputs.

Stepping up to the Amarok Life adds a more powerful six-speaker sound system while the Amarok PanAmericana receives a premium eight-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

Does the Volkswagen Amarok Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

The 2024 Volkswagen Amarok does indeed offer wireless smartphone mirroring - but only for owners of an Android device.

While the Amarok range offers wireless Android Auto support, in the absence of wireless Apple CarPlay, iPhone users will still need to plug their phone into one of the USB ports in order to access their music, make calls and use their preferred navigation apps in the Amarok.

Is the Volkswagen Amarok Comfortable to Drive?

You may be surprised to hear that the latest Volkswagen Amarok is actually based on the almighty Ford Ranger - and that’s quite a good thing for on-road comfort levels.

Thanks to the Ranger’s Australian development program, the Amarok feels very much at home on a mix of town and country driving and rougher road surfaces and, in higher spec, picks up a massive suspension upgrade.

Volkswagen offers the Amarok with a choice of four engines: three turbo-diesel units and a turbo-petrol engine.

The base TDI405 is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel that produces 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic and a four-wheel drive system.

Opting for the TDI500 range extracts 154kW of power and 500Nm of torque from a bi-turbo diesel engine and is paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission.

Stepping up to the TDI600 range adds a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel that produces 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque and receives a full-time four-wheel drive system.

There’s also a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the TSI452 that produces 222kW of power and 452Nm of torque, with this engine reserved for the flagship Amarok Aventura.

On the road, the Amarok feels like a premium machine, floating around town in a manner closer to a family-friendly SUV package than a rugged ute platform, even without a heavy load in the rear.

The steering is light enough to avoid working up a sweat while you’re parking, offering a healthy amount of feedback as you pick up the pace, while the elevated driving position adds to the visibility.

There’s no escaping the size of the package when you’re in tight quarters with its 12.8-meter turning circle, though thankfully, the relatively light steering helps to keep things civilised as you make an inevitable three-point turn to fit in some spaces.

The suspension package makes light work of bumps and potholes around town, with the package as a whole feeling rock-solid on the road.

This ride quality only improves if you’re opting for the PanAmericana with the dynamic suspension package that upgrades the rear hardware with monotube dampeners for the leaf springs that makes it far more refined, particularly while unloaded.

On the highway, the Amarok rides smooth and quietly thanks to a tonne of sound insulation and the mighty capable suspension package underneath that makes the Amarok a beast in pretty much every test you can throw at it.

How Much Can the Volkswagen Amarok Tow and Carry in the Tray?

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg (across the range)

• GVM: 3100 - 3250kg

• GCM: 6150 - 6,500kg

• Roof Load Static: 350kg

• Maximum Tow Ball Weight: 350kg

What are the Payload Figures for the 2024 VW Amarok?

• Core: 1,042kg

• Life: 988kg

• Style: 1,009 - 1,031kg

• PanAmericana: 1,031kg

• Aventura TDI: 858kg

• Aventura TSI: 872kg 

Is the Volkswagen Amarok Good Off-Road?

Thanks largely to its Ranger-based platform and shared hardware, the Volkswagen Amarok range does not disappoint when it comes to pushing off the beaten track.

Below you can find some of the vital off-road driving specs for the Volkswagen Amarok range.

• Ground Clearance: 235mm

• Approach Angle: 30-degrees

• Departure Angle: 25.6-degrees

• Breakover Angle: 22-degrees

• Wading Depth: 800mm

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency in the Amarok range depends on which of the four engines you’re opting for.

Combined cycle figures range from 7.2L/100km in the TDI500 range, the most fuel-efficient of the Amarok engine lineup, increasing to 8.0L/100km in the TDI405, 8.4L/100km in the TDI600 and 9.9L/100km in the petrol-powered TSI452.

• TDI405 Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 8.0L per 100km

• TDI500 Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 7.2 per 100km

• TDI600 Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 8.4L per 100km

• TSI452 Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption: 9.9L per 100km

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen Amarok Use Around Town?

• TDI405 City Fuel Consumption: 10L per 100km

• TDI500 City Fuel Consumption: 7.7 per 100km

• TDI600 City Fuel Consumption: 10L per 100km

• TSI452 City Fuel Consumption: 12.7L per 100km

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen Amarok Use on the Highway?

• TDI405 Highway Fuel Consumption: 6.9L per 100km

• TDI500 Highway Fuel Consumption: 6.9 per 100km

• TDI600 Highway Fuel Consumption: 7.5L per 100km

• TSI452 Highway Fuel Consumption: 8.2L per 100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The Amarok’s interior has taken a massive step over its predecessor and offers impressive levels of both interior space and sophistication in its design.

In base form, the Amarok Core range is more utilitarian by nature, though the addition of a digital instrument cluster and large infotainment display helps to keep things looking modern.

The switchgear below the display fits with its work-ready nature, while more premium variants pick up a hefty list of upholstery and trim upgrades that won’t leave buyers feeling short-changed for making the upgrade.

In terms of the basics, the raised driving position helps to aid visibility while manual adjustment in the base model makes it more accommodating for a range of drivers.

The ergonomics are great, with adequate storage options like a cubby on top of the passenger-side dashboard, cup holders, added storage inside the folding armrest, door bins and a glove box.

Move to the rear of the cabin and second row accommodation is excellent for the segment.

With no complaints for headroom and a healthy amount of legroom on offer, the Amarok can comfortably transport a load of full-sized adults with no complaints for those seated in the rear.

The Amarok’s second-row bench seat also picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and two top tether mounts when it’s time to load up some young ones and hit the road.

How Big is the VW Amarok’s Tray?

• Length: 1,544mm

• Width: 1,620mm

• Width (between wheel arches): 1,224mm

• Height: 529mm

• Tailgate Opening Height:  880mm

Is it Safe?

One of the major upgrades for the Amarok range has been a serious beef-up in its active safety equipment suite.

As standard, even the entry-level Amarok range picks up autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, swerve steer assist, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and nine airbags.

Stepping up to the Amarok Life adds a stop-and-go system for the adaptive cruise control, while the Amarok Style receives a surround-view monitor.

Does the Volkswagen Amarok Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Volkswagen Amarok range has been given the five-star safety tick from ANCAP after it scored the following marks in 2022 testing.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 86%

• Child Occupant Protection: 93%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 74%

• Safety Assist: 83%

What Warranty Does the Volkswagen Amarok Come With?

Volkswagen offers the Amarok range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

There’s also five-years’ worth of capped-price servicing that remains the same, regardless of which engine you’re opting for, which is a nice touch for buyers.

Five capped-price services for the MY24 Amarok range totals $1,801.

Service intervals for the Amarok range stand at 12 months or 15,000-kilometres.

Our Verdict: Is the Volkswagen Amarok Worth it?

The Amarok has taken major steps in the right direction thanks to its Ranger-based platform which is, arguably, one of the best all-rounders in the ute segment.

Inside, the Amarok’s cabin is befitting of a VW product, picking up a handful of touches in higher-ranking members that make it feel like a truly premium product.

On the road the Amarok is well-behaved and with a range of engine options, each of which offers 3,500kg of towing power, meaning there’s a tonne of variety to keep buyers across different price points happy.

As a result, we can’t help but encourage you to add the Amarok to your dual-cab ute shortlist and, if you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts to find the best possible price on your next car. 

Five Volkswagen Amarok Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Four engine options: three turbo-diesels and one turbo-petrol

3. 3,500kg braked towing capacity across the lineup

4. 7.2 - 9.9L per 100km combined cycle fuel economy figures

5. Five-years of capped-price servicing