Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDI 205 Style 2023 UK first drive

There is astir £2500 betwixt the database terms of this mid-range four-cylinder diesel illustration of the caller Volkswagen Amarok and the equivalent Ford Ranger with which it shares truthful much. Both pick-ups are arriving successful UK showrooms astatine astir the aforesaid time, are built successful the aforesaid South African mill and person the aforesaid ladder-frame chassis, suspension and powertrain hardware.

However, portion Ford continues to vessel astatine the measurement pick-up marketplace with the Ranger, its caller commercialized conveyance bedfellow VW is sticking with the Amarok’s acquainted ‘lifestyle pick-up’ premium positioning. And, connected the grounds of our archetypal UK drive, the VW whitethorn conscionable astir transportation disconnected that billing.

The comic happening is, the Amarok has a broader derivative scope present than it did successful first-generation form. It’s offered arsenic a double-cab only, but you tin person 1 with a manual transmission and a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel if you similar for little than £35k earlier VAT. Or you tin spell the full singing-and-dancing warthog connected a £58k Aventura V6 TDI. But adjacent if you lone get arsenic acold up the scope arsenic a mid-level, 202bhp 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel Amarok Style, you’ll inactive extremity up with a precise pleasant and well-mannered pick-up.

The double-cab interior provides decent abstraction for adults successful some rows (VW says limb country has grown importantly with the new-gen model’s longer wheelbase) and up beforehand the Amarok Style’s electrically adjustable seats connection bully comfortableness and a good driving position.

The compartment includes recognisable elements from some Ford’s parts bin (gear selector, doorway switches, indicator stalks) and Volkswagen’s (steering wheel), but they travel unneurotic fine. The ambience is rather upmarket by pick-up standards. There’s immoderate worldly assortment and richness to it – a faux-leather dashtop and immoderate decorative trim – though elsewhere determination are a fewer hard and shiny mouldings.

The Amarok uses a lightly reskinned mentation of Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment strategy and it works respectably well, though it could inactive usage a carnal cursor scroller arsenic an alternate to touchscreen operation. The integer instruments are rendered precise clearly, and the steering instrumentality controls for the travel machine menus are due buttons alternatively than touch-sensitive ones, which volition suit mitt wearers.

The 2.0-litre diesel motor isn’t arsenic quiescent oregon creaseless arsenic the V6, but it’s inactive impressively mechanically refined by pick-up standards. It idles quietly, has lone a tiny magnitude of a distant clatter nether load, and erstwhile revving, it’s overmuch amended isolated than the bigger four-pot of a Toyota Hilux, for example.

The 10-speed automatic gearbox has immoderate of the feel, connected the road, of a continuously adaptable transmission – that gentle archetypal engagement (useful erstwhile you’re carrying dense loads, towing oregon driving disconnected road) and the inclination lone to rev 500rpm oregon truthful betwixt upshifts erstwhile accelerating connected portion throttle. It’s smooth, though, and gives the Amarok each the on-road show that a conveyance of this size and little truly needs.

For thrust comfortableness and handling, since a mid-spec Amarok Style runs connected 18in wheels with chunky-sidewalled ‘mud and sand’ tyres, it deals with UK state roads reasonably good – better, certainly, than the range-topping Aventura V6 TDI we tried (which has heavier 21s and lower-profile rubber). The thrust is initially firmer and somewhat fussier than that of astir pick-ups, but its damping and isolation are better. Body power is rather bully by people standards too.

If you privation a caller flatbed with immoderate rider car refinement and sophistication, the caller Amarok’s raised crippled ought to enactment it successful beardown contention, but you would beryllium omniscient to debar the priciest engines and trims.