Volkswagen offers 10 variants of Amarok in Australia, including special editions like the 580S, with prices starting at $38,490 before on-road costs for the TDI400 Core manual and extending to $72,790 before on-roads for the TDI580 Ultimate.
The Amarok is the only dual-cab ute in Australia to offer a turbodiesel V6 engine other than the Ram 1500 and the moribund Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
Not only is the V6 available in high-end, luxury models, the most powerful Amarok engine can also be paired with a manual transmission.
Although it doesn’t match the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux for sales, the Amarok has been pitched as a more car-like alternative with a greater focus on creature comforts.
As such, it runs with a higher sticker price. The MY20 Amarok range also lacks the single-cab and cab-chassis variants found in rival ute ranges.
Pricing
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI400 Core 4×4 manual: $44,590
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI420 Core 4×4 auto: $47,590
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI500 Core 4×4 manual: $49,590
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI550 Core 4×4 auto: $52,590
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI550 Sportline 4×4 auto: $56,590
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI550 Canyon 4×4 auto: $57,990
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI550 Highline 4×4 auto: $61,090
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI580 Highline Black 4×4 auto: $64,990
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI580S 4×4 auto: $70,990
- 2020 Volkswagen Amarok TDI580 Ultimate 4×4 auto: $72,790
All prices exclude on-road costs
Engines
Two engines are offered in the Amarok, both available in a range of tunes.
The TDI400 and TDI420 are powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, producing 132kW of power and 400Nm of torque in the former, and 420Nm of torque in the latter.
The TDI400 is exclusively offered with a six-speed manual transmission, while the TDI420 is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Volkswagen also offers a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 across the TDI500, TDI550, and TDI580 lines.
In the TDI500, it makes 165kW and 500Nm and is mated with a six-speed manual transmission, while the TDI550 has the same 165kW but bumps peak torque to 550Nm in conjunction with its eight-speed automatic.
The range-topping TDI580 has 190kW and 580Nm, and once again only offers an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel Economy
The TDI400 has an 8.0L/100km claim on the ADR combined cycle, while the TDI420 uses a claimed 8.5L/100km.
The TDI500 has a claimed fuel economy figure of 9.7L/100km, dropping to 9.0L/100km in the TDI550 and 8.9L/100km in the TDI580.
Dimensions
The 2020 Volkswagen Amarok measures 5254mm long, 1954mm wide and 1878mm tall, with a 3095mm wheelbase.
Payload varies from model-to-model, but the range-topping V6 Highline Ultimate has a 836kg payload and 3500kg braked-towing capacity.
Safety
When the Amarok was tested by ANCAP almost a decade ago in 2011, it received a rating of five stars.
That rating was based on a frontal offset score of 13.99 out of 16 and a side impact score of 16 out of 16. Whiplash and pedestrian protection were rated Good and Marginal, respectively.
All 2020 Volkswagen Amarok models come standard with front and front-side airbags and anti-lock brakes, but there are no airbags for rear seat occupants.
There’s also no active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, which means the Amarok wouldn’t receive five stars if it was assessed again in 2020.
Standard Equipment
Core TDI400 4×4 and TDI420 4×4 models get:
- 6.33-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Single-zone air conditioning
- Mechanical differential lock
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Rubber floors
- Matte black rear step bumper
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Trailer sway stability control
- Off-road mode
- Body-coloured front bumper
- Underbody protection
- Cargo area light
The TDI500 Core gains:
- Fog lights
- Chrome exterior trim
- 17-inch alloy wheels
Extra power aside, the TDI550 Core shares its spec with the TDI500.
The TDI550 Sportline is offered with:
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Dusk-sensing headlamps
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Tinted taillights
- Lockable tailgate
- Painted door handles and mirrors
- Chrome rear bumper
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Full-sized alloy spare wheel
- Dual-zone climate control
- Aluminium dashboard trim
- Chrome air vent trims
- Carpet flooring
The TDI550 Highline gains:
- Bi-xenon headlights
- Static cornering lights
- Alarm with interior monitoring
- Side steps
- Sports bars
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Satellite navigation
Along with its more powerful engine, the TDI580 Highline Black offers:
- Black exterior add-ons
- Black sports bars
- Black 20-inch alloy wheels
- Black exterior mirrors
The TDI580 Ultimate swaps out the black exterior trim (including the sports bars) for stainless steel, while adding:
- Factory tub liner
- Colour MFD in instrument binnacle
- Floor mats
- Nappa leather upholstery
- 14-way power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Stainless steel pedals
The limited edition 580S adds the Highline Black’s black exterior enhancements plus two 86-watt roof-mounted LED lights.
Servicing
Maintenance in the Amarok is required every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
Five years of scheduled servicing will set you back $2815 for four-cylinder models, $3048 for the lower-powered TDI500 and TDI550 variants, and $2943 for the range-topping TDI580.
The Amarok ute is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty like the wider Volkswagen range.
