The Amarok is a great – and great-looking – package. Nice to drive, stylish and supremely comfortable, it's been made even better with the addition of a V6 model – and the Ultimate ($67,990 plus on-roads) is the top-shelf pick of the two-model V6 range; Highline – $59,990 plus on-road costs – is the other.
The Ultimate's cabin is cool and classy – leather and chrome-look touches everywhere
The Ultimate's cabin is cool and classy – leather and chrome-look touches everywhere – and, with seats as comfy as these, it's a very nice place to spend any length of time as driver or passenger.
The Ultimate is full to the brim with standard features and some of the more poshy-sounding ones include: LED puddle lights, heated 14-way adjustable seats (12-way electric, 2-way manual), leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, alloy-finish pedals, 6.3-inch* colour touchscreen with sat nav and VW's 'AppConnect' suite (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), and much more. (*We reckon that's too small.)
Leather seat options include Alcantara ($1890) and Nappa leather trim ($2690).
The 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel (165kW/550Nm; overboost: 180kW/580Nm) is the same engine used in the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7, so even the engine has a prestige pedigree. The eight-speed automatic transmission from the 2.0-litre bi-turbo model has been retained. Driving the Ultimate on- or off-road is a smooth and refined experience; no strife there.
Classy, comfortable and functional, the Ultimate is one very appealing unit.
The Amarok has a five-star ANCAP rating. It has front and side airbags for the front row but no side curtain airbags for back-seat passengers. There are two ISOFIX points in the rear.
The Amarok is claimed to use 7.8L/100km (combined). It has an 80-litre fuel tank. There is a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Services are scheduled for every 15,000km/12 months.
The class-leading tray, a 2.52m (squared) cargo area (1222mm between wheel arches), gobbles up a full-sized 1160mm Aussie pallet. It has the lowest load height (780mm) on the market and has up to six tie-down points (four standard and two optional).
The tray also has a 12 volt socket and has a third brake light with load space lighting. Towing is 3000kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked). Payload is 1000kg. (Not that you'll be using the Ultimate to do any actual work, rich boy.)
Classy, comfortable and functional, the Ultimate is one very appealing unit.
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