Volkswagen Amarok 2025 review: Aventura TSI452

At this end of the dual-cab ute market, the high price asked for a top-spec variant can sometimes seem a little steep, and the Amarok Aventura asks one of the highest prices at $82,990 before on-road costs.

But its list of features is long and, as we’ll cover through the review, it actually seems refined enough to almost justify the ask.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

Some of the features in the Aventura are available through most of the Amarok range. The electrically adjustable heated seats and LED matrix headlights are also available on the mid-spec Style.

Some of the mod-cons in this grade rival that of premium family SUVs. A set of 21-inch alloy wheels, chrome highlights abound on the ‘X Design’ bumper, side steps and roof rails, and an electric ute tray cover underneath the stylish sailplane.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

Inside, seats are wrapped in leather while the fronts are heated and 10-way electrically adjustable. A full-sized 12-inch multimedia screen is paired with a 12.3-inch digital display for the driver, with sound handled by an eight-speaker Harman Kardon system with subwoofer - something rare but very welcome in a ute that’s likely to be used less for work and more for everyday life.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

It’s got wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control and privacy tinting on the rear windows. Sure, for around $80,000 you could get all that and more in a European mid-size SUV, but given Australia’s fondness for utes, it makes sense for VW to offer the option of having this list of goodies in a dual-cab.

Volkswagen’s ute benefits from the vast interior space provided by the Ranger’s platform, but VW has made some small changes to the functionality that mostly elevates the space.

Aside from the fact that many of the controls related to climate and some vehicle functions are found in menus in the multimedia system (though there are physical shortcut buttons), the Amarok does a fine job of blending form and function.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

Storage is hardly lacking, with door cards, two glove compartments in front of the passenger, a nicely angled-away wireless phone charger, and a decently sized central bin.

In terms of ergonomics, the leather front seats are excellent in their shape and adjustability, so finding a comfy driving position is easy - plus the steering wheel uses physical controls and the driver display is clear and easy to navigate.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

The second row also benefits from the space offered up by the platform, with plenty of room for a couple of adults, but with fewer amenities than would be found in an SUV of a similar price. The seats aren’t so adjustable, though, and the upright nature of second row seats in utes means they might not be ideal for adults on a long drive.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

While the Amarok's tray is decent at 1544mm long and 1224mm wide, according to VW, the electronic roller tonneau cover unit takes up a chunk of that space - as does the sailplane over the tray.

Of course, the Aventura isn’t pitched as the ‘workhorse’ of the line-up, and the electric cover does add some ease and security to the rearmost section of the ute, but the trade-off is not having as much space for gear or bulky objects.

The Amarok Aventura TSI452’s engine is, as mentioned, a Ford-sourced, petrol-fed 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with pedigree as the smaller engine in the Ford Mustang, or the bonkers mill that powered the Blue Oval’s wicked Focus RS hot hatch just a few years ago.

This application by VW sees the engine produce 222kW and 452Nm, making it the most powerful engine in the range, but towards the bottom of the pack in terms of torque. A 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine is also available in the Aventura for the same price, with 184kW and 600Nm.

It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission in either case, and features VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system as an option alongside standard 4x4 drive modes: 2H, 4H, and 4L.

The most powerful engine in the line-up is also the thirstiest, with the petrol engine drinking a claimed 9.9 litres per 100km. It should be noted the engine needs 95 RON unleaded as a minimum.

2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452

With an 80-litre fuel tank, the theoretical driving range of the Amarok with a petrol engine is just a notch over 800km, though the trip computer on our road loop showed a 10.8L/100km reading.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 available in the Aventura has a claimed 8.4L/100km consumption figure, so that might be the bet for efficiency if the petrol engine’s extra smoothness isn’t a priority.

The Amarok Aventura, like most of its range, comes with a pretty impressive list of safety features as well as a five-star rating from ANCAP tested in 2022.

Nine airbags have crash safety covered, including dual frontal, side chest and side head (curtain), driver and passenger knee, and a centre airbag.

It comes with auto emergency braking (AEB) that has forward collision warning, lane keep assist and lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition, rear-cross traffic alert, driver monitoring alert, a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and towing features like trailer sway control.