What's the difference?
This is a very important ute if you’re Volkswagen Australia.
A lot of time and money has gone into making sure this, the 2026 VW Amarok W600 as engineered by Walkinshaw, is the ultimate driver’s ute. Not the best 4X4, but the best ute on the road. Sounds like an odd task, right?
It might be, but a couple of thousand people bought the last version of this ute, so why not try to make it better?
Over a long development period and a steady build-up, including previews at the former Holden proving ground at Lang Lang, Volkswagen has teased its ‘ultimate driver’s ute’.
Now, we get to put the production version to the test on the very roads that helped shape it during its development in Tasmania.
Zeekr is a new electric brand and the X small SUV is one of its first cars to come to Australia.
Owned by the Chinese carmaker Geely, which also has a big stake in Volvo, the X is designed in Sweden, built in China and now sold here.
Rivals to this little electric SUV include the Smart #1, Volvo EX30 and Xpeng G6.
The Zeekr X line-up is currently very simple - there’s the rear-wheel drive version and the all-wheel drive we tested.
The Amarok W600 is impressive when you get it onto a twisty road, and my hat goes off to Walkinshaw for turning a dual-cab into something that is genuinely fun to drive on twisty roads. I’m not kidding, the W600 is proper fun.
But it’s expensive, and despite the tough looks and on-road ability, it doesn’t have any more on-paper performance than its standard siblings. That and its ride is compromised by its new abilities.
Those who spend the cash on a W600 probably won’t be disappointed if they can handle a slightly stiff ride, but it’s possible VW is expecting people will be more into the idea of a corner-carving dual-cab than is the reality.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The Zeekr X all-wheel drive surprised me in a great way. Not only is this the first Zeekr I've driven, it's also one of the best small electric SUVs I've ever driven. There's so much to like - from the good price and quality design to the high level of safety and how easy it is to drive.