Appreciate a thorough comparison review of the Amarok V6 Ultimate, Ranger Raptor, Hilux Rugged X and Z71 Extreme . The KING of the ute market needs to be crowned !
It's horses for courses. The Amarok is King On Road, Hilux King off road, bumpy on road. Ranger Raptor only tows 2.5 Tonne so won't be a a proposition for heavy towing. The Amarok is effectively full time 4WD so no slip sliding on the bitumen. Z71 is a great product for the price however build quality not up with the others. There is no King, just a bunch of different horses to suit your requirements.
Another great review, Tom. The Amorok is such a great drive. I had a 2ltr as a courtesy car while my Passat was serviced. I didn't want to give it back. The steering feels like a normal car, and refinement was great. I actually think it was quieter than the Passat. Give me one any day..!!
G'day I've had an Ultima for 2 years now. Its a nice car to drive. Long road trip is easy on driver and 1 passenger (2400km in 24 hours). It has some frustrating features within the cab. Also it is lousy for access into the tray with the stupidly designed sports bar. Then there is no practical load security/tie down points. Not such in issue if you put on a canopy and convert the vehicle to a wagon. It may not always beat other duel cabs at 4 wheel driving, It will often be more 4x4 than a lot of drivers can cope with. Most licensed drivers would not want to drive where the vehicle is capable of going.
Nice one Tom. Tks for including pricing and acceleration numbers...although fuel economy and towing was curiously omitted🤔. Back seat volume looked very cramped with your 6ft frame giving it perspective. Another consistent review👍
You can call these dual purpose utes agricultural feeling but I'll tell you now a car or SUV has one purpose. Simply as transport!! Where these utes can do everything. Go anywhere carry anything tow anything. You cant put a mx bike in the back of a SUV or car. Owning a car or SUV is a waste of money. When these can do everything. Plus they handle big potholes in the road without poppin a tyre or bending a rim.
Having two young kids rear airbags would be a must for me , come on VW for something that cost over $70k surely you can throw in rear airbags even my wife’s Mazda 3 has rear airbags and that cost only $35K.
Darn we cannot get this in the USA, I love VW and would get this as a replacement for my Jetta. They would have to install rear airbags for the US market due to having 4 doors. .
Nice review. Totally agree with the comments re airbags, lane assist, adaptive cruise control. Come on Volkswagen get with the program. A vehicle of this price should have them. You can tell the commentator hasn’t been around VWs all that long as his comments re first dual cab for VW. Really? VW have had dual cabs since the 60s I believe.
Thanks, Julian. Well, this is certainly their first dual cab here, and I am almost certain the first dual cab they have built themselves -- yes there have been some rebadge efforts in the distant past, but this is an all-VW product.
I’m sorry to disagree with you however there have been twin cab transporter utes around since at least the 60s. Type ones, the classic split screen Aircooled Kombi’s. Definitely not rebadged from anyone else.
$16,000 kia = 6 airbags + emergency braking assistant + 5yr warranty $71,000 = 4 airbags... meanwhile in the US, $50k will get you a V8 diesel dual cab real truck with just about every possible option.... i really dont get it
the correct answer is: the consumer is stupid enough to buy it, if NOBODY bought it, that Ute would have 10 airbags by now.. simple as that, I would buy one, but at $72k with less airbags than a $16k Kia... nahhh
Volkswagen needed to offer a low and high gear box 4*4 with 8 speed manual or 9 speed transmission with V8&V6 diesels engines versions only for European America' & others parts of the globe with longer cabin and cargo bed.
An 8 speed manual might be a little tough to drive on the daily. A six speed manual is likely coming in 2019 and it'll have a locking rear differential
The lack of a transfer case with low range is the biggest disadvantage on an otherwise very appealing car. It may be ok going up obstacles for a while, but the torque converter is doing a lot of work and consequently everything will heat up over time. Downhill it has to rely on hill decent control which means the brakes. Therefore they will heat up after a while. For those of us who want to use the vehicle in mountainous country, these issues are deal breakers. Hopefully now that the new Mercedes X Class is coming out with the V6 and retains low range, Volkswagen may be tempted to change this. Then they might win a sale from me too.
Have to admit that I've always been puzzled by this class of vehicles. We don't have the Amarok in the US but we have many variations in what we call "crew cab" pickups. i.e. Two row pickups with (often severely) abbreviated beds. I simply don't understand the function they serve. The bed is almost useless for what a truck is designed to do. All I can imagine is that there is some unmet need for vehicles suitable for transporting tall home appliances but how many people need to haul a refrigerator or a washer/dryer from place to place? Is it meant to be suitable for taking home the haul of a hunting trip? Toss a dead kangaroo in the bed, perhaps? (Do Aussies hunt kangaroos?) I've come to the conclusion that in the US the vast majority of crew cab sales go to males who don't need a truck but do need to demonstrate their manhood without compromising the requirement to chauffeur the wife and kids around the neighborhood. I'm willing to be convinced otherwise; I'm just puzzled.
Stephen Hendricks this was a great read. We’re not allowed to hunt kangaroos. But there’s plenty dead on the road if you want to pick them up and carry them around. I’m sure the locals would thank you.
A pickup like this is still a very practical car, the bed is separated from the rest of the car which means that you can throw dirty stuff in there like mountain bikes or garden waste and you can still transport your family the rest of time. Because the SUV's in the price range of these pickups are actually based on them (eg Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest) and they come with the same equipment and features , only a slightly harsher ride, so if you go camping or do a lot of recreational activities the pickups do make sense, we use ours for those reasons at least. But I do agree with the demonstrating manhood thing, I'm South African and the amount Ford Rangers I see with stickers and lift kits everyday is astonishing, and most of them are squeaky clean.
Due to the cost of fuel in Aus we can't afford to have the big gas guzzling pick up trucks you guys in the US have. It's over a $1.50 per litre here. There is also the tax we pay for being on the other side of the world.... this car is $71k AUD. Also "utes" are incredibly capable cars, yes cars not trucks so you can fit into a Carpark still
Stephen Hendricks have you driven a full size crew cab truck? My brothers both have one. F150 and Silverado. They are Cadillac comfortable. The Silverado is used to hunt, work and tow daily. Hauls 5 dudes in comfort. The f150 is an ecoboost and will stomp a mud hole in most cars from a stop light. 0-60 in the mid 5s. Good in the snow. It’s used to tow and haul stuff daily as well. These trucks are really comfortable. Relaxed to drive. And quite fast for their size. I like you don’t understand the mid size truck segment. Pricey, not much better mileage, and small boxes.
@Clint Mullins. My comments were meant mainly for the next smaller size of crew cabs. And I'll grant that full size crew cabs have their uses and don't compromise much of what a pickup is designed to do. Have to say, though, that from the number of full size expensive, immaculate crew cabs I see on the streets, I have doubts that many (most?) are used for anything more than "stomp(ing)...most cars from a stop light" and supporting the driver's gender identity. No doubt that's not true for your brothers. :)
The first gear in the Amarok does not multiply shit. It is actually longer than first gear in the 6-speed manual. Wich means you are screwed, if you want to use your Amarok for towing heavy stuff, like they advertise it. I don't get why VW does not want low range in the 8speed amarok. Since there was an 8speed with low range in the touareg.
@@jonathanburch1777 Actually I do. I found that out while test driving one with our trailer with some garvel attached to it (about 3500kg). That was about a year ago. Sooo unless the changed something drastically......
Nothing has changed drastically, I tow reasonably often and it can definitely move 3.5t. It isn't that difficult to move 3.5 rolling tons. The problem that the auto has, is not the 1st gear... The 1st gear is definitely low enough, coupled to the torque converter. The problem is the reverse gear, it is not low enough and the gearbox limits torque transmission to only 200NM from idle. I have remedied this by means of software to remove torque limiting software. If your Amarok cannot move 3.5 tons... you have a problem.
@@jonathanburch1777 Luckily we didn't buy the Amarok. And youre right. While rolling there is no problem. But manuvering in D or R while on an incline overheated the transmission in about 20 seconds. (I tried a construction site entrance that I did with my ranger 2.2 in low rang) The amarok didn't get up the entrance to the main building without overheating. At first I planned to replace the 2012 ranger with that amarok. But I was disappointed with it's overall performance while working.
Such a boring out of date interior, $71,000 for a dual cab without the basic safety features of a $25,000 hyundai what a joke VW, then you need to talk about the appalling service VW are renown for
@@chasingcars True, the X Class does have the best interior but the price and servicing costs $$$$, and yes it's a shame the X Class has shared so many Nissan parts, good move for Nissan bad move for Mercedes
Same software, just the old screen size. Agreed that it isn’t good enough, but the actual infotainment operation is still right up there with the best.
I own a 2011 2.0 Amarok with 850 000km and a 2018 V6 Amarok with 25 000km. None of them have given me problems. If you take care of your car, service it when it needs too it can last long with a lot of milage like my 2011.
Appreciate a thorough comparison review of the Amarok V6 Ultimate, Ranger Raptor, Hilux Rugged X and Z71 Extreme .
The KING of the ute market needs to be crowned !
It's horses for courses. The Amarok is King On Road, Hilux King off road, bumpy on road. Ranger Raptor only tows 2.5 Tonne so won't be a a proposition for heavy towing. The Amarok is effectively full time 4WD so no slip sliding on the bitumen. Z71 is a great product for the price however build quality not up with the others. There is no King, just a bunch of different horses to suit your requirements.
I got my v6 today
Another great review, Tom. The Amorok is such a great drive. I had a 2ltr as a courtesy car while my Passat was serviced. I didn't want to give it back. The steering feels like a normal car, and refinement was great. I actually think it was quieter than the Passat. Give me one any day..!!
G'day
I've had an Ultima for 2 years now.
Its a nice car to drive. Long road trip is easy on driver and 1 passenger (2400km in 24 hours).
It has some frustrating features within the cab. Also it is lousy for access into the tray with the stupidly designed sports bar. Then there is no practical load security/tie down points. Not such in issue if you put on a canopy and convert the vehicle to a wagon.
It may not always beat other duel cabs at 4 wheel driving, It will often be more 4x4 than a lot of drivers can cope with. Most licensed drivers would not want to drive where the vehicle is capable of going.
Im impressed with his two voices! Nice Amarok though.
This pick up is fast af.
Nice one Tom. Tks for including pricing and acceleration numbers...although fuel economy and towing was curiously omitted🤔. Back seat volume looked very cramped with your 6ft frame giving it perspective. Another consistent review👍
Fuel economy is rated at 8.9L/100km, though we observed 8.5L/100km combined.
Towing like all Amarok V6s is rated at 3500kgs.
@@chasingcars That's impressive economy...rare that testing produces a lower number than advertised 🤔. Tks for replying with the extra data 👍
Still made one mistake... The rear cup holders are in fact full cup holders hahaha you just need to flip down the support.
Still better than the x-class
We think so, yes.
The x class is just a glorified nissan /Renault which happen to be shit utes. Which makes the x class a joke
I saw a brand new one of these with its bonnet up and it wasnt starting i believe. But its a cool vehicle
The Colorado actually has carpet lined door bins.
Yes it does, good point Sam.
Is unique color VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK is the best 💪💯💎👏⭐👍
You can call these dual purpose utes agricultural feeling but I'll tell you now a car or SUV has one purpose. Simply as transport!! Where these utes can do everything. Go anywhere carry anything tow anything. You cant put a mx bike in the back of a SUV or car. Owning a car or SUV is a waste of money. When these can do everything. Plus they handle big potholes in the road without poppin a tyre or bending a rim.
Very nice.
I wish I had your job Tom.
Perfect car
Imagine if they did like others have and make a 4WD wagon version.
They were talking about doing an Amarok-based SUV around 2 years ago, but that plan doesn't seem to have progressed.
Why is the video so dark!?
Sorry! Quite late in the day, not daylight savings yet.
I do like that. Good colours and good quality due to the polarising filter! 👍
Camera had sun glasses on.
I noticed a mistake in the description.
"Tom heads to Victoria to check out _Toyota's new small car."_
It's fixed now.
ZF 8 speed is an auto box, not a DSG....mate
Exactly as I said, then
Having two young kids rear airbags would be a must for me , come on VW for something that cost over $70k surely you can throw in rear airbags even my wife’s Mazda 3 has rear airbags and that cost only $35K.
Agreed Jeff, it's not good enough
This is a disappointment 😒
Darn we cannot get this in the USA, I love VW and would get this as a replacement for my Jetta.
They would have to install rear airbags for the US market due to having 4 doors. .
Nice review. Totally agree with the comments re airbags, lane assist, adaptive cruise control. Come on Volkswagen get with the program. A vehicle of this price should have them. You can tell the commentator hasn’t been around VWs all that long as his comments re first dual cab for VW. Really? VW have had dual cabs since the 60s I believe.
Thanks, Julian. Well, this is certainly their first dual cab here, and I am almost certain the first dual cab they have built themselves -- yes there have been some rebadge efforts in the distant past, but this is an all-VW product.
I’m sorry to disagree with you however there have been twin cab transporter utes around since at least the 60s. Type ones, the classic split screen Aircooled Kombi’s. Definitely not rebadged from anyone else.
I wonder how long until VW release their next gen amarok??
At least two years, I’d bet.
Chasing Cars imagine an Amarok R with an Audi V12 Tdi
@@Tilan123 won't work out in today's economy lol.
$16,000 kia = 6 airbags + emergency braking assistant + 5yr warranty
$71,000 = 4 airbags...
meanwhile in the US, $50k will get you a V8 diesel dual cab real truck with just about every possible option.... i really dont get it
But when US average incomes are half that of Australia, it’s not that comparable
Yeah but's it's a Kia and not a 4WD Ute. Silly comparison.
200 kW?!!!!!!
COME TO EUROPE, pleaaaaaaaase
Tom Baker? Didn't you used to be Dr Who? :)
Used to be. Now I’m a car reviewer.
Service $ ?
I've always wondered as to why still no rear seat airbag? Anyone???
HQ just won’t agree to modify the current generation’s construction to fit them. It’s not good enough.
the correct answer is: the consumer is stupid enough to buy it, if NOBODY bought it, that Ute would have 10 airbags by now.. simple as that, I would buy one, but at $72k with less airbags than a $16k Kia... nahhh
Most European car manufacturer have adequate airbags.
I just feel like VW is taking consumer's for that variant for granted.
Volkswagen needed to offer a low and high gear box 4*4 with 8 speed manual or 9 speed transmission with V8&V6 diesels engines versions only for European America' & others parts of the globe with longer cabin and cargo bed.
An 8 speed manual might be a little tough to drive on the daily. A six speed manual is likely coming in 2019 and it'll have a locking rear differential
The lack of a transfer case with low range is the biggest disadvantage on an otherwise very appealing car. It may be ok going up obstacles for a while, but the torque converter is doing a lot of work and consequently everything will heat up over time. Downhill it has to rely on hill decent control which means the brakes. Therefore they will heat up after a while. For those of us who want to use the vehicle in mountainous country, these issues are deal breakers. Hopefully now that the new Mercedes X Class is coming out with the V6 and retains low range, Volkswagen may be tempted to change this. Then they might win a sale from me too.
is the 8 spd a torque converter?
Yes it is Cyril
Probs just ripped out the emissions controls
Have to admit that I've always been puzzled by this class of vehicles. We don't have the Amarok in the US but we have many variations in what we call "crew cab" pickups. i.e. Two row pickups with (often severely) abbreviated beds. I simply don't understand the function they serve. The bed is almost useless for what a truck is designed to do. All I can imagine is that there is some unmet need for vehicles suitable for transporting tall home appliances but how many people need to haul a refrigerator or a washer/dryer from place to place? Is it meant to be suitable for taking home the haul of a hunting trip? Toss a dead kangaroo in the bed, perhaps? (Do Aussies hunt kangaroos?)
I've come to the conclusion that in the US the vast majority of crew cab sales go to males who don't need a truck but do need to demonstrate their manhood without compromising the requirement to chauffeur the wife and kids around the neighborhood. I'm willing to be convinced otherwise; I'm just puzzled.
Stephen Hendricks this was a great read.
We’re not allowed to hunt kangaroos. But there’s plenty dead on the road if you want to pick them up and carry them around. I’m sure the locals would thank you.
A pickup like this is still a very practical car, the bed is separated from the rest of the car which means that you can throw dirty stuff in there like mountain bikes or garden waste and you can still transport your family the rest of time. Because the SUV's in the price range of these pickups are actually based on them (eg Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest) and they come with the same equipment and features , only a slightly harsher ride, so if you go camping or do a lot of recreational activities the pickups do make sense, we use ours for those reasons at least. But I do agree with the demonstrating manhood thing, I'm South African and the amount Ford Rangers I see with stickers and lift kits everyday is astonishing, and most of them are squeaky clean.
Due to the cost of fuel in Aus we can't afford to have the big gas guzzling pick up trucks you guys in the US have. It's over a $1.50 per litre here. There is also the tax we pay for being on the other side of the world.... this car is $71k AUD.
Also "utes" are incredibly capable cars, yes cars not trucks so you can fit into a Carpark still
Stephen Hendricks have you driven a full size crew cab truck? My brothers both have one. F150 and Silverado. They are Cadillac comfortable. The Silverado is used to hunt, work and tow daily. Hauls 5 dudes in comfort. The f150 is an ecoboost and will stomp a mud hole in most cars from a stop light. 0-60 in the mid 5s. Good in the snow. It’s used to tow and haul stuff daily as well. These trucks are really comfortable. Relaxed to drive. And quite fast for their size. I like you don’t understand the mid size truck segment. Pricey, not much better mileage, and small boxes.
@Clint Mullins. My comments were meant mainly for the next smaller size of crew cabs. And I'll grant that full size crew cabs have their uses and don't compromise much of what a pickup is designed to do. Have to say, though, that from the number of full size expensive, immaculate crew cabs I see on the streets, I have doubts that many (most?) are used for anything more than "stomp(ing)...most cars from a stop light" and supporting the driver's gender identity. No doubt that's not true for your brothers. :)
Cool man
The first gear in the Amarok does not multiply shit. It is actually longer than first gear in the 6-speed manual. Wich means you are screwed, if you want to use your Amarok for towing heavy stuff, like they advertise it.
I don't get why VW does not want low range in the 8speed amarok. Since there was an 8speed with low range in the touareg.
You don't know what you are talking about
@@jonathanburch1777
Actually I do. I found that out while test driving one with our trailer with some garvel attached to it (about 3500kg). That was about a year ago. Sooo unless the changed something drastically......
Nothing has changed drastically, I tow reasonably often and it can definitely move 3.5t. It isn't that difficult to move 3.5 rolling tons. The problem that the auto has, is not the 1st gear... The 1st gear is definitely low enough, coupled to the torque converter. The problem is the reverse gear, it is not low enough and the gearbox limits torque transmission to only 200NM from idle. I have remedied this by means of software to remove torque limiting software. If your Amarok cannot move 3.5 tons... you have a problem.
@@jonathanburch1777
Luckily we didn't buy the Amarok.
And youre right. While rolling there is no problem. But manuvering in D or R while on an incline overheated the transmission in about 20 seconds. (I tried a construction site entrance that I did with my ranger 2.2 in low rang)
The amarok didn't get up the entrance to the main building without overheating.
At first I planned to replace the 2012 ranger with that amarok. But I was disappointed with it's overall performance while working.
Also, bit of a rip off, typical Australia. What does AUD $80k get you in the states??
A lot more, but incomes are far lower in the US
80grand in Canada gets you a 3/4 ton full size pick up with full leather and at least 400hp . That Amarok is a kids toy.
Just give the thing a proper facelift!
Does it need it? I reckon it’s still a looker
@@chasingcars Maybe the back. It's been the same since 2010.
Does it have a separate low range gearbox?
No. 1st gear is very low, however
was this guy in Breaking Bad?
amarok is better than any Bakkie in the world
All it needs is a steel bulbar.
you'd think for a 90k car they'd make it more roomy in the back.
It is pretty tight back there.
It's $71k before on roads, not $90k.
Way to expensive for a pick up truck
People will paid or buy Volkswagen Amarok.
Prefer the x-class interior
Fair enough. Good to test-drive both.
Its good but has too much Navara bits.
Dual cab ute? We say double cab pick up. This guy is Australian, he sounds Austrian?
I don’t think I sound Austrian
Here in South Africa we say Double cab Bakkie...
In South Africa we say double cab bakkie.
just buy a caddy 4wd... you'll save a lot of money with same interior as every boring VW
Not very cool looking though
@@chasingcars true but is definetely too expensive. btw,great review as usual
And yet this boring interior is the best one you can get in a ute
Who the F* maxes out the torque and power levels anyway except when purposely doing an acceleration test?
Overtaking perhaps. If you’re at full throttle in any gear it will hit maximum power and torque before it upshifts.
Such a boring out of date interior, $71,000 for a dual cab without the basic safety features of a $25,000 hyundai what a joke VW, then you need to talk about the appalling service VW are renown for
I would say the X-Class is the only ute not to have an ‘out of date’ interior design but it also has no storage space, and loads of Nissan parts..
@@chasingcars True, the X Class does have the best interior but the price and servicing costs $$$$, and yes it's a shame the X Class has shared so many Nissan parts, good move for Nissan bad move for Mercedes
268hp haha weak
It’s a diesel, remember. Torque is real story
Ford ooiiiio
Haha. $71k for old infotainment system. No thanks... what a joke.
Same software, just the old screen size. Agreed that it isn’t good enough, but the actual infotainment operation is still right up there with the best.
The shade of it all!
You’ll find that infotainment is one of the easiest to use. The screen size needs to be bigger though.
I wouldn't buy anything VW shit company. Very bad reputation.
Mark Austin what a joke they are a bucket of shit VW full stop
I own a 2011 2.0 Amarok with 850 000km and a 2018 V6 Amarok with 25 000km. None of them have given me problems. If you take care of your car, service it when it needs too it can last long with a lot of milage like my 2011.
Vw is dead
Bernie Sutton 😂😂
Just like that ornament between your ears