By Malusi Msomi

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has announced that the new Volkswagen Amarok will go on sale in South Africa on 18th March 2023. The company has already sold over 830,000 units of the first-generation Amarok worldwide. The new Amarok range will consist of five trim lines: Amarok, Life, Style, PanAmericana, and Aventura. The Amarok will be proudly built in South Africa alongside the new Ranger at Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria.

The design

The new Amarok is longer than its predecessor, and the wheelbase is wider, resulting in a bigger cabin, particularly on the double cab’s second row of seats. The new Amarok range will consist of five trim lines: Amarok, Life, Style, PanAmericana, and Aventura. All models come standard with LED headlights. The Amarok PanAmericana and Amarok Aventura will feature IQ.LIGHT LED headlight.

Interior

The new Amarok’s interior comes with intuitive controls, digital cockpit, and tablet-style infotainment display. The new digital cockpit features a 10 or 12-inch screen with self-explanatory and digital displays, providing a better view and extensive control options. The infotainment system’s volume and four-wheel drive system settings are controlled via hard keys.

Four diesel engines and options and new 10 speed auto

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will offer four turbo diesel engines for the new Amarok in South Africa, all of which are efficient and high in torque. The engines include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine delivering 110 kW, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine delivering 125 kW, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine with bi-turbocharging delivering 154 kW, and a 3.0-litre V6 engine delivering 184 kW. The top three engines come with a 10-speed automatic gearbox, while there are also 5-and 6-speed manual gearboxes and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The fuel consumption of each engine varies, with the 2.0 TDI 110kW having a consumption of 6.9 litres/100km, the 2.0 TDI 125kW having a consumption of 6.9 litres/100km, the 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION having a consumption of 7.5 litres/100km, and the 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION having a consumption of 8.4 litres/100km.

Model line-up

Amarok single cab

The new Amarok Single Cab is available in three derivatives: Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 110kW (Low Rider) 5-speed manual, Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125kW 6-speed manual and Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125kW 4MOTION 6-speed manual. Standard features include airbags, Bluetooth connectivity, infotainment screen, and trailer hitch. The Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125kW 4×2 and 4MOTION also include rear differential lock.

Amarok double cab

The base Amarok Double Cab comes in three versions with manual transmission, and additional features such as all-terrain tires, side steps, driver knee airbag, Park Distance Control (rear), rear view camera, and cruise control are included in addition to the standard features of the Amarok Single Cab.
It includes all the features of the Amarok Double Cab, along with additional features like alloy wheels, seat heating, and privacy windows. The Amarok Life also includes Park Distance Control, a leather multi-function steering wheel, and electronic parking brake.

Amarok Style

The Amarok Style comes with additional features compared to the Amarok Life, including 18-inch Amadora alloy wheels, load bed liner, tonneau cover, and cargo management system. It also has side steps, chrome tubular styling bar, high beam light assist, and safety features such as multi-collision break system, autonomous emergency braking, and lane assist. Other features include tyre pressure monitor, USB port, mobile inductive charging, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, leather seats, heated front seats, ambient lighting, a large infotainment system, and keyless entry and push button start.

Amarok PanAmericana

The new Amarok PanAmericana comes in four derivatives with the standard features of the Amarok Style, including black 18-inch Amadora alloy wheels, electric roller cover, and cargo management system (Comfort Package). It also comes with IQ.Light LED headlights, LED tail lights, improved suspension, black tubular styling bar, silver roof rails, metal underbody protection, rear cross traffic alert, Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Area View 360° camera, Harmon Kardon sound system, Discover Media navigation system, Cricket leather seats, and rubber floor mats.

Amarok Aventura

The top-of-the-line Amarok model is the Aventura 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, which includes all the features of the Amarok PanAmericana, plus chrome finishes, 21-inch Varberg alloy wheels, body-color sports bar, electric roller cover for the load bed, and premium carpet floor mats. The only optional feature is the exterior paint color, with a choice of eight options.

Safety

On the safety front, the new Amarok comes equipped with new driver assistance systems, including Area view 360° camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear traffic alert, electronic parking brake, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Assist, Park Assist, Light Assist, and Evasive Steering.

Pricing

Amarok 2.0 TDI 110kW 5-speed manual R599 000
Amarok 2.0 TDI 125kW 6-speed manual R650 500
Amarok 2.0 TDI 125kW 4MOTION 6-speed manual R721 500
Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125kW 6-speed manual R683 500
Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125kW 4MOTION 6-speed manual R738 000
Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125kW 4MOTION 6-speed auto R760 000
Amarok Life 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R825 500
Amarok Style 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R900 000
Amarok Style 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package) R919 500
Amarok Style 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R966 000
Amarok Style 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package) R985 500
Amarok PanAmericana 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R987 000
Amarok PanAmericana 2.0 BiTDI 154kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package) R1 017 000
Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R1 053 000
Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package) R1 083 000
Amarok Aventura 3.0 TDI V6 184kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto R1 105 000