New Volkswagen Amarok: Australian range confirmed with petrol, diesel, manual, auto choices

2 August 2022

Volkswagen opts for a remarkably broad range of variants, engines and transmissions for its incoming second-generation Amarok ute

It may share platforms and engines with the latest Ford Ranger, but the incoming second-generation Volkswagen Amarok does not share the Blue Oval’s approach to product planning.

Volkswagen will sell its version of the T6.2-chassis ute in Australia with a broader range of engines than Ford has opted to do with the Ranger, while a manual gearbox will remain in the Amarok lineup – though only when paired to the most modest diesel four-cylinder engine and not with a V6.

Volkswagen Amarok 2023 interior — The new Amarok has a large vertical touchscreen fitted to all grades

Set to be released in Australia in early in the first quarter of next year – likely January or February 2023 – the Amarok will be available in five trim grades.

Local pricing has not yet been released for the new Amarok, which was largely designed and developed in Australia – but the new Ranger line-up spans from $35,930 to $85,490 before on-road costs. Our team has considered how much the Amarok could cost in Australia in a previous article.

These five grades begin with the simply-named Amarok base grade, the second-tier Life and the mid-spec Style. From there, the new Amarok line diverges with a double-headed flagship strategy: a more rugged, off-road focussed Pan-Americana model, and a street-style Aventura model.

Five grades of Amarok will come to Australia, including the new Pan-Americana model

On arrival, the Amarok will compete with not only the new Ranger, but other capable dual-cab 4×4 utes like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and GWM Ute.

Volkswagen Amarok Australian line-up: key points

Five trim grades confirmed: base, Life, Style, Pan-Americana, Aventura
Three engines available in Australia in four configurations
Turbo petrol four-cylinder to be optional on Amarok, unavailable on Ranger
Base grade retains the option of a manual-4×4 configuration

V6 diesel, diesel four-cylinder and surprise turbo-petrol four

Volkswagen had already confirmed it would continue to offer a V6 engine with the new Amarok, and the diesel six-cylinder will be available across three of the five grades: Style, Pan-Americana, and Aventura.

While there was initially debate about which manufacturer would supply the Amarok’s engine, it has been clear since the reveal of the Amarok Mk II that the 3.0-litre engine would be the Ford-PSA Lion six-cylinder that makes 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque – the same as in the new Ranger.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2022 V6 engine — Ford’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 engine will be available on the new Amarok

In a twist, the Aventura will be optionally available with a petrol engine: not the Ranger Raptor’s twin-turbo petrol V6, but instead a 2.3-litre single-turbo petrol four-cylinder that makes 222kW/452Nm.

The turbo-petrol four, which is only available in the Amarok Aventura, also does service in Ford’s Mustang coupe and convertible and was used in the previous-generation Focus RS in a higher state of tune.

Ford’s 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder is fitted to the base Amarok (in single-turbo 125kW/405Nm guide) and the Life (in twin-turbo 154kW/500Nm configuration). The twin-turbo diesel ‘four is the base engine in the Amarok Style, though that trim allows buyers to option the 3.0-litre diesel V6.

Volkswagen Amarok 2023 Aventura rear end — The Aventura grade (pictured) can be optioned with a turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine

The turbo petrol, twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder and diesel V6 versions of the Amarok use a 10-speed torque converter automatic – but the single-turbo diesel gives entry-level buyers a choice of a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. Ford does not offer a new manual Ranger in Australia.

All grades are four-wheel drive as standard, though the 4×4 systems do differ across the range. With the V6 and turbo petrol engines, it is a permanent 4WD-Auto system (with selectable low range), while in the diesel four-cylinder it is a selectable 4WD system that runs in 2WD mode (rear-wheel drive) on the road.

Standard features in Australia for Amarok by trim grade

Volkswagen says the incoming Amarok grades essentially line up with the outgoing first-gen VW ute, with the base model replacing the old Core, the Life replacing the Sportline, the Style replacing the Highline, the Pan-Americana replacing the Canyon, and the Aventura continuing.

There’s no news yet of a continuation of the Amarok Walkinshaw line that saw first-gen ‘Roks sub-assembled in Melbourne into Australia-specific trim grades, though Volkswagen has repeatedly claimed it’s hopeful the partnership will continue with the new vehicle.