1 Feb 2011
The VW Amarok was the first member of the one-tonne utility segment to offer a five-star safety rating, electronic stability control, four airbags and sub-8.0L/100km fuel consumption across the range.
The Amarok’s T5-sourced twin-turbo 2.0-litre common-rail direct-injection four-cylinder diesel engine delievered 120kW at 4000rpm and 400Nm of torque between 1500 and 2500rpm – hence the ‘TDI400’ name applied across the range.
It was mated exclusively to a six-speed ZF manual transmission, which in the sole 2WD model returned combined average fuel consumption of just 7.7L/100km and CO2 emissions of 203g/km, and in 4x4 models returned 7.9L/100km and 209g/km.
The range had a GVM of 3040kg and payload of almost 1200kg.
Base Amarok buyers got twin front and side head/thorax airbags, front seatbelt tensioners, five-point seatbelts and head restraints for all five occupants, plus potentially life-saving ESC stability control. Obviously, these were also standard on higher-specified models in the line-up.
The base model 2WD model came with power windows/mirrors, air-conditioning, AM/FM/CD audio, reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel and one-touch lane-change indicators, while all Amaroks come with a generous 2800kg towing capacity, 280kg towball down-weight rating, double wishbone suspension and disc brakes up front and a live rear axle with drum brakes.
The 4WD line-up had four spec levels – TDI400 4Motion, Trendline, Highline and Ultimate. The base model had the aame specification inside as the 2WD derivation, while The TDI400 4Motion Trendline added a body-coloured front bumper, door-handles and wing mirrors, foglights, 16-inch alloys, ‘Trail’ interior trim, cruise control and multi-function display (both of which optional on the base model), a tray-mounted 12-volt power outlet and a matt-black rear bumper which allowed the tailgate to drop only to horizontal.
The TDI400 4Motion Highline got buyers chromed exterior highlights, 18-inch ‘Durban’ alloys, plastic wheel-arch flares, ‘Endless’ interior trim in Anthracite or Mendoza colour choices, an RCD510 sound system, alarm, rear privacy glass and dual-zone climate-control. The flagship Amarok ‘Ultimate’ is available in either selectable 4Motion 4x4 guise with heavy-duty suspension, or with a full-time 4Motion 4x4 system with comfort suspension.
