Volkswagen is no stranger to commercial vehicles, yet its Amarok was still a surprise entrant to the ute segment dominated by American and Japanese manufacturers.
It made an impact on the safety front, too, when it became the first ute to gain a five-star independent crash rating.
The Volkswagen Amarok was also differentiated by a drivetrain that was sophisticated for the segment - a twin-turbocharged diesel mated to an eight-speed auto. A powerful V6 joined the range in 2016.
Pros
Cons
Refined turbo diesel, powerful V6
Slick eight-speed automatic
Capable off-road
Excellent ride comfort laden or unladen
Lower carrying capacity of models with Comfort Suspension
V6 model not cheap
Lack of rear curtain airbags in dual-cab variant
Rear-seat space less than that of some key rivals
This is general information and should not be relied on as purchasing advice.