Volkswagen Amarok Aventura offers luxury and performance
Murali Naidu
The all-new Volkswagen Amarok Aventura now has a million rand price tag. It delivers the versatility that excels at heavy-duty work and a luxurious family vehicle.
There are 16 double cabs and three single variants to choose from. It ranges from the entry-level starting Amarok 2.0 TDI manual at R 599 000 and the top-of-the-range Amarok Aventura 3.0 TDI V6 priced at R1,138,200, which we sampled.
Design-wise, the front has horizontal LED daytime running headlights with High Beam Assist, a helpful feature in night driving situations, a front bumper, and a grey X-shaped grille with the car painted striking blue.
The Amarok Aventura came with standard half-round wheel arches and 21-inch Varberg alloy wheels. Towards the rear end, it has a beefy and muscular presence. It's rounded off well. You also have the slim taillights, the prominent "Amarok" logo, a folding rear bench, sidestep plates, and silver roof rails. It's also powered by a rollover that can be operated using the key fob or inside the cargo area.
Inside the cabin, you'll notice similarities to its Ford counterpart. The central console has a spacious 12-inch display and a multi-information display digital cluster. Still, the set-up resembles the Ford Ranger with minor nuances; the control buttons, electronic shifter, and dials are in the middle.
However, the multifunction steering wheel is distinctly Volkswagen. All the expected modern amenities are present, including climate control, heated seats both for the rear and front occupants, the front seats are also electrically adjustable, and provisions for USB, 12-volt, and AC220-volt charging options.
Some additional features include lane-keeping assist, Adaptive cruise control, seven airbags and a tire pressure monitor followed by an electric childproof safety lock switch.
Ample storage space is available within the door panels, central console, and storage cubby. Overall, the interior of the Amarok provides a comfortable environment to spend time, whether during the monotonous hours of traffic or traversing through rugged terrain.
The Aventura model pushes out 184kW and 600Nm of torque from the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine paired with a ten-speed automatic gearbox. Its Acceleration time is 0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds.
It offers more torque than the V6 TDI in the previous-gen Amarok and two additional gears in the transmission. It's solid and capable of towing up to 3,500kg, surpassing the previous bakkie's 3,100kg capacity, which was exclusively equipped with full-time AWD.
You can choose between 2WD and 4WD with a low-range ratio, and the vehicle features a rear diff-lock and a terrain response controller. The wading depth has also improved to an impressive 800mm compared to the previous Amarok's 500mm.
The new Amarok maintains highway speeds effortlessly and provides an enjoyable driving experience. The steering is light and easy to wield; overall, it's a refined torque-rich motor paired with a delightful suspension that tactfully absorbs the bumps and uneasy road conditions; the Aventura has cultivated a fine blend of smoothness in city driving coupled with off-roading prowess.
When using active cruise control for autonomous braking and throttle control, the bakkie returned an average fuel consumption of 11.4l/ 100 kilometres, which falls short of Volkswagen's claimed 8.4l/100km.
The competition includes the Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 double cab Legend RS auto, priced at R1,003,000 and the Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 Wildtrak 4WD, going for R1,026,400- yes, the Amarok shares the same engine and platform.
Still, it looks different on the exterior but wears that VW badge proudly, even if it is a Ford beneath the bonnet; however, it might depend on personal preference; one must decipher which vehicle gives the best maintenance plan and warranty services.
Indeed, for the price tag, you get luxury and power. Feeling like a king is par for the course.
The Volkswagen Amarok comes with a Five-year/100,000km maintenance plan and a Four-year/120,000km warranty plan.
