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Aussies emotion a dual-cab ute, and Aussies besides emotion doing dual-cab utes up with tailored accessories and add-ons to suit their manner needs.
It has meant a goldmine for the aftermarket, but successful caller years astir manufacturers person been releasing much and much genuine and warranty-backed accessories to support customers wrong marque showrooms.
In galore cases, manufacturers person established beardown partnerships with third-party suppliers that would usually work the aftermarket.
The 2024 Volkswagen Amarok is beauteous caller successful market, having gone connected merchantability past twelvemonth based connected the susceptible underpinnings of the latest Ford Ranger. Like its Ford-branded relative, we deliberation it’s a conception benchmark.
While not rather the runaway occurrence connected the income charts arsenic the top-ranked Ford, the second-gen Amarok has been mounting income records successful Australia, achieving an all-time monthly income grounds of 1011 successful October past year, and an mean of 854 Australian monthly income since it launched successful May.
In 2024, VW Commercial Vehicles Australia says its connected way to conscionable its 10,200-unit Amarok forecast for the year, which would beryllium astir treble its 2023 effect and overmuch much competitory with the likes of the Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50 for yearly volume.
But VW Commercial Vehicles Australia wasn’t contented with ‘just’ having a Ranger alternate successful showrooms, and it’s present gone and developed a scope of accessories including canopies, camping gear, assistance kits and more.
All tin beryllium bought from and fitted by the brand’s nationalist trader web spanning implicit 100 locations, and each are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
We joined a media showcase of a assortment of the caller Amarok accessories scope successful Victoria, to spot whether it’s worthy buying in-house for your Amarok add-ons.
Note: As this reappraisal chiefly revolves astir the accessories range, we’ve focused connected related areas similar pricing and thrust impressions. Notably, interior and powertrain sections person been near out.
How overmuch does the Volkswagen Amarok cost?
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia has introduced a fig of MY24 drive-away deals for the Amarok.
2024 Volkswagen Amarok drive-away offers:
| Model Variant | Drive-away price |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405 | $57,490 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500 | $61,490 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Style TDI500 | $71,740 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Style TDI600 | $75,740 |
Each drive-away connection includes a complimentary five-year Care Plan, which is valued astatine $1900 for MY24 (+$100).
The wider scope has seen terms rises against recommended retail pricing (RRP) but these person been offset somewhat by added equipment. All models get an physics brake controller arsenic modular (normally $1180 fitted) and a tow shot ($33), portion the basal Core picks up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Otherwise, trim offerings and wide specifications stay unchanged.
2024 Volkswagen Amarok pricing:
| Model Variant | $RRP |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405 | $55,490 (+$2500) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500 | $59,490 (+$2500) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Style TDI500 | $69,740 (+$2750) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Style TDI600 | $73,740 (+$2750) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 | $78,990 (+$3000) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452 | $82,990 (+$3000) |
| 2024 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TDI600 | $82,990 (+$3000) |
All prices exclude on-road costs
As for the accessories, we won’t bore you with the afloat three-page array of the full scope positive pricing, but we’ll item the header ones beneath with their respective prices arsenic fitted.
For much accusation connected the Amarok accessories range, sojourn the brand’s website.
Accessories pricing:
Off-Road Expedition range
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| Amarok beforehand 40mm assistance kit – Heavy Suspension To suit Amarok V6 / with bullbar | $1600 |
| Amarok beforehand 40mm assistance kit | $1505 |
| Amarok rear 40mm assistance kit – 300kg changeless loading | $2510 |
| Amarok rear 40mm assistance kit | $2315 |
| Full underbody conveyance protection | $1655 |
| Wheel arch flares – matte black | $1640 |
| Nudge barroom – metallic oregon black Includes integrated LED airy bar | $1600 |
| Snorkel To suit Amarok V6 | $1120 |
| Recovery boards – grey | $365 |
| Amarok Snatch Kit – betterment container set | $225 |
Canopy range
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| High-spec canopy with sliding windows left, close and helping lock | $5825 |
| High-spec canopy with sliding window | $5650 |
| High-spec canopy with swinging window | $6185 |
| Roof rack with overhang – mounting connected canopy | $730 |
| J-brace canopy mounting | $490 |
Roof transport
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| Roof bars with overhang To suit mill extortion rails | $465 |
| Roof bars without overhang To suit mill extortion rails | $605 |
| Roof bas with overhang To suit without mill extortion rails | $600 |
| Platform mount Requires extortion bars | $1440 |
| Roof apical structure – 2 person, Amarok branding Requires extortion bars | $3345 |
Rollcover range
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| Electric rotation screen – black Not for Amarok Aventura | $4690 |
| Manual rotation screen – aluminium oregon black | $4255 |
| Soft tonneau cover To suit vehicles with load rest | $1895 |
| Soft tonneau cover To suit vehicles with styling bar | $1305 |
| Soft tonneau cover To suit vehicles without styling bar | $1305 |
| Modular bedliner To suit Core, Life, Style | $910 |
Styling bar
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| Styling barroom agelong – stainless alloy oregon matte black To suit Core, Life, Style | $2975 |
Electrical accessories
| Description | RRP Fitted (incl. GST) |
| Auxiliary artillery kit – nether bonnet In development | $TBC |
| Auxiliary artillery kit – tub mounted In development | $TBC |
| Accessory power slope kit | $1070 |
How does the Volkswagen Amarok drive?
We had 3 chiseled thrust programs for antithetic accessories and packs, truthful I’ll signpost them arsenic such.
Towing
Our archetypal limb was a back-to-back tow trial successful some TDI600 and TDI500 versions of the Amarok, with tremendous Jayco Silverline caravans hitched to the rear – weighing betwixt 2930kg and 3100kg arsenic towed.
I rode shotgun successful an Amarok Style TDI600 to statesman with, with the heavier 3.1t Outback variant of the Jayco Silverline successful tow. For the record, some caravans connected trial were astir 9.0m agelong and 2.6m wide.
Ben Triebels, merchandise manager for the Amarok astatine Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia, was aviator for this limb and gave maine a clang people (not literally) successful towing larger caravans, and besides gave maine tutorials for each the assorted systems.
For example, the Amarok’s Tow/Haul Mode has assorted adjuvant features to get you each acceptable up earlier you deed the road.
Once the mode is selected, you tin input the dimensions of your trailer and the vehicle’s systems volition tailor themselves accordingly.
Blind-spot monitoring volition accommodate its scope to relationship for the magnitude of the trailer, and rear cross-traffic alert volition beryllium deactivated erstwhile a trailer is hitched.
The travel machine volition besides show substance ratio information for the Amarok erstwhile hooked up to that circumstantial trailer, and volition amusement a corresponding driving range. You tin prevention up to 10 antithetic trailers successful the infotainment system, and arsenic you prime each 1 each the related information volition beryllium shown truthful you person the astir close accusation astatine hand.
Like the Ford Ranger, you tin besides behaviour a airy trial that volition tally a series of checks for each airy 5 times, truthful that you don’t request to person idiosyncratic lasting retired the backmost yelling retired if each airy does oregon doesn’t work.
There’s besides a nine-step trailer transportation checklist truthful you don’t miss anything.
Anyway, with the 3.1t caravan connected the backmost the V6-powered Amarok pulled powerfully and smoothly, with the selected Tow/Haul exemplary optimising gearshifts for amended performance. The V6 Amarok volition besides automatically prosecute its 4A driveline mounting successful this mode.
What this means is that the Amarok volition clasp gears for longer to guarantee the motor show is champion suited to towing conditions, alternatively than chasing ratio with earlier displacement points. It’ll besides motor brake successful each guardant gears, and adjusts said motor braking by brake pedal input.
With Mr Triebels astatine the instrumentality it was each creaseless sailing, and it was rather awesome however the Amarok TDI600 remained settled and comparatively refined with specified a large load astatine the back. The trial conveyance was besides fitted with the 40mm assistance kit accessory, for reference.
At times determination was a small spot of bounce successful the thrust astatine higher speeds implicit span joins and harsher roadworthy undulations and imperfections, but astatine nary constituent did it look similar the VW was hitting its limits.
After a speedy pit halt and operator change, it was my turn.
Full disclosure: I’m not a regular tower, and the 2.9t Jayco Silverline Tourer caravan hooked up to the Amarok Life TDI500 I drove is easy the largest tow load I’ve ever experienced. That said, I recovered it each amazingly easy.
While the 2.0-litre BiTurbo diesel lacks the outright punch of the V6 (154kW/500Nm v 184kW/600Nm) arsenic good arsenic the much blase four-wheel thrust strategy with 4A mode which tin prosecute connected sealed surfaces, the four-pot Amarok did an admirable occupation of hauling specified a large rig without truly feeling underdone.
Sure it had to enactment that small spot harder than the V6, but the Amarok TDI500 inactive managed to connection bully effect and was much than susceptible of getting to road speeds with capable pace, and felt precise planted and unafraid adjacent connected twistier sections of road.
My limb successful the driver’s spot was mostly spent navigating the winding backmost roads headed into Gembrook, passing done Yarra Glen, which included plentifulness of hills, bumpy and skinny B-roads, arsenic good arsenic T-intersections and roundabouts that necessitate that other spot of thought erstwhile towing specified a large load.
Braking was made a small easier acknowledgment to the integrated physics brake controller, which dissimilar immoderate aftermarket systems monitors instrumentality velocity and brake input information to gradually use throttle overmuch similar the vehicle’s brakes, alternatively than conscionable activating the trailer brakes erstwhile the brake lights are on.
The summation tin beryllium acceptable connected a standard of 1-9, and determination are preset Low, Medium and High settings erstwhile mounting up a trailer illustration successful the Tow/Haul mode for added convenience. For our 2 large ol’ caravans, the summation was acceptable to High.
Numerous times I had to dilatory reasonably rapidly from 80-100km/h approaching a roundabout oregon intersection and I was impressed with however linear and close brake effect was. Not erstwhile did I fastener them up.
The modular mirrors provided bully visibility of the trailer’s sides truthful I was capable to spot the caravan nicely and support it betwixt the roadworthy markings without excessively overmuch effort.
Volkswagen is besides processing due towing reflector accessories to adhd an adjacent wider scope of visibility portion besides decently integrating with blind-spot and surround-view camera systems.
Another amusive information is the one-touch indicators volition automatically power to 5 flashes alternatively of 3 erstwhile Tow/Haul mode is engaged. All of these things helped to animate confidence, and instrumentality immoderate of the complexity retired of towing.
Lift kit on-road
Our 2nd trial was a back-to-back thrust of 2 Amarok Style models – 1 fitted with the 40mm assistance kit accessory and the different with the modular suspension setup. VW sources the packages from Aussie supplier Old Man Emu, portion of ARB.
I’ll emblem archetypal up that the assistance kit-equipped Amarok was a TDI600 V6, portion the modular moving cogwheel was fitted to a TDI500 BiTurbo. Either way, it was little astir motor show and much astir the thrust and handling here.
Now 40mm is rather a important lift, and it’s not similar the modular Amarok is simply a low-riding vehicle. With the accessory suspension strategy fitted, the Amarok rides 275mm high, arsenic opposed to the modular 235mm.
If that has you reasoning that the assistance kit volition person the Amarok crook into a leaning, wallowing mess, you’d beryllium wrong.
The modular Amarok was already 1 of the better-riding dual-cabs connected the market, overmuch similar its Ford Ranger level mate. With the assistance kit added, the Amarok’s thrust noticeably improves with nary existent compromise successful handling quality oregon assemblage control.
Hitting the B-roads surrounding Gembrook en way to Phillip Island via Pakenham successful Victoria’s southbound east, the raised Amarok drives adjacent much similar an SUV than before.
Keeping successful caput this is simply a commercialized conveyance with rear leafage springs designed to inactive tow 3.5t and connection implicit 900kg of payload, the unladen Amarok Style TDI600 with assistance kit strikes a large equilibrium connected road.
Bump absorption and isolation is excellent, portion turn-in and roadholding remains beardown for a conveyance of this type. It astir eliminates the rear jitters implicit sharper hits and settles amended astatine higher speeds.
It besides appears to trim roadworthy sound wrong acknowledgment to the compartment being adjacent further distant from the ground.
By examination the modular setup successful the BiTurbo was inactive bully but felt noticeably firmer and was unsettled much easy by immoderate of the nastier sections of blacktop connected Victoria’s Bass Highway.
As is communal successful unladen dual-cab utilities, there’s an inherent firmness successful the mode the leaf-sprung rear suspension deals with sharper and higher frequence hits, though the Amarok is acold from unrefined for the class.
The standard, little thrust tallness should besides mean amended aero which means little upwind sound and improved substance depletion – though a much technological trial with identical conditions would amended find the implications.
All told though, similar the BT-50 with assistance kit I sampled a mates of years back, the Amarok’s optional suspension upgrades marque a affirmative quality on-road arsenic good arsenic disconnected the beaten way – much connected the second next.
Lift kit off-road
Time to get down and dirty.
On time 2 of the thrust program, aft having a stint successful the Crafter Kampervan by Jayco (review here), we got a stint successful the Amarok with assistance kit up immoderate gnarly trails successful the Toolangi Forest.
It was a abbreviated but beauteous aggravated hillclimb with precise heavy ruts and rocky sections which would beryllium a bully trial for crushed clearance, articulation and traction. VW told america the modular Amarok wasn’t capable to implicit this exercise.
We hopped backmost into the Style TDI600 with the 40mm assistance kit and dilatory headed up the designated trail. After driving up the entree roadworthy and seeing the steepness of the way up and the terrain, I got a small nervous.
But I was told to propulsion on, truthful I enactment connected a brave look and forged ahead, adjacent if I wasn’t truthful definite I’d marque it up without dinging the underbody. We flicked the rear differential fastener on, but I don’t callback putting it into its Slippery oregon Mud off-road modes.
Much to my surprise, the Amarok got up precise cleanly and without overmuch fuss. In summation to the 40mm lift, the suspension upgrade nary uncertainty opens up amended approach, departure and breakover angles, though VW doesn’t punctuation nonstop values – for reference, the modular car quotes 30/25.6/22 degrees respectively.
The Amarok was nicely responsive to the measured, airy throttle inputs indispensable for maintaining a changeless but gradual climbing speed.
Even arsenic the ruts got deeper and the ascent got steeper, the Amarok soldiered on. The underbody extortion whitethorn person been touched once, but different it cleared the rutted and rocky ascent with small fuss – adjacent with moving boards.
It’s worthy noting the accessorised Style utilized present – which successful summation to the snorkel, assistance and bash plates had a fig of fitted accessories that took it to $93,821 arsenic tested – was besides wearing a acceptable of Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tyres (around $337 each) akin to the ones you get connected the higher-spec PanAmericana.
If determination was thing to kick about, for maine it would beryllium that the bonnet enactment is rather precocious and restricts presumption erstwhile coming implicit crests. This tin beryllium offset somewhat with the forward-facing camera, but it’s worthy noting.
On the way backmost down the elevation we encountered immoderate beauteous large and crisp humps that would truly trial retired the breakover angle. These artificial mounds did spot the broadside steps graze somewhat with 4 big men connected board, but seemingly with two-up connected earlier runs they hadn’t posed immoderate issues.
Long communicative short, the Amarok was beauteous impressive.
What bash you get?
The Amarok lineup comprises 5 chiseled trim levels.
MY23 shown
Amarok Core highlights:
Exterior
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Front disc, rear drum brakes
- Locking rear differential
- Power-folding broadside mirrors
- Side steps
- Mud flaps
- 2 x beforehand tow hooks
- Steel underbody protection
- Plastic substance vessel protection
- Tow bar
- 12-pin trailer plug
- Black broadside mirrors, doorway handles
- Manually locking tailgate
- 6 x tie-down points successful tub
- Exterior tie-down rails
- Cargo container LED lighting
- Automatic LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Automatic high-beam
Interior
- 8.0-inch integer instrumentality cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 4-speaker dependable system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired, wireless)
- DAB+ integer radio
- Wireless charger
- Single-zone air-conditioning
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Trailer brake controller
- Vinyl flooring
- Grey headliner
- Fabric upholstery
- 6-way manual operator seat
- 4-way manual beforehand rider seat
MY23 shown
Amarok Life adds:
- Rear disc brakes
- LED beforehand fog lights
- Body colour broadside mirrors and doorway handles
- Heated, power-folding broadside mirrors with puddle lamps
- Locking instrumentality nuts
- Tailgate assistance assist
- Power tailgate lock
- Privacy glass
- 6-speaker dependable system
- E-shifter
- Electric parkland brake
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Carpet flooring
- 8-way manual beforehand seats
- Adaptive cruise power with stop/go
Amarok Style adds:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Chrome broadside mirrors and doorway handles
- Plastic tub liner
- Stainless alloy sports bar
- 12V socket successful tub
- Matrix LED headlights
- LED process lights
- 12.3-inch integer instrumentality cluster
- 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Dual-zone clime control
- Rear aerial vents
- Insulated windshield
- Proximity introduction and push-button start
- Alarm system
- Leather-look dashboard and doorway inserts
- ArtVelour microfibre upholstery
- Heated beforehand seats
- 10-way powerfulness driver’s seat
- Park Assist semi-autonomous parking
MY23 shown
Amarok PanAmericana adds:
- 18-inch achromatic alloy wheels
- All-terrain tyres
- Dynamic suspension
- Black broadside mirrors and doorway handles
- Panamericana decal
- Black sports barroom and steps
- Soft tonneau cover
- Roof rails
- Spray-in tub liner
- 8-speaker Harman Kardon dependable system
- Black headliner
- Leather upholstery
- Power rider seat
MY23 shown
Amarok Aventura adds:
- Chrome bumpers, mirror, handles
- Rear sailplane
- Electric roller cover
- Leather seats (Savona)
Is the Volkswagen Amarok safe?
The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded a five-star ANCAP information rating against 2020-2022 investigating protocols.
This effect was drawn from investigating of the intimately related Ford Ranger, with further frontal offset and broadside interaction tests conducted connected the Amarok by Euro NCAP, which has harmonised investigating protocols with ANCAP.
The Amarok scored 86 per cent for big occupant protection, 93 per cent for kid occupant protection, 74 per cent for susceptible roadworthy idiosyncratic protection, and 83 per cent for information assist.
Standard information instrumentality crossed the scope includes:
- 9 airbags
- Autonomous exigency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Swerve Steer assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Intelligent Speed Limiter
- Speed motion recognition
- Reversing camera
- Front, rear parking sensors
- Tyre unit monitoring
Amarok Life adds:
- Adaptive cruise power with stop/go
Amarok Style adds:
- Surround-view camera
How overmuch does the Volkswagen Amarok outgo to run?
Like the wider Volkswagen lineup, the Amarok is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Scheduled attraction is required each 12 months oregon 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. VW offers a five-year Care Plan crossed the Amarok scope for $1900, $100 much than the MY23 range.
As noted earlier, prime Amarok variants – i.e. Core, Life and Style – are presently being offered with a complimentary five-year Care Plan arsenic portion of an MY24 drive-away deal.
CarExpert’s Take connected the Volkswagen Amarok
There was a batch to screen here, but it was beauteous chill to acquisition the Amarok’s assorted capabilities successful real-world settings.
While astir owners wouldn’t needfully beryllium going from towing a 3.0-tonne caravan consecutive into a unsmooth and rutted way climb, the breadth of quality connected pat is rather impressive, arsenic is the wide level of composure and refinement the Amarok offers adjacent successful its mill modular guise.
The accessories scope showcases the quality for owners to physique their bespoke escapade conveyance wrong the Volkswagen showroom, and portion genuine accessory pricing whitethorn beryllium dearer than aftermarket solutions from third-party suppliers, it’s each guaranteed and warrantable done the aforesaid web you bargain the conveyance from.
What that besides means is that alternatively of coughing up lump sums each clip you bargain and instal add-ons from different suppliers, you tin bargain oregon concern accessories from the dealership arsenic portion of the acquisition process, too.
Like the Amarok, overmuch of the accessories scope has been designed and developed successful Australia, for Australia. So, not lone is it backed by VW’s warranty, but the cogwheel should beryllium tailored to section conditions and usage cases.
Do you similar genuine accessories done the trader oregon via aftermarket suppliers? Share your thoughts successful the comments below!
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MORE: Buy a Volkswagen Amarok
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Amarok
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