Living with a… Volkswagen Amarok
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ธ.ค. 2018
- Pick up trucks aren’t the utilitarian workhorses that they used to be. In fact, they’re getting much more car-like in their features, and that’s tempting some people away from SUVs and into a truck. But what’s it like to live with a pick-up rather than a car? Auto Trader’s senior road tester Phill Tromans spent six months with a Volkswagen Amarok to find out.
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Every time I step into my pickup truck , it puts a smile on my face , something my SUVs , sport saloons ( Germany ) nor my hot hatch every did. Yes the fuel bills are 20% more, parking needs a few goes to get it in the super market painted lines and i tend to put stuff into the cab then allow it to roll about in the rear. Its easy for others to constantly point these ( faults ) out my reasoning is simple "If you don't do what makes you happy and smile, life would just be a bland.
As an owner of an Amarok for 3 years now i feel obliged to say i found this video lacking to say the least, this guy clearly didnt have any use for it and thus reviewed the Amarok as any other viechle.
This "Offroad" button is for going down very steep and slippery roads, as it sirculates the brakes to "crawl" down in an very calm and steady manner.
As for the gearing being in a high gear in low speeds is because the frist gears are meant to maintain lifetime of the gearbox for people who tow alot, and finer adjustents offroad, a compromise for lacking an low gear gearbox(wich is available with the manual gearbox)
And as i can see this Amarok is lacking the differencial lock wich is a big must for many whom might buy a pickup. Not that this guy would have ever needed one for his needs.
Kjetil Risa Do you have any comparison to 3.2 LWB Pajero/Shogun AUTO by any chance? especially handling wise as Shogun have fully independent suspension setup which is great on back roads and around forestry lanes when amarok have old leafspeings setup, any advise on what looking for when going to buy 2nd hand amarok? I'm guessing this "claimed" 30ish mpg is for avg long run not towing or short runs? Many thanks for all help!
flavio17021979
Short runs.... Trailer work averaged 21mpg...long run went up to a 30mpg..had a shogun, 3.2swbsimilar mileage wise great all-rounder but more comfort in amorok but a beast to park around town especially your average parking spot
Mac tavish thx for info Im guessing reverse camera on amarok is a must in city parking?
flavio17021979... Not too bad but some places swb could get into you won't with amarok . Camera helps surely. Sensors are what I rely on.. Great slick gearbox.. Just puts a smile on ur face... 224hp....think it up 250+ now
Mac tavish that's from 2.0 bi turbo diesel or Audi 3.0 V6 TDI? I heard so 2.0 bi turbo diesel have quite a lot of problems..which 1 is to go to have nice comfy ride with AUTO box? BTW do you know if autobox have transfer box like Shogun/Pajero for diff lock, low gears etc as as far as I remember amarok have permanent 4wd like Subaru forester etc..
Well mate I live in Australia and I have the Amarok V6 Ultimate and I tow a large caravan around all over the bush. as for fuel I get 8.8 Lt per 100km unloaded around town and all loaded up with kit and caravan its around 15lt per 100km
That is fucking insane mileage...... for fuel..... who the fuck has that kind of money! A. Volvo V60 D4 is 0.60/the 100 km ad that is a normal size car, i cant imagine what a Ford Raptor drinks!
@@korkunge 15 litres per hundred while towing a large Caravan is pretty good actually, there are a lot of 'tow vehicles' out there like the 5 cylinder BT-50 or Rangers that use a lot more than that. Your Volvo's fuel consumption will skyrocket too if you put a heavy Caravan or Trailer on the back - give it a try...
Interestingly, one of the only vehicles that I regularly read reviews on that towing doesn't dramatically effect the fuel consumption is the Nissan Patrol with its 5.7 litre petrol V8, it is such a powerful and torquey motor that the extra weight just doesn't seem to bother it (sounds good too!); sure it uses a bit more fuel but the increase isn't as dramatic as say a small diesel towing its maximum weight.
Very useful. Keep up the good work! 💪🏽
This review is pretty accurate for any major US city. Huge trucks with no use other than to drive to work. Least a third to half of any vehicle at a stop light here is lines of massive pickups.
Is the VW Amarok popular in the US?
@@HrHaakon It's not available in the US 😢
I use a 2016 ford ranger wildtrak as my daily driver and I love it. I find it more useful than SUV or a Car.....and it looks cool. 👍🏼
40mpg from a large 5000lb 4wd suv I think you would need a hybrid to achieve that. People only get 40mpg from 1.0 EcoBoost fiestas so 32 from this is good.
Yeah, I think he's a bit confused here.
If you think SUVs are expensive and want to buy a big car with high seating position, get MPV. 99% of SUV users don't even drive offroad. No need to buy huge truck or SUV. MPVs look rather boring, but they are way more comfortable than other cars, while having similar width and length as sedan. VW have bunch of MPVs of different sizes: Golf Plus, Touran, Sharan.
Interesting review thanks
I’ve had my Amarok 2L Bi-turbo for about 3years and I love it, it’s a great bit of kit, The 3 L is better and definitely better on fuel, mine does about 27-30mpg but as far as I can see there is no other pickup truck in the same league, Ford wild track is good but not as fast and definitely not a smooth as a VW.
Living in switzerland and i love my Toyota Hilux :-), OK City Parking sometimes a bit tricky :-)
I think everyone is missing the point of this video. It’s not for people that need an pick up. Its for people that kind off want a SUV. Like me. I would get an SUV but i was wondering how would a pick up fit my lifestyle. A lifestyle that has no need for a pick up. And now i know. Thanks
I just bought one based on exactly this....I'm not ready to take the plunge on a suv dad wagon and this will do exactly what I need
You made me fall more inlove with car. I was worried by what if it start being boring along the way...? And yes I do see myself in a farm setup some time soon.
👍👍👍 out of 3
Phill with the Canadian tuxedo and newfound love of chrome. Next you'll be looking at real estate in Nevada.
Gave Me a Good Laugh! :)
Great review!
I had a Ford ranger with the 5 Zylinder engine for 2 weeks in New Zealand and I loved it. Thought it actually handled just as well as some SUVs and you feel it can handle anything
Was definitely better than a normal car over some sketchy gravel roads
"Zylinder"
Before Ze Germans get there
My friend drove his for about 100000 miles then the engine started burning oil. Basically the engine needed to be changed but it was so expensive he swapped a2jz in it. And sold it
I love it, I'm getting one, fuel shmuel! "Watch this space" 😉👌
How much will the Amarok tow?
I own a small cleaning business and use my van for work as well as personal use. As my business expands I need a second vehicle but am kind of sick of driving a van every day so have been considering a pickup or a crew van like a VW Caddy Maxi as I can’t afford a car in addition to a second work vehicle. Basically,I’m want 4/5 seats as well as a load space. Would appreciate any thoughts from anyone...
Now that thing would float my boat.
I sent back a 45k merc to go into a specc’d up navara for all the reasons mentioned here. Once I’d got over the fact I was now in a Japanese commercial vehicle it really started to grow on me, because I can’t go fast anymore I think I’m also a lot safer and will keep my licence clean. Tough pill to take but the practicality for me outweighed the prestige and crippling tax liability. Plus my customers don’t think I’m ripping them off driving a high end car.
Hope your Navara treats you better than mine! engine management light after just two days of owning it - in the month of owning it so far it has spent more time at the dealers than with me :( there is a lot I like about it but some things that have left me distinctly uninspired with the experience - I think I might swap it for the Amarok.
So, it's an alternative to an SUV except it does everything an SUV does, only worse. However, if you need to traverse farm tracks, fields, building sites, or carry a pallet full of whatever, then the pickup is the way to go. Because it does all those things better than an SUV as well as doing all an SUV can do. So unless you want to go down the route of getting a Land Rover Discovery or something similar, the pickup is the way to go. Is the Amarok the best though? Again, there are others that do the farm/builder thing better. But as a compromise, giving you a bit of a better driving experience, the Amarok fits the bill.
As an American guy who loves trucks it looks like a ford ranger but probably a little better. If you want brick hauling truck you need a diesel F250 or bigger
I can tell you as he flicked through the entertainment screen my dynamic vibration on Sony Xperia 5ii vibrated. So we can take from this that the entertainment screen has haptic feedback
Super car. Just a tad expensive in my local market .
Where I live the Ford Ranger and Everest were the only vehicles to offer a full safety package (which the Amarok does not), so I bought a top of the range Ranger as my family car. It's much more frugal than the V6 VW and is a really nice vehicle for long trips across the country. I wouldn't change it for a regular car (although the wife does have a Focus for shopping trips as the Ranger is a bit big when in a car park).
What is a "full safety package"?
I would expect an Amarok to have it, if it's truly beneficial, since the Amarok is a European car, while a ford ranger is just some us american car.
@@martialme84 The Amarok doesn't have a full set of air bags. The Ranger is Australian.
@@MarmiteTheDog I stand corrected.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Wish They Would Bring One To The US! I Would Love To Make Some Videos With One! :)
VW World I’ve seen them in Canada 4 to be exact. Just get it shipped on a freighter.
VW has no place making trucks - this thing is just as garbage as a Honda Ridgeline.
@@krasnaludek298 Im not sure if you heard but Volkswagen is teaming up with Ford to build trucks in the US
Should have got the cargo manager with the roll n lock. Would have stopped everything rolling around. Also why are you comparing it to an suv? The handling and suspension are set up completely differently
Med z because many of pickup truck are used as daily family cars not just trucks
flavio17021979 then compare it to other pickups. If you’ve bought a pickup you’ve bought it for it’s loading ability. And compared to other pickups the amarok is the best followed by the ranger.
Med z technically speaking I'm Shogun 3.2 LWB owner at this moment but looking around for replacement option with good towing capacity/handling so that's why I come across amarok as its permanent 4wd like Subaru but daily cost/towing wise it is better than mine "tank" ish Shogun at least that's what VW/autotrader reviews says..
flavio17021979 sorry it’s an Aussie thing. Over here utes (pickups) are in their own category and are very popular. So we only compare them to themselves. That being said, the amarok is very comfortable to drive and handles very well
Med z yeh I know that😉 Aussie land was always a little bit😉 different than main land( UK)..and usually you get more goodies on truck/picaups/UTE vehicles then we have for example rear diff lock is not available here even as option extra..🙁
Currently considering a Pick-up, purely for tax purposes. Cheaper than my GTD and also all the hybrids out there. Still making money after the rubbish fuel economy. It’s a Utt for me. Just got to get the company to agree!
A typically bland and uninteresting review from somebody who knows pretty much nothing about the type of vehicle they are reviewing. I’m so sick of these vanilla reviews of pickups and 4x4s by people who should be subject matter experts but in fact know very little about them or even how they work.
And I nearly threw up in my mouth when this guy copied the watch analogy which Jeremy clarkson used when reviewing about the landrover discovery 3. Not even bland tripe, it’s plagiarised bland tripe.
I think the point of his review was to show what it's like to use a truck as an alternative family vehicle to an suv (which we all know they were not designed for, well, not originally anyway). I mean he does literally state that at the start and end of the video.
Chris Wyles yeh I get the point of the review. I just think it lacks any real content and is full of bland comparisons and cliches. Shameful as its produced by autotrader who you would expect to be capable of doing good reviews.
@@johnfletcher9907 yeah that's fair I wouldn't disagree with that. Considering he's had it for 6 months hasn't got much to say about it of any value tbf
A real petrol-head no offence but I don’t understand your message. I’m sure it’s me being an idiot but I’ve read it about 10 times and can’t make sense of what you are saying. Good day to you sir.
Pretty much the same as main stream news media, bland, lacking in fact, objectivity and interest.
Clearly missed the best feature which is the 'Rest' button which keeps the cab heated whilst you pop into the local farm shop. Been driving a 258HP Highline for a year now, initially as a way to save Tax but it has come in so handy with a growing family and gets around 35MPG. Can feel a tad wide on narrow roads but always feels solid and planted. Remembering you're restricted to 65MPH on the motorway helps keep the fuel bills down.
How? The 258bhp model was only released in May with first deliveries being in August
Smirks in "Deutsche Autobahn".
The British market doesn't really appreciate or require utes. In Australia we have wider roads, higher car parks it seems, a warm dry climate and obviously a he'll of a lot less crime as utes are fully loaded and open with gear staying put and not being nicked.
Anyone who knows trucks only puts groceries near the front, near the glass, not at the gate.
are they good for towing horse trailers is my question !
Seeing that it weighs near 3 tonnes i would say yes. But it is also very long so would make it a pig to manoeuvre, that said out on the open road it would be beneficial having that length as it would add stability.
My son's dream truck is a Volkswagen Amarok V6.
VW should consider doing a few style changes, and bring it over to the US. At least the gas v6 version. I'm sure it could stand a chance. If Honda has the Ridgeline, why can't VW have this?
Europe doesn't hv'ave the ridgeline tho.. Sadly. It's the perfect lifestyle pickup, not 100% work vehicle but it can do everything the competition does..
Eh, I love my 2.0, unlike this chum I use my pickup. Bed's for forestry equipment, chains, fuel, chemicals. I'd never put grocery bags on the bed, what an idea that.
Has a ute but uses a bike rack, smh.
its funny listening to him talk about how big the truck is, thats considered barely regular size here in the states. cool truck tho.
Actually, yes. I would prefer a Pick-Up truck to a SUV or a Sedan, only if it was a company car.
I am a big VW fan, have owned 3 VWs, 2 currently, really love VWs, but as soon as I saw the interior of the Amarok, I was like VW is pushing it's luck with the identical interior in every car they sell especially the steering wheel. After owing 3 VWs, it feels boring now, having the same interior in any class of vehicle they offer. Little disappointing 🙁
I've driven an Amarok for 2 yrs or so with the last company i worked for and i agree with pretty much everything the author says: Drives definitely ok but noticeably worse than a real car on roads. Shines when transporting dirty or abrasive or large cargo and towing and off-road. This truck AND a normal electric car would be perfect, if money were no obstacle.
Thank you for amarok 2014
In my country, if you leave the wallet over the dashboard, you will have a gun pointing at your head on the next red light...
Move then
Must be the only American who wants VW to redesign and bring this truck to the U.S.
On the other hand... Stop with the freaking SUVs! Lifted hatchbacks for people who can't afford a real offroader or too afraid to buy a soccer mom van.
"i dont have kids or friends" hahahahaa me too buddy me too. All you need is a dog! Xx
Can you help me get a 2013 VW amarok. Automatic
Or if you had a Ridgeline, you'd have a trunk too. Seriously, I've driven my Ridgeline for 13 years now and I've never missed out on anything.
We don't get the ridgeline in the UK
I can get 3m fence posts/gravel boards in my Subaru Forester
You look a bit like Michael Fisher
3:43 How much tall are you (in metric pls🤗)
Landcruiser. Then maybe a Chevy Colorado ZR2
>owns a 4x4 truck for 6 months
>never takes it offroad
what the fuck lol
I wish my suburban got 32 mpg rather than 15, but what ever.
Your eggs would be omelettes and your fruits would be salad 🤣🤣
should be titled.. Living with a Volkswagen Amarok (as an NPC)
Highline is not the top range it's the aventura
Dubbed over by Miles Jupp?
Rear trucks are in america
I'm driving BMWs for almost 10 years now (5 & 7 series, currently a G31) and didn't really thought about changing any of that but my brother in law works for Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (Trucks). I admitted to him that I quite like the looks of the Amarok. When VW put the V6 Diesel in the Amarok, he paid me a visit to present that to me, trying to convince me to switch to an Amarok. What can I say? Even though I know that those 2 cars can't really be compared, I was quite shocked. The Amarok is nowhere near to a normal car. It's noisy, it's slow, the multimedia is outdated, fuel consumption is bad and it drives horrible. No matter what engine you put in there, it will always be a truck. The real shock hit me when I checked the pricetag.. The car he brought was listed for around 60.000€ and wasn't even THAT good equipped..
Very good n very high standard review, almost like Tiff Needell or Richard Hammond
32 mpg with 1 adult on board is an insult. car were doing that 40 years ago.
Nonsense. This car can carry a tonne of weight in the tub and tow up to 3.5t behind without much hesitation, so it's overpowered as a result. There were no cars 40years ago (nor 20) that were using 32mpg and had same capability.
Not with a v6 engine with that towing capacity come on use uour brain a little this is a beast of a truck and if you need the latest v6 makes sens
What a stupid idea. If you want to save on tax, buy a plug-in hybrid or an electric car. The taxes are structured in such a way to push people to go green.
Large diesel suv aiming to get around 40mpg? Haha I’m lucky if my Range Rover gets 22mpg 😂
Eggs z omlet
Fruits z salad 🤣🤣🤣
Throw this guy in America and let him drive a Ram or F150
Try nissan np300
Pick something up :-D
Hensome presenter..
India is looking forward for a lifestyle pickup truck.
He’s using it like a car and not his it’s supposed to be used, like a truck
This guy is grinding my gears. Why does this pleb keep comparing a semi workhorse/pick-up to a city SUV?
Stop comparing a truck to a suv
Great Video Review. My favourite Pickup Is the Isuzu D-Max
I'm gunna pause and stop watching there, due to the fact I can't cope with you saying you dropped over a grand on chrome because it looks bad-ass...
Volkswagen ruined it now by discontinuing the amarok and put a ford ranger inside.. forget about it. I go for the old one.
Toyota Hilux is still the number 1
Jesse
Sort of like driving a work truck . No shit Sherlock !
Does a truck review. Doesn’t show a single American truck 😂😂😂
because most american trucks arent available in the uk
Why would they? We don't have US pickups from dealers here as their load capacity is crap compared to European models and just about every pickup on the market here can tow the maximum 3,500kg permitted trailer weight. Again, for tax purposes pickups need to carry over 1,000kg to qualify and the US offerings are very lacking - see Ford F150: 800kg vs Ford Ranger: 1200kg
@@bombaymolotov wait, what???
Taraniis this is In no way true.
@@stevensunshine13 it is if you read the data straight from Ford.
They rate the F150 at approx 1,485lb (673kg) for the full fat 4x4 crew cab with the 3.5V6, or you can get 2,133lb (1078kg) with the 2-door 2wd variant.
A UK spec Ford Ranger by comparison is rated for 1,059kg for the full fat crew cab 3.2TDCi or 1,307kg for the 2-door 2.2TDCi
So basically anything more than a poverty spec F150 is classed as a 'car' over here.
That tiny truck want-a-be wouldn’t stand a chance in the American market. Way toooo small and not powerful enough for towing large trailers.
I drive the Amarok. Sat in a Dodge Ram (3L eco diesel, basically the same engine specs) 2 weeks ago, got strait out because I did not have the leg room needed for somebody over 6 feet tall. The Dodge had more width in the cab.
Oooooooooooh.. scheisse
No low range = no sale....
Doesn't need it
You're right it doesn't need it ..But every time it's reviewed buy someone who actually has a clue and not paid by VW they agree it would be better with low range.... The only ! only reason they didn't give it a low range box was to save money .
Pointless
or you drive an american truck.
Too expensive rather buy a Toyota Hilux
No need to thrust your poverty upon us
Still rather a toyota hilux
And I rather see you getting punched on the face
you dont live with a vehicle, you own it. Unless you are some kind of a creep
That “truck” is the most effeminate PoS along with the Honda Ridgeline. You have to be guzzling crate loads of soy milk to even step on the dealer lot to look at one of these.
Here’s your truck review: “Grow a pair & go get a Ford F-150 or even a Chevy Colorado.” If you’re going to buy a truck, then be a man & buy a frickin TRUCK. This is a Jetta with an open back - Jeezus H Christ people.
A “review” where you mention the engine zero times. What a fucking laugh.
It's not a review? He is just saying what it's like to live with one. If you want a review. Search for a review
Might be the worst review of a pickup truck I’ve seen for a while
God European/ Asian trucks are hideous except the titan and tundra but American trucks for the win..
This is a gross truck
European pickups look cooler than American ones.