Volkswagen Amarok buyers have a lot of diesel choices, but there is only one petrol version of the bakkie in the 14-model range: the newly added Amarok 2.3 TSI PanAmericana 4Motion.
The new Amarok 2.3 TSI has everything it needs to be on your shopping list for a luxury double cab. The smart and cosy cabin feels well-built with standard features, including a 12″ touch-operated main display screen, a digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and more.
The black-anthracite-brown “cricket leather” seat package is my favourite standard fitment. Along with body stickers, these liven up the white car inside and out. Seven other paint options are available, and the eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system impresses with crispness and power. It’s certainly a plush bakkie, but is the new engine a good fit?
For context, the Ford-sourced engine powers the entry-level Ford Mustang EcoBoost and the Ford Focus RS hatchback, models which are no longer on sale in this market. It is rehashed to produce outputs of 222kW and 452Nm in the Amarok and is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Volkswagen positions it as a performance double cab, but there’s no Sport mode, and the initial acceleration feels a little hesitant. The petrol motor gives its full quota of pulling power later at 5,900rpm, and the 0-100km/h sprint time is claimed as a brisk 7.4 secs.
As a yardstick, we previously tested the 3.0l V6 diesel-powered Ford Ranger Wildtrak to a real-world acceleration time of 9.0 secs to 100km/h. The twin-turbo V6 petrol Ranger Raptor will do the sprint in 6.7 seconds.
In practice, the petrol Amarok starts to dish up its trump cards of quicker reaction times when overtaking and overall smoother and quieter operation than the diesel, a welcome aspect.
It’s also not as thirsty as expected. Officially, the Amarok 2.3 TSI returns 9.6l/100km but driven in anger, it displayed above 11l/100km. Use it with a lighter foot in conjunction with the Eco mode, and the average consumption drops to about 10.2l/100km — thriftier than the 11.4l/100km achieved by the six-cylinder diesel-powered Amarok Aventura and PanAmericana cousins.
I love the way the Amarok handles, particularly in its more relaxed gait. There’s the usual body pitch and lean when cornering hard in a large vehicle, but it’s one of the most poised and fun-to-drive bakkies on the road, with a well-weighted and fairly accurate steering feel. The drive experience is what you’d expect in a premium SUV.
The excellent damping adds to excellent wafting.
A multi-collision brake system and other safety systems are on hand if you get it wrong, and it is rated to tow a maximum braked capacity of 3,500kg and equipped with a towing programme.
The opportunity to test the vehicle off-road didn’t materialise, but the knobby rubber and adjustable 4x4 system shared with the Ford Ranger should suffice for gravel adventures.
With the Amarok becoming more common on the roads, the 2.3 TSI presents a fine alternative to the diesels. It is a capable daily runner, long-range cruiser and weekend warrior in one package, and more frugal than you’d expect.
Amarok vs competitors
- Amarok 2.3 TSI PanAmericana, 222kW/452Nm — R1,099,000
- Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 TD Wildtrak,184kW/600Nm — R1,088,000
- Maxus T90 EV,150kW/310Nm — R1,100,000
- GWM P500 2.0T PHEV Ultra Luxury, 255kW/648Nm — R999,900
- Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD AT35, 140kW/450Nm — R1,194,000
- Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 GR Sport, 165kW/550Nm — R1,009,000
- Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 double cab Wildtrak 4WD — R1,088,000
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.