I like how you picked up the fact the Aventura has a VW oriented suspension rather than mimicking the Ford Ranger. As much as I love my 2018 V6 AMAROK I think I will definitely give it a go. Primarily because it still has a V6, albeit a Ford engine, but the creature comforts and styling, safety features make it a very attractive Ute. Just wondering how much our VW dealers in Fiji will charge us, most probably $90k AUD. If it does come to that I would consider selling my current Amarok. Great review as always. Cheers from Fiji 🇫🇯🤙👍😎
I would choose the amarok over the ranger for one reason . Those seats i believe are lifted from the toureg making it alot more comfortable. That makes a huge difference on a daily drive.
This is the same motor as in the land and range rover trucks and they have been famous for snapped crankshafts ever since they arrived in 2.7 form but it's realy got serious after the change to 3.0 Just go on any land rover form and search for snapped crankshafts and you will see what I mean I would go for the 2.0 tdi If it was the vw unit
I hope VW decides to bring the Amarok to America. I've got the previous gen Ranger and it's great. It's rumored that there will finally be a crew cab with 6' bed option when the new model gets to us next year, which I hope also makes it to the hypothetical Amarok. The 2.3L gasoline (petrol) engine is fantastic. It's the only engine option on the Ranger in America (also used in several other vehicles). I'm not sure what the fuel prices are in SA or Australia, but in America I see absolutely no reason to buy any of the diesel engines - why pay more for an engine that makes less power, is heavier, needs filter fluid, uses much more expensive fuel, and gets the same mileage. We don't get the automatic transfer case in the Ranger in America, but we've had the same type of system in other trucks for a decade, it is NOT a full time 4WD system, it is a clutch pack in the transfer case that automatically engages when it detects slip.
I for one was extremely disappointed when I heard that VW was basically sticking their logo on a Ford Ranger. If I wanted a Ford Ranger I would have bought one. None of the engines offered by Ford can walk in the shoes of the V6 dual turbo (Porsche) diesel I have in my Amarock. On top of that there is nothing that Ford offers that comes close to the ZF auto transmission in my opinion. I was hoping to get a new Amarok in 2024 but if this is what is being offered I must give it a pass. All I wanted in a new Amarock was a few more horses from the V6 dual turbo (Porsche) engine, a fresh styling inside and out and made by VW. Not Ford, Nissan, Toyota or anyone else. I know many companies have partnered with other manufacturers but I feel they lose the loyalty of their core supporters. Pity! I really love my Amarok. I consider this Ford collaboration a large step backwards. No thanks.
Good luck keeping your current Amarok, The other manufacturers are years behind the T6.2 platform, Toyota will probably put a weak V6 in the new Hilux and charge $100,000 for it and will sell them to the Toyota die hards.
I like it; especially the fact that it is being manufactured in South Africa; they have been making BMW's ,VW's Honda, and Mercedes for years, and the quality is usually top notch.
If i recall the ford “lion” is actually a motor designed by Peugeot and first featured on the Land Rover discovery back in 2006. It may have also been used in a few Jaguars too.
The Amarok dash is so much more sophisticated than the Ninetendo 64 in the Ranger. It is a great mystery why Ford think that you do not need a proper tachometer. Still all of those different transmission modes seem a little like overkill. My present Amarok 580 is full time 4 wheel drive, seems to be a simpler and more effective setup. Yes it would be nice to have low range though. All in all, they both look impressive.
Wow im very impressed. I think it beats the wildtrak 100% but not the next gen Ranger Raptor. I gotta say, pickup trucks are becoming very modern👊🏻hopefully not too modern🫡
Lol how does it beat it when the entire engine is literally the same?? It's literally just different interior taste and infotainment style... And then you have exterior which again is subjective...
@@SpurgeonFleischer It beats the Ranger because the interior is better. I don't think this is taste. It's higher quality materials and more comfortable seats. Plus there are at least some controls that aren't in the touch screen.
I drove a V6 Ranger and it felt a fair bit slower and less powerful than my Amarok, alot of testing is showing 0-100 for V6 Ranger as around 9 seconds where as current Amarok is mid 7 seconds, you can feel the difference when you drive them back to back. Was the new Ranger I drove de-tuned (The Dealer said he wasnt). Has anyone else driven them back to back and noticed this?
@@craigzee3652 Good Luck, you can choose a 4cyl from all the other makers because none of them have a V6 to choose from, my brother has the Ranger V6 Sport, it goes very well
Brilliant review. Very informative. To be totally honest at least South Africans would probably get the full spec Amaroks. Unlike the Wildtrak which is built in South Africa, even for other parts of the world, but us South Africans can't get Matrix lights. But we will be able to watch the vehicles on Car Carriers make their way to the ports with Matrix lights. Any idea when the Amarok is going on sale?
I sware nothing brings out peoples negativity like a new pick up video. But I'm hanging to order a 2.3 petrol. Diesel has done its dash with me for small cars. It can stay in trucks as far as I'm concerned 😄. If ford would bring the ecoboost to the normal ranger. I'd buy one today.
Does Ford not offer the 2.3 Ecoboost in the Ranger globally? It's become the only engine in the Ranger in America and frankly it's better than the V6 diesel in every single way.
Certainly not going to want 21 inch or even 20 inch wheels for outback touring. Hopefully 17's will fit for realistic size for replacement tyres in whoop whoop.
You got 10L/100km consumption from the 3L engine. My 2018 V6 Amarok 550 Ultimate does 8.8L/100km. When going on the freeway at the legal speed limit, I got 6.3L/100km. Hmm...
What was your thoughts on the Style variant? I have pre ordered one and haven't been able to see any interior pictures yet, what was your thoughts on the differences of the seats etc through the variants?
They will sell up a storm with these. The 2.3 turbo petrol will hopefully find a niche in the market. I assume a lot of the performance aftermarket gear for the Mustang 2.3 turbo will fit the 2.3 turbo in the amarok.
Coming from an American, the 2.3L won't be a niche, it very well may be the majority of the market depending on local prices of diesel vs petrol. The 2.3L Ecoboost is simply better than the V6 diesel in every single way.
Droning in a National Park? Beach driving? Perhaps Assies are exempt 😕 Great comprehensive first impressions Big differencd between a gravel track and offroad driving. You were on the former. Great vehicles. Pity about the price!
It may technically be a ford,but I'd take this one than a ford for the sake off it being a VW and a bit different looking than a ford. And in my opinion it looks better than a Ford Ranger
I've payed a deposit for the PanAmericana V6, but I'm not sure if I keep purchasing it. It is supposed to be our new towing vehicle for a max 3.5t van to do another lap around Oz. Unfortunately VW still didn't publish the datasheet with GCM, kerb weight and payload figures. Did you see / hear anything while you were testing?
Very nice. Pity both Ford and VW don't have, allegedly, great "customer experience" records. And VW are on the permanent record for falsifying documents and outright lying to authorities around the world regarding their vehicle emissions. I'm a 6 time (trouble free) VW vehicle owner, however, it'll be hard for me to accept a company ever again from a base of zero integrity. I haven't bought a Ford since 1998 due to their woeful customer service and terrible build quality back then. There's not enough quality time in my life left to go through that pain again. Enjoyed your review, nonetheless. Did VW fly you over to SA, or did you pay for the fare and accommodation yourself?
The 2.3GTDi is a powerhouse and I think Ford have missed an opportunity not offering it in the Ford Ranger in Australia…. It performs like a baby Raptor….
Thanks for the great review. We currently tow our caravan with a 2015 Audi Q7 which we love for the ride and comfort (and style if I am honest). However, we will need to trade the Q7 in the next 2-3 years when we buy an off-road van and seek to do more off the bitumen. Hi-lux’s or land cruisers don’t quite do it for us perhaps the new Amarok will hit that sweet spot for us. Thoughts or other quality options?
You’d have to put the Amarok, Ranger and Everest into the mix. Perhaps also include the Subaru Outback turbo and Volkswagen Passat Alltrack, which each have a full size spare.
I don't see the point. I've had 3 double cab Ute's in the last 10 years and found them useless. There's no load length for a 8 x 4. I also need space for tools and the odd passenger. I hate vans but I'm left with no choice but either a transit size van or a double cab Citroen dispatch or similar. If there was a Hilux double cab with a 8' tray that would be great.
Ford Lion engine is the notoriously unreliable engine found in the Land Rover Discoveries. Have they done anything to improve reliability? It is probably worth mentioning in your review as most people care about reliability and longevity
Mate, you say the Amarok is the most unique Ute, but the bloody thing is Ford, the engine, tray, roller lid, infotainment system, key fob, shifter, inner door handles, it just goes on and on. Yeah, it's a great Ute, but it's a basically another version of the Ranger in all fairness
@@chasingcars I don't think you even showed the Pan Americana. That is the one I ordered. I'm really interested in the quality compared to the Ranger as I think Ford's interior quality is very poor/cheap. I'm especially interested in the Harman Kardon sound system. Did it sound good? Was it rattly?
They had Panamericanas on the launch but they were oddly specified with 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres (Australia is getting 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres). For this reason I didn't pay the Panamericana too much attention as the driving dynamics just weren't representative of what we are getting locally. That said, the Panamericana has a really cool interior, with entirely different leather to the Aventura. The Harman-Kardon sounded good. Not the last word in clarity, but warm, bassy and comfortable on the ears.
Ranger Platinum will be a serious contender against the Amarok Aventura. Let's wait and see until we can do a proper comparison instead of guessing. All I'll say is that the Ranger Platinum has seat coolers, and I like those…
not sure about the engine, worked with golf / Amazon / even with Tiguan. What I like about them they keep standard things in their engines works why change it. On the other hand Ford engines and transmission am not sure. Another thing am not a fanatic is the BIG screen if that thing stops working no AC, not a fanatic like the old Amarok screen only has accouple of things not working dont care the car moves with AC.
Question regarding the electric version coming in a few years. Did you mean the 2023 model has been built to be ready for converting in a few years to electric? I have been wanting a new Ute but can’t justify one as I want a hybrid minimum, and electric at best. And with them coming in the next few years, not sure why I would buy one now. Thoughts?
@@chasingcars This is great news, I fear the price will be around 90K for this though, as Australia doesn't take electric vehicles seriously so no incentives to buy them yet.
If it was not for ford Amarok was going under and would not be any more Amaroks vw had too go in partnership with ford too save Amarok it was ranked number40 in sales last year in Australia where the hilux and Ranger was ranked number 1 and 2 in sales last year
@@stephenchurcher8885 It wasn't viable for VW to build their own Amarok due to a lack of volume world wide. It doesn't matter collaborations mean a better vehicle from both VW and Ford IMO. VW weren't going broke.
There is no center differential, it's a transfer case. In 2H it is open, the front wheels are not driven at all, this is the mode you should be in at all times on pavement (unless there's snow or ice on the road). In 4H or 4L it is locked with fixed 50/50 torque split. In 4A (only on V6) there is a clutch pack that engages the the front axle when it detects slip. 4A is really only useful for snow or ice on pavement, off-road you may as well just be in 4H.
I have had amaroks since 2013 and think they are great I have also got the new next Gen ranger and love it This amarok is just a rebadge like merc, Vw built a great platform with their original platform, I think it’s the wrong move for them It’s so ridiculous to say it’s a different car and not a rebadge. It’s different just like the wildtrack is different to the XLT
Pricing will be really interesting I think the adventura will demand a higher price to similarly spected Wildtrak due to the better quality 3 to 5 grand? Even 5 grand would be asking abit much. I think VW would have lost the plot if the Pan Americana is more than a wild track (74k drive away) as the wild track is a higher spec. The Ford dealer told me that the roller cover is worth a couple grand on its own.
It is true that the roller cover is worth about $2000 retail - which is why Aventura will be about $2K higher than the Panamericana. Remember that South Africa doesn't enjoy a free trade agreement with Australia, which immediately makes Thai-built utes 5% cheaper. Long story short, I think the Amarok will land $3000-5000 more than Ranger, yes.
@@chasingcars the free trade agreement sounds like a Volkswagen problem, not a consumer problem. I feel like three to five grand is fair given they have bought a lot of effort into making it more premium product. 75k for a pan Americana and 80k drive away for a adventura. Much more than that and if be cancelling my order.
You’ve bought the sales blurb and VW propaganda hook line and sinker. Is there nothing to criticise about this ute? Personally I would question the reliability and longevity record of that very compact V6 diesel which has an unenviable record for breaking crankshafts in previous Land Rover and Jaguar installations. What, if anything, have Ford done to ensure that the crank doesn’t snap or the bearings fail due to oil starvation? I would also question why they don’t mate the full time transfer case to the four cylinder twin turbo Ford 2.0 diesel engines. That would be my preferred choice of mechanical specification because the twin turbo is a peach of an engine, way more powerful, responsive and economical that the previous Ford five cylinder 3.2 or the VW 2.0 engines and only slightly less nice to drive than a V6. Much cheaper engine to run long term in both fuel consumption and probably service and repair costs compared to the V6 which has dreadful accessibility to most bits that are likely to fail in service. We all know that it is difficult being critical of new launch cars due to the undoubted fact that if a correspondent was so minded and published, they would never be invited to a launch event again. Personally I would highlight the impractical nature of the expensive roll over top which would be bent and crushed if a pallet or tote bag or 45 gallon drum slipped forward under hard braking. The lack of a practical ladder rack on most variants. The tyre size choice for play rather than off-road work [if you need one of these you will surely want the 4wd for off-road work]. The tie down points available for load security in the bed. The load weight available for the rear bed when towing the full 3.5 tons with a nose weight of 300kgs. I would also compare the net selling price after any available discount against the Ford versions and indeed rivals such as Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, Mitsubishi and others.
From the intensity of your comment it’s obvious that you’re already entered this chat with a pretty hardened view. You’re entitled to it. But it’s pretty important not to miss that Ford’s Powerstroke development of the Lion has an all-new crank, new bearings, a new induction system, new fuel systems, modified block etc… this isn’t just an LR3 motor dropped in.
@@chasingcars The only real difference is the choice of ancillaries. The main castings and forgings were always sourced from Mexico. So where is the detailed list of precise modifications to the block, crank and bearings that you claim Ford have made? I put it to you that there has been no significant modification to any of the major components. They claimed modifications had been done several times in the past but a high proportion continued to fail in service and indeed continue to do so. I wouldn’t be too hasty about claiming some huge improvement if I were you, in case you have to eat your words.
I really do not understand your taste on the interior, the center display and surrounding air vents to me is really off the mark it looks like a poor attempt to be distinctive just for the sake of being different than the Ranger. As for the front it reminds me of current generation Triton I think the last Amarock has a much better front.
Dude it's literally the same thing with a slightly different face and organisation. The ford looks much better.. the Amarok used to be the best looker in my book and now it's the worst. Ranger is now the best.
VW and Ford taking the fight to the rest of the competitors, it will be interesting to see how Toyota responds in a couple of years. At this rate, they should definitely be worried
You don't spend your money on Volkswagen to get a Ford in fancy dress. This is the same as the Mercedes Navara flop. When are brands like vw going to realize when their customers pay the money for a premium brand they expect it to be all Volkswagen. I do wonder how much vw is paying all these car reviewers to talk it up. I think VW knows it's a hard sell
VW says it’s durability requirements for ford, written in the contract, are as strict as for its own V6 TDI - meaning unreliability will be expensive for Ford. Ford for thought.
Much more news about the new Amarok, including the future EV model: www.chasingcars.com.au/volkswagen/amarok/
South Africa is beautiful 🇿🇦
I like how you picked up the fact the Aventura has a VW oriented suspension rather than mimicking the Ford Ranger. As much as I love my 2018 V6 AMAROK I think I will definitely give it a go. Primarily because it still has a V6, albeit a Ford engine, but the creature comforts and styling, safety features make it a very attractive Ute. Just wondering how much our VW dealers in Fiji will charge us, most probably $90k AUD. If it does come to that I would consider selling my current Amarok. Great review as always. Cheers from Fiji 🇫🇯🤙👍😎
It’s not a ford engine, it’s derived from jaguar and Land Rover.
So you living in Fiji?
They should have kept the rear sidestep of the Ford, I have used one and it is very handy. It looks very nice.
Yeah, love the side step.
@@chasingcars that's a shame that they didnt keep it, do you think it would be hard to fit one from a ranger or after market?
I would choose the amarok over the ranger for one reason . Those seats i believe are lifted from the toureg making it alot more comfortable. That makes a huge difference on a daily drive.
This is the same motor as in the land and range rover trucks and they have been famous for snapped crankshafts ever since they arrived in 2.7 form but it's realy got serious after the change to 3.0
Just go on any land rover form and search for snapped crankshafts and you will see what I mean
I would go for the 2.0 tdi If it was the vw unit
Beautiful Lekker in Cape Town South Africa
I hope VW decides to bring the Amarok to America. I've got the previous gen Ranger and it's great. It's rumored that there will finally be a crew cab with 6' bed option when the new model gets to us next year, which I hope also makes it to the hypothetical Amarok.
The 2.3L gasoline (petrol) engine is fantastic. It's the only engine option on the Ranger in America (also used in several other vehicles). I'm not sure what the fuel prices are in SA or Australia, but in America I see absolutely no reason to buy any of the diesel engines - why pay more for an engine that makes less power, is heavier, needs filter fluid, uses much more expensive fuel, and gets the same mileage. We don't get the automatic transfer case in the Ranger in America, but we've had the same type of system in other trucks for a decade, it is NOT a full time 4WD system, it is a clutch pack in the transfer case that automatically engages when it detects slip.
I love the look of the Ranger 😬
Fair enough. I see you have one in your profile picture.
@@chasingcars yes my V6 Sport
The Germans has put a special class to it indeed!
It's more different to Ranger than I expected.
I for one was extremely disappointed when I heard that VW was basically sticking their logo on a Ford Ranger. If I wanted a Ford Ranger I would have bought one. None of the engines offered by Ford can walk in the shoes of the V6 dual turbo (Porsche) diesel I have in my Amarock. On top of that there is nothing that Ford offers that comes close to the ZF auto transmission in my opinion. I was hoping to get a new Amarok in 2024 but if this is what is being offered I must give it a pass. All I wanted in a new Amarock was a few more horses from the V6 dual turbo (Porsche) engine, a fresh styling inside and out and made by VW. Not Ford, Nissan, Toyota or anyone else. I know many companies have partnered with other manufacturers but I feel they lose the loyalty of their core supporters. Pity! I really love my Amarok. I consider this Ford collaboration a large step backwards. No thanks.
My sentiments exactly
Good luck keeping your current Amarok, The other manufacturers are years behind the T6.2 platform, Toyota will probably put a weak V6 in the new Hilux and charge $100,000 for it and will sell them to the Toyota die hards.
"Core supporters", haha, I see what you did there. 😃😉
Cant wait to see what it tows like with a large van
I like it; especially the fact that it is being manufactured in South Africa; they have been making BMW's ,VW's Honda, and Mercedes for years, and the quality is usually top notch.
Quality seemed good on these production-spec cars. Mind you, Thai utes usually are pretty decent too these days.
Thank You for your detailed video. I enjoyed a lot.🤙
If i recall the ford “lion” is actually a motor designed by Peugeot and first featured on the Land Rover discovery back in 2006. It may have also been used in a few Jaguars too.
Hope you enjoyed South Africa
where is the electried Amarok then or Phev ?. How much longer do we have to put up with these gas guzzlers?
Fantastic review. Much appreciated
Definitely gonna have a look at these when released. How glorious the setting for the test.
Yes, the scenery was stunning.
The Amarok dash is so much more sophisticated than the Ninetendo 64 in the Ranger. It is a great mystery why Ford think that you do not need a proper tachometer. Still all of those different transmission modes seem a little like overkill. My present Amarok 580 is full time 4 wheel drive, seems to be a simpler and more effective setup. Yes it would be nice to have low range though. All in all, they both look impressive.
Agree the dash presentation is smarter on the Amarok.
What is a "proper" tachometer?
Nice if you could get the 2.3 with six speed manual
Agreed, would be keep for a 2.3 turbo manual!
Wow im very impressed. I think it beats the wildtrak 100% but not the next gen Ranger Raptor. I gotta say, pickup trucks are becoming very modern👊🏻hopefully not too modern🫡
Lol how does it beat it when the entire engine is literally the same?? It's literally just different interior taste and infotainment style... And then you have exterior which again is subjective...
@@SpurgeonFleischer It beats the Ranger because the interior is better. I don't think this is taste. It's higher quality materials and more comfortable seats. Plus there are at least some controls that aren't in the touch screen.
I drove a V6 Ranger and it felt a fair bit slower and less powerful than my Amarok, alot of testing is showing 0-100 for V6 Ranger as around 9 seconds where as current Amarok is mid 7 seconds, you can feel the difference when you drive them back to back. Was the new Ranger I drove de-tuned (The Dealer said he wasnt). Has anyone else driven them back to back and noticed this?
Our independent testing yielded a 7.70sec 0-100km/h result for the new Ranger XLT V6 - fair bit quicker than nine seconds!
For what I see on the specs the Ford V6 is less powerfull than the previous VW V6
Correct, I found the new v6 very disappointing compared to the old Amarok v6, So much I am contemplating cancelling my order.
@@craigzee3652 Good Luck, you can choose a 4cyl from all the other makers because none of them have a V6 to choose from, my brother has the Ranger V6 Sport, it goes very well
Brilliant review. Very informative. To be totally honest at least South Africans would probably get the full spec Amaroks. Unlike the Wildtrak which is built in South Africa, even for other parts of the world, but us South Africans can't get Matrix lights. But we will be able to watch the vehicles on Car Carriers make their way to the ports with Matrix lights. Any idea when the Amarok is going on sale?
Are you sure about the Matrix Lights for South Africa? The SA website advertise the Matrix lights on the local Amaroks.
South Africa ❤️
I sware nothing brings out peoples negativity like a new pick up video.
But I'm hanging to order a 2.3 petrol. Diesel has done its dash with me for small cars. It can stay in trucks as far as I'm concerned 😄.
If ford would bring the ecoboost to the normal ranger. I'd buy one today.
Does Ford not offer the 2.3 Ecoboost in the Ranger globally? It's become the only engine in the Ranger in America and frankly it's better than the V6 diesel in every single way.
@@rightwingsafetysquad9872 nah. Only diesels in non Raptors now.
2.3 eb is NA exclusive
I heard him speaking of the Ford Lion engine. That is the crank breaking V6 that is in the Disco 3&4. Designed in Dagenham I believe
Ford made pretty extensive mods to the old Lion design. New crank, new bearings, fuel system, induction system…
Nice review. I'd like to see how it performs off road and not on a dirt track....
It looks amazing but they could have kept their VW 3.0 V6 engine which produces more KW than this does engine
Certainly not going to want 21 inch or even 20 inch wheels for outback touring. Hopefully 17's will fit for realistic size for replacement tyres in whoop whoop.
The rugged version, the Panamericana, has 18s and AT tyres
Welcome to Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks!
Using this video for reference for when I get an Amarok(I just started college) 🤣but still
Great to hear you say Bakkie 😎🇿🇦
I aim to please!
🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
You got 10L/100km consumption from the 3L engine. My 2018 V6 Amarok 550 Ultimate does 8.8L/100km. When going on the freeway at the legal speed limit, I got 6.3L/100km. Hmm...
What was your thoughts on the Style variant? I have pre ordered one and haven't been able to see any interior pictures yet, what was your thoughts on the differences of the seats etc through the variants?
Welcome to the Sprinboks and Bakkie World. Great review, love the Bakkie indeed. Greetings from Cape Town
Thank you Ricky.
the front fascia reminds me of holden colorado.
Looks very good
They will sell up a storm with these. The 2.3 turbo petrol will hopefully find a niche in the market. I assume a lot of the performance aftermarket gear for the Mustang 2.3 turbo will fit the 2.3 turbo in the amarok.
Hoping the 2.3-litre turbo is a good fit! Looking forward to driving it in April 2023.
Coming from an American, the 2.3L won't be a niche, it very well may be the majority of the market depending on local prices of diesel vs petrol. The 2.3L Ecoboost is simply better than the V6 diesel in every single way.
Droning in a National Park? Beach driving? Perhaps Assies are exempt 😕 Great comprehensive first impressions Big differencd between a gravel track and offroad driving. You were on the former. Great vehicles. Pity about the price!
It may technically be a ford,but I'd take this one than a ford for the sake off it being a VW and a bit different looking than a ford. And in my opinion it looks better than a Ford Ranger
I've payed a deposit for the PanAmericana V6, but I'm not sure if I keep purchasing it. It is supposed to be our new towing vehicle for a max 3.5t van to do another lap around Oz. Unfortunately VW still didn't publish the datasheet with GCM, kerb weight and payload figures. Did you see / hear anything while you were testing?
The 800 metre wading depth will come in handy.
Well, quite.
I will take bets that the old v6 is a better engine, the reason I say this I own a V6 VW touareg with nearly 300 thousand k still going like a train.
Western Cape is beautiful
Very nice.
Pity both Ford and VW don't have, allegedly, great "customer experience" records. And VW are on the permanent record for falsifying documents and outright lying to authorities around the world regarding their vehicle emissions. I'm a 6 time (trouble free) VW vehicle owner, however, it'll be hard for me to accept a company ever again from a base of zero integrity.
I haven't bought a Ford since 1998 due to their woeful customer service and terrible build quality back then. There's not enough quality time in my life left to go through that pain again.
Enjoyed your review, nonetheless.
Did VW fly you over to SA, or did you pay for the fare and accommodation yourself?
Volkswagen provided the plane ticket, and Budget Direct paid my salary.
The 2.3GTDi is a powerhouse and I think Ford have missed an opportunity not offering it in the Ford Ranger in Australia…. It performs like a baby Raptor….
Isnt the Amorok just a rebadged Ranger? Same production line and with the BT50?
Yes it is...
@@deefer305 thankyou👍
Would the Amarok R line be coming any time?
Thanks for the great review. We currently tow our caravan with a 2015 Audi Q7 which we love for the ride and comfort (and style if I am honest). However, we will need to trade the Q7 in the next 2-3 years when we buy an off-road van and seek to do more off the bitumen. Hi-lux’s or land cruisers don’t quite do it for us perhaps the new Amarok will hit that sweet spot for us. Thoughts or other quality options?
You’d have to put the Amarok, Ranger and Everest into the mix. Perhaps also include the Subaru Outback turbo and Volkswagen Passat Alltrack, which each have a full size spare.
@@chasingcars 🙄🙄🙄 going from an Audi Q7 to a passat 4x4 is a huge difference 🙄🙄🙄
is that a resurrected Holden?🤔
So whose engine is the diesel 4 cylinder and hp whose transmission is in each
All the engines and transmissions are from Ford
I don't see the point. I've had 3 double cab Ute's in the last 10 years and found them useless. There's no load length for a 8 x 4. I also need space for tools and the odd passenger. I hate vans but I'm left with no choice but either a transit size van or a double cab Citroen dispatch or similar. If there was a Hilux double cab with a 8' tray that would be great.
I never undesrtood why VW was going to cancel the Amarok, givent that as far as I know, sales were good....
In the context of the pick-up market the sales were very small on a global level because Volkswagen didn't sell it in many markets
does it have FORD's super annoying open door chime policy ?
No
any heads-up display on the top spec Aventura? Wonder why no ute's have 'em still in 2022.
No HUD.
Welcome to SA Tom.
Ford Lion engine is the notoriously unreliable engine found in the Land Rover Discoveries. Have they done anything to improve reliability? It is probably worth mentioning in your review as most people care about reliability and longevity
Mate, you say the Amarok is the most unique Ute, but the bloody thing is Ford, the engine, tray, roller lid, infotainment system, key fob, shifter, inner door handles, it just goes on and on.
Yeah, it's a great Ute, but it's a basically another version of the Ranger in all fairness
I don’t think I ever made the claim that it’s “the most unique ute”
Will Amarok be the first car in history to go backwards with a new gen?
Amarock is the best bakkie in the market
800m wading depth, lol. Love it amasub
Hi you should have announced you in Cape Town. Would have been great meeting you and the Team.
Well the old one had a Gestamp hydro formed chassis just like a Gwagen you can' disguise that this is a FORD
I don’t think anyone is trying to disguise anything
The old Amarok actually did have a proper low range gearbox you just had to get the Man-ual gearbox
Very true - but almost nobody did.
@@chasingcars I don't think you even showed the Pan Americana. That is the one I ordered. I'm really interested in the quality compared to the Ranger as I think Ford's interior quality is very poor/cheap.
I'm especially interested in the Harman Kardon sound system. Did it sound good? Was it rattly?
They had Panamericanas on the launch but they were oddly specified with 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres (Australia is getting 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres). For this reason I didn't pay the Panamericana too much attention as the driving dynamics just weren't representative of what we are getting locally. That said, the Panamericana has a really cool interior, with entirely different leather to the Aventura. The Harman-Kardon sounded good. Not the last word in clarity, but warm, bassy and comfortable on the ears.
@@chasingcars untrue, 75% did get low range in South America, where most are sold.
Great - but we are an Australian channel covering the Australian market, where more like 10% of Amaroks had low range.
Looks good, but it will be all about the Pricing $$$ compared to Ranger. Is it going to be +5k or +10k for similar specs??
I think it will be maybe $3000-5000 more for the equivalent spec, but that's an educated guess.
Beautiful
How does this compare given the ranger has now been given the platinum grade?
Ranger Platinum will be a serious contender against the Amarok Aventura. Let's wait and see until we can do a proper comparison instead of guessing. All I'll say is that the Ranger Platinum has seat coolers, and I like those…
I love the Amarok an it only looks better now. Great review I'll have the V6 Aventura with 18 inch wheels please
Wonder if they’ll do an 18” option like Ranger. My guess is not - because they have the Panamericana.
@5:04 The panel gap needs some work
Can't tell if that's dodgy or just 3D overlapping of panels that is an intentional design feature
Curious how similarly specced Ford vs VW compare on price.
I am expecting the equivalent Amarok to be $3000-5000 more expensive than a Ranger.
not sure about the engine, worked with golf / Amazon / even with Tiguan. What I like about them they keep standard things in their engines works why change it. On the other hand Ford engines and transmission am not sure. Another thing am not a fanatic is the BIG screen if that thing stops working no AC, not a fanatic like the old Amarok screen only has accouple of things not working dont care the car moves with AC.
Question regarding the electric version coming in a few years.
Did you mean the 2023 model has been built to be ready for converting in a few years to electric?
I have been wanting a new Ute but can’t justify one as I want a hybrid minimum, and electric at best. And with them coming in the next few years, not sure why I would buy one now.
Thoughts?
Yes - details here: www.chasingcars.com.au/news/future-cars/fully-electric-volkswagen-amarok-planned-with-500km-range-awd-release-date-as-early-as-2025/
@@chasingcars This is great news, I fear the price will be around 90K for this though, as Australia doesn't take electric vehicles seriously so no incentives to buy them yet.
You buy a VW Amarok, and you get a Ford, you buy a Macan, and you get an Audi - and so it goes on.
Platform sharing is a reality of the modern automotive universe. Building cars ain't cheap. Buying them isn't either.
If it was not for ford Amarok was going under and would not be any more Amaroks vw had too go in partnership with ford too save Amarok it was ranked number40 in sales last year in Australia where the hilux and Ranger was ranked number 1 and 2 in sales last year
@@stephenchurcher8885 Could you point me to the research that says VW is going broke? Thank you.
@@stephenchurcher8885 It wasn't viable for VW to build their own Amarok due to a lack of volume world wide. It doesn't matter collaborations mean a better vehicle from both VW and Ford IMO. VW weren't going broke.
Does this have a 4H mode with open centre diff?
There is no center differential, it's a transfer case. In 2H it is open, the front wheels are not driven at all, this is the mode you should be in at all times on pavement (unless there's snow or ice on the road). In 4H or 4L it is locked with fixed 50/50 torque split. In 4A (only on V6) there is a clutch pack that engages the the front axle when it detects slip. 4A is really only useful for snow or ice on pavement, off-road you may as well just be in 4H.
Toyota is king
I have had amaroks since 2013 and think they are great
I have also got the new next Gen ranger and love it
This amarok is just a rebadge like merc, Vw built a great platform with their original platform, I think it’s the wrong move for them
It’s so ridiculous to say it’s a different car and not a rebadge. It’s different just like the wildtrack is different to the XLT
It’s plainly ridiculous to say that the level of differentiation is the same as Wildtrak to XLT.
If you have to put add blue in it I don’t want a bar of it
I thought you said you will not get the style until April 2023 is that not what you are driving off road
Yes - but the Australian release dates are:
Style, Aventura and Panamericana: April 2023
Core and Life: June 2023
I’d rather get this Ranger from Ford , the VW TOKEN makeover is embarrassing . Ford Ranger looks so much better than this effort by VW
Its a Holden Colorado!
Pricing will be really interesting I think the adventura will demand a higher price to similarly spected Wildtrak due to the better quality 3 to 5 grand? Even 5 grand would be asking abit much.
I think VW would have lost the plot if the Pan Americana is more than a wild track (74k drive away) as the wild track is a higher spec. The Ford dealer told me that the roller cover is worth a couple grand on its own.
It is true that the roller cover is worth about $2000 retail - which is why Aventura will be about $2K higher than the Panamericana. Remember that South Africa doesn't enjoy a free trade agreement with Australia, which immediately makes Thai-built utes 5% cheaper. Long story short, I think the Amarok will land $3000-5000 more than Ranger, yes.
@@chasingcars the free trade agreement sounds like a Volkswagen problem, not a consumer problem.
I feel like three to five grand is fair given they have bought a lot of effort into making it more premium product.
75k for a pan Americana and 80k drive away for a adventura. Much more than that and if be cancelling my order.
I’m not suggesting it’s a consumer problem, just stating the facts.
@@chasingcars not saying you are. I'm just scared that with 12 to 18 months waiting list on rangers they will take advantage of consumers
@@chasingcars thank god it is 5%, ours could be 30% difference
You’ve bought the sales blurb and VW propaganda hook line and sinker. Is there nothing to criticise about this ute? Personally I would question the reliability and longevity record of that very compact V6 diesel which has an unenviable record for breaking crankshafts in previous Land Rover and Jaguar installations. What, if anything, have Ford done to ensure that the crank doesn’t snap or the bearings fail due to oil starvation? I would also question why they don’t mate the full time transfer case to the four cylinder twin turbo Ford 2.0 diesel engines. That would be my preferred choice of mechanical specification because the twin turbo is a peach of an engine, way more powerful, responsive and economical that the previous Ford five cylinder 3.2 or the VW 2.0 engines and only slightly less nice to drive than a V6. Much cheaper engine to run long term in both fuel consumption and probably service and repair costs compared to the V6 which has dreadful accessibility to most bits that are likely to fail in service.
We all know that it is difficult being critical of new launch cars due to the undoubted fact that if a correspondent was so minded and published, they would never be invited to a launch event again.
Personally I would highlight the impractical nature of the expensive roll over top which would be bent and crushed if a pallet or tote bag or 45 gallon drum slipped forward under hard braking. The lack of a practical ladder rack on most variants. The tyre size choice for play rather than off-road work [if you need one of these you will surely want the 4wd for off-road work]. The tie down points available for load security in the bed. The load weight available for the rear bed when towing the full 3.5 tons with a nose weight of 300kgs. I would also compare the net selling price after any available discount against the Ford versions and indeed rivals such as Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, Mitsubishi and others.
From the intensity of your comment it’s obvious that you’re already entered this chat with a pretty hardened view. You’re entitled to it. But it’s pretty important not to miss that Ford’s Powerstroke development of the Lion has an all-new crank, new bearings, a new induction system, new fuel systems, modified block etc… this isn’t just an LR3 motor dropped in.
@@chasingcars
The only real difference is the choice of ancillaries. The main castings and forgings were always sourced from Mexico. So where is the detailed list of precise modifications to the block, crank and bearings that you claim Ford have made? I put it to you that there has been no significant modification to any of the major components. They claimed modifications had been done several times in the past but a high proportion continued to fail in service and indeed continue to do so. I wouldn’t be too hasty about claiming some huge improvement if I were you, in case you have to eat your words.
That’s real nice. Maybe I should buy it . Anyway I don’t like the ranger
I'm glad they make it so much different from the ford, which will make it more competitive. Only downside of VW is their price tag and lot of options
Won't be many options in Australia I am told
In my opinion the amarok will have the luck as the taro which was a hilux and as the x class.
I’m glad that i had purchased the old one at 2019…
We'll see. Volkswagen has given it a much higher chance of success than X-Class, IMO.
Where was this review shot? Doesn't look like Straya!
Cape Town, because the ute is being built in South Africa.
@@chasingcars Have a look at Table Mountain in some shots.🇿🇦
I really do not understand your taste on the interior, the center display and surrounding air vents to me is really off the mark it looks like a poor attempt to be distinctive just for the sake of being different than the Ranger. As for the front it reminds me of current generation Triton I think the last Amarock has a much better front.
Taste is subjective, rather than something to be understood per se. If you don't like it, that's fine!
@@chasingcars Hence my comment I do not understand your taste.
Dude it's literally the same thing with a slightly different face and organisation.
The ford looks much better.. the Amarok used to be the best looker in my book and now it's the worst. Ranger is now the best.
10:59 why does this country have so many potholes 🙄.
I was actually generally impressed by the quality of the roads. Better than Australia around Cape Town.
When a VW body gets a Ford soul engine...it is a Ford.
What a rig!
🛻
VW and Ford taking the fight to the rest of the competitors, it will be interesting to see how Toyota responds in a couple of years. At this rate, they should definitely be worried
Yes, Toyota needs to pull out all the stops for the next Hilux.
Same car as the problem ridden Ranger. Same engines, interface. Heck it even has the Ford key.
Looks better than the Ranger. Just need one with the 2.3 petrol turbo 4 with a manual gearbox
That would be great!
You don't spend your money on Volkswagen to get a Ford in fancy dress. This is the same as the Mercedes Navara flop. When are brands like vw going to realize when their customers pay the money for a premium brand they expect it to be all Volkswagen.
I do wonder how much vw is paying all these car reviewers to talk it up. I think VW knows it's a hard sell
So its a Ford at VW pricing?
If you want to oversimplify it, then sure.
Who u trying to kid mate? Same factory same car. Just play the dealers off to get the cheapest. There's very little different between the both.
Why is VW associating themselves with Ford?
Because the Amarok was way too niche to justify finding a second gen alone
Yes, bur Engine is same as Ranger and that's where we don't trust it
VW says it’s durability requirements for ford, written in the contract, are as strict as for its own V6 TDI - meaning unreliability will be expensive for Ford. Ford for thought.