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Volkswagen Amarok TDI550 V6 2017 review

EXPERT RATING
7.9
Marcus Craft road tests and reviews the new VW Amarok TDI550 V6 Highline and Ultimate dual cab utes, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Marcus Craft road tests and reviews the new VW Amarok TDI550 V6 Highline and Ultimate dual cab utes, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

With utes close to ruling the Aussie car market, VW has again rattled the segment cage, adding a V6 turbo-diesel to its Amarok dual-cab range – a V6 that produces more power and torque than any other ute on the market.

The German car-maker forever altered the off-roader landscape years ago with its eight-speed auto, no low-range-gearing Amarok, a vehicle which had the comfort, ride and handling of a car – or at least very close to it – and yet still handled itself supremely well off-road.

Sure, there were – and still are – a few question marks about the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Amarok’s long-term reliability under heavy-load stresses, but any whining from traditional 4WDers and those who tow that the “engine’s too small” have been mostly crushed.

A V6 six-speed manual Amarok for 4WD purists, is expected in late 2017.

Nevertheless, VW has responded to demand for a bigger donk, so here it is: a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-charged diesel Amarok.

It’s the biggest engine in the ute mob. But does bigger make the Amarok any better?

Verdict

The Amarok has always been a classy yet highly functional ute and the new V6 adds a new dimension to the stable.

We'd need more time and a greater variety of driving in the new Amarok before we could confirm that the V6 matches the hype, but first impressions at least are pretty damn good.

Is the V6 Amarok the performance dual-cab ute you've been waiting for? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

 

Pricing guides

$30,990
Based on 192 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$13,990
Highest Price
$49,990

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
TDI400 (4X4) 2.0L, Diesel, 8 SP AUTO $19,360 – 24,530 2017 Volkswagen Amarok 2017 TDI400 (4X4) Pricing and Specs
TDI340 (4X2) 2.0L, Diesel, 6 SP MAN $20,350 – 25,740 2017 Volkswagen Amarok 2017 TDI340 (4X2) Pricing and Specs
TDI420 Core Edition (4x4) 2.0L, Diesel, 8 SP AUTO $20,240 – 25,630 2017 Volkswagen Amarok 2017 TDI420 Core Edition (4x4) Pricing and Specs
TDI420 (4X2) 2.0L, Diesel, 8 SP AUTO $23,100 – 28,490 2017 Volkswagen Amarok 2017 TDI420 (4X2) Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
7.9
Marcus Craft
Contributing Journalist

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