4x4 Australia Ute of the year: Amarok!

[drew`SEVNT5]

http://motoring.ninemsn.com.au/toolk...eet-the-winner

Was surprised to see this. Have read the magazine, and BT50/Ranger not as good as specs suggest it should be, basically.

[Peuty]

Nice. They are an awesome ute.

[Jim Goose]

Have seen a few around town and always thought they looked very nice.

Engine
Type 4 cylinder inline bi-turbo direct injection diesel
Cubic Capacity, litres / cc 2.0 / 1,968
Max Power, kW @ rpm 120 @ 4,000
Max Torque, Nm @ rpm 400 @ 1,500-2,500
Type 6 Speed Manual 4MOTION Selectable
Performance
0-100 km/h, seconds 11.1 seconds
Fuel consumption, combined (ADR 81/02) 7.9 L/100km
CO2 209 g/km
Suspension/chassis
Double wishbone front suspension with anti-roll bar
Multi layered rigid rear axle with leaf spring (heavy duty springs)
Ladder chassis in high strength steel designed for maximum rigidity
Tow Rating
2800/750 kg Braked / un-braked trailer weight
280 kg Downball weight
Standard Feature Highlights
Driver and front passenger airbags with combined head/thorax airbag
Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Off Road mode
Height adjustable front seats and height adjustable seat belts
Power mirrors with heating function, power windows and rear windows privacy glass
Engine under body protection
Leather Trimmed Steering Wheel and Gear Knob
Climatronic Dual Zone Climate Control air-conditioning
Cruise control and multifunction display
Rear Privacy Glass
RCD310 audio system, MP3 compatible with 6 speakers
16” Taruma alloy wheels with full size spare and 245/70 R16 tyres
Rear bench seat with 3 child seat anchor points and 60/40 split
Carpet flooring, storage drawers under front seats and 3 x12 volt sockets
Storage compartments in door trims and centre console with lid and locking glove box
3 point seat belts and headrests for all seating positions
Black front bumper with coloured side mirror housings. Rear bumper in black with step
Black Sports Bar
Chrome detailing in front grill, fog lights and around internal air vents
High level stop light incorporating lighting for tray area
3 year Unlimited km warranty with 24hr Volkswagen Assistance (Roadside assistance)
6 year anti-corrosion perforation warranty
Colour & Trim Range
Natural Grey Metallic (at no extra cost)
Trail Anthracite Cloth

[J.C.]

I picked up the 4X4 mag this morning and decided against buying it once I saw the comparo's.
Now I know for certain the outcome. Cheers.

[jpd80]

Awards don't matter, VW is almost legendary for indifferent quality/reliability
and gouging their customers on services and parts.

Hilux, Ranger, Colorado and Triton will still get the bulk of sales.

[janddbone]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Awards don't matter, VW is almost legendary for indifferent quality/reliability
and gouging their customers on services and parts.

Hilux, Ranger, Colorado and Triton will still get the bulk of sales.

Are you describing VW or Ford... Lol! Pot and kettle I think...

[1TUFFUTE]

gee now thats a biiig suprize....i was of the opinion that early on sessions in the amarok revealed that they thought the amarok was bassically a carbon copy of the hilux under the skin. And moving on from there they widely had the opinion that the ranger was ahead of the hilux and co by along way in almost all areas. Something not only confirmed by a few mag comparos and early drives but also that it was confirming what we new ford was doing in the engineering of this truck by benchmarking the hilux and others and then making it bigger better and so on everywhere.

Id be really interested on there ranking system and hope they werent just mogelled by its looks( which i think r great)

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by brett.r.johnstone

Are you describing VW or Ford... Lol! Pot and kettle I think...

Awww, I nearly got away with it......LOL

Little Caddys are great, we need to have diesel Transit Connect here....

[FPV8U]

IMHO it's the best looking twin cab out, VW have done a great job.

Would love even a Trendline model myself, the Ultimates are very, very nice for a dressed up work bus.

[Peuty]

This is true jpd80, but still a nice bit of gear though.

[IDT]

We tested the base model Amarok against the base model New Ranger. Other than smoother transmission there is simply no way it is a better vehicle. The Ranger wins in every other aspect especially space. This award and the BT50 beating the Ranger in Drive's award has put the final nail in the coffin for validity of any Australian motoring magazines reviews of cars in my opinion.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by WAForce8

We tested the base model Amarok against the base model New Ranger. Other than smoother transmission there is simply no way it is a better vehicle. The Ranger wins in every other aspect especially space. This award and the BT50 beating the Ranger in Drive's award has put the final nail in the coffin for validity of any Australian motoring magazines reviews of cars in my opinion.

yeah thats what i thought...i mean obviously looks are subjective but if an apples rotten its rotten...dirty journos strike again

[munners]

Originally Posted by WAForce8

We tested the base model Amarok against the base model New Ranger. Other than smoother transmission there is simply no way it is a better vehicle. The Ranger wins in every other aspect especially space. This award and the BT50 beating the Ranger in Drive's award has put the final nail in the coffin for validity of any Australian motoring magazines reviews of cars in my opinion.

Totally agree! Did they actually sit in the back of a Ranger and an Amarok? The Ranger is far more comfortable. And somehow they figured the Amarok is better value for money too as well as better in the bush????

Munners

[aquahead2001]

I am surprised that they say the Amarok has more rear seat room, the only area it beats the Ranger in is width. Leg and feet space is no better than the old Rangers. Your feet still get stuck between the door pillar and the seat, where on the new Ranger there's a pile of room.

I also think that engine will end up being a time bomb, and will not handle a big load for a long time.

[2011G6E]

Lots of them starting to appear out here...three guys I work with have got them in the last few months, and couldn't be happier with them. Great off road, good road manners, stupidly small fuel economy out of a vehicle that big, and nice equipment. If we were in the market for a fourbie again it'd be one of them. I tend to trust "road reviews" from people who've actually laid down the money and have lived with them for a few months, which is usually when problems appear.

[mik]

see the short video?, hopefully the test was a bit more of a challenge than that.

[smally289]

Don't forget that the TM Magna and JB Camira both won car of the year awards ................

[MyForce6]

Originally Posted by drew`SEVNT5

http://motoring.ninemsn.com.au/toolk...eet-the-winner

Was surprised to see this. Have read the magazine, and BT50/Ranger not as good as specs suggest it should be, basically.

NRMA's Open Road magazine says differently.

Next issue Open Road magazine puts the Amarok, Ranger, Bt50, Navara and the Hilux up against each other.

http://openroad.mynrma.com.au/Index.aspx

Page 42-43 they do a very good right up on both the Hilux and Ranger. They test the Ranger by putting in 700kgs into the back of it and the Hilux 180kgs.

My 99 Hilux has 285,000 on the clock and still going strong. Hopefully it'll last another 100,00 and then I'll be looking at the Ranger, Navara and maybe the Amarok... maybe.

[Ben73]

I like them, I think they look good.
No auto though. Wondering why.

[stevanford]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I like them, I think they look good.
No auto though. Wondering why.

Apparently they're getting the ZF 8 speed next year.

[drew`SEVNT5]

*edit*

[SumoDog68]

I ve test driven Triton ,Navara and Amarok and owned 07d4D Hilux And Rodeo .Amarok is a nice truck but really slow and IMO worse in engine department then outdated Hilux and auto not available. Hilux is a good and solid product.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwoWS...e_gdata_player

Ranger / BT50 twin wasnt out in August this year when i was buying - i ended up with Navara 550 and am really happy with it.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

I ve test driven Triton ,Navara and Amarok and owned 07d4D Hilux And Rodeo .Amarok is a nice truck but really slow and IMO worse in engine department then outdated Hilux and auto not available. Hilux is a good and solid product.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwoWS...e_gdata_player

Ranger / BT50 twin wasnt out in August this year when i was buying - i ended up with Navara 550 and am really happy with it.

yeah ive a mate who did the same...got the navara..and loves it but really loves how good the ranger is...would like one but no regrets haha

[Mr Hardware]

No auto? What is this, 1983? Pass.

[drew`SEVNT5]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

No auto? What is this, 1983? Pass.

How lazy are you? 8spd ZF Auto with 132kw/420nm engine 2nd quarter 2012.








For the lazy bastids out there.

Originally Posted by MyForce6

NRMA's Open Road magazine says differently.

Next issue Open Road magazine puts the Amarok, Ranger, Bt50, Navara and the Hilux up against each other.

http://openroad.mynrma.com.au/Index.aspx

Page 42-43 they do a very good right up on both the Hilux and Ranger. They test the Ranger by putting in 700kgs into the back of it and the Hilux 180kgs.

My 99 Hilux has 285,000 on the clock and still going strong. Hopefully it'll last another 100,00 and then I'll be looking at the Ranger, Navara and maybe the Amarok... maybe.

Err, maybe I am blind, but where does it say otherwise? All I can see is a test on a Ranger, and a test on a Hilux.

Unless you know the future and know the outcome of the next test....

Originally Posted by Ben73

I like them, I think they look good.
No auto though. Wondering why.

From what I can tell, just wanted to get the vehicle to market, the Sth American market is massive, and manuals are popular.

[MyForce6]

Originally Posted by drew`SEVNT5

How lazy are you? 8spd ZF Auto with 132kw/420nm engine 2nd quarter 2012.








For the lazy bastids out there.





Err, maybe I am blind, but where does it say otherwise? All I can see is a test on a Ranger, and a test on a Hilux.

Unless you know the future and know the outcome of the next test....




From what I can tell, just wanted to get the vehicle to market, the Sth American market is massive, and manuals are popular.

Well if your going to be like that. I said "NRMA's Open Road magazine says differently." not otherwise.

and I was commenting on your " BT50/Ranger not as good as specs suggest it should be, basically."

Obviously they didnt say anything about the Amarok. Thats why I didn't make a comment about the Amarok.(Which 4x4 Australia gave ute of the year.)

I said "Next issue Open Road magazine puts the Amarok, Ranger, Bt50, Navara and the Hilux up against each other."

[cheap]

4x4 Ute of the year - yet another pretend award!

So when will they be seen in droves on any of the well known 4x4 tracks?

No doubt, the mining companies will be swapping out their tojo 4x4's for these beauties too.

I could be wrong in my view of European 4x4's, it took me 4 years to finally see a X5 on Fraser, mind you it wasn't driving but sitting on the beach - I suppose it could have been helicoptered in

[mrghia]

meh i will get a great wall dual cab before anything else at 21990 for the diesel you cant really go wrong. even if you need to get another one in 5yrs it would still cost less to buy 2 great walls then it would to but one amarok. Great wall FTW lol

[monzie]

Originally Posted by mrghia

meh i will get a great wall dual cab before anything else at 21990 for the diesel you cant really go wrong. even if you need to get another one in 5yrs it would still cost less to buy 2 great walls then it would to but one amarok. Great wall FTW lol

A lot of companys are using that theory, 2for1 drive them into the ground. Great wall for my private vehicle, nah not for me. I know I'd rather be in an Amarok if I ran into something.

Pete

[GT 160]

Originally Posted by mrghia

meh i will get a great wall dual cab before anything else at 21990 for the diesel you cant really go wrong. even if you need to get another one in 5yrs it would still cost less to buy 2 great walls then it would to but one amarok. Great wall FTW lol

Funny you mention great wall, the owners of the mine i work at had to cancel an order for a couple hundred Great Walls for sites across Aus due to only having a 2 star ANCAP rating which is against the company saftey guidelines.