Can the 2nd generation Amarok tow? Maximum towing capacity? Need a towbar for your new Amarok?

Can the 2nd generation Amarok tow? Maximum towing capacity? Need a towbar for your new Amarok?

The 2nd generation Amarok is essentially a Ford Ranger underneath, on the outside, the only visible shared parts are the roof, the door handles and the mirror casings. But the VW is a very different car inside. With the Mercedes X nearly retired, the Amorak is the most luxurious work horse available.

The new Amarok is bigger than its predecessor. It is 96mm longer with a wheelbase that’s 173mm longer. That translates to shorter overhangs for better off-roading, and finally, the rear bed is wide enough to fit a Euro pallet loaded sideways. All Amaroks now come in double cab form with five seats. 

In terms of weight, the Amarok can tow up to 3,500kg and take a payload of up to 1,113kg. Plus it gets a wading depth of 800mm, which is up from the previous gen’s 500mm.  VW claims the new Amarok now gets ‘more than 20’ new driver assistance systems compared to the old ute.  There is also an optional rear locking differential (standard with the PanAmericana trim). Volkswagen points to the Amarok’s improved ground clearance (235mm), wading depth (800mm), and approach and departure angles (30 and 25.6 degrees) as evidence of its off-road ability.

All Amaroks have four-wheel drive, and the cheapest models come with a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and a manual gearbox. An automatic gearbox is standard on the mid-range 202bhp 2.0 diesel and the range-topping 3.0 V6 diesel.

The new Amarok looks and feels like a Volkswagen behind the wheel.  It is supposed to feel like a car inside and does - an SUV with a tray.  The design, materials, and cabin technology set it apart from its competitors. Even the mid-range Style feels quite premium.

Most of the materials are nice to look at and touch, although the plastic trim pieces flowing from the dashboard into the transmission tunnel are pretty scratchy across the range. This is a commercial vehicle after all.

The touchscreen (10.1 in on the cheapest version and 12.0in on Style trim and above) is portrait-oriented and controls infotainment functions. It’s the same hardware and operating system as the Ranger, but the menus are different. It’s reasonably easy to get to grips with, and all Amaroks come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

Similar to other VWs there are no dials for the climate control, so you need to take your eyes off the road and touch the screen twice to change the temperature, and there are lots of sub-menus when you start diving into the driver assistance screens.

The digital instrument display is standout, however. Entry-level cars come with an 8.0in display, while Style trim upwards gets a configurable 12.3in display. It looks modern and offers the right blend of information and legibility. The splashy graphics when you change drive modes add a hint of class and give novices confidence as all the mode shifts are clearly communicated on the digital dashboard, and the preset Mud and Ruts or Sand modes make life easier.

The last Amarok had quite a heavy, direct steering rack. The new model has lighter steering that makes it quite wieldy at low speeds, despite having a longer wheelbase and body than the car it replaces, and the surround-view camera (on the Style and above) is welcome when you’re trying to park such a big beast.

The broader suite of active driver assists is welcome. Adaptive cruise control is smooth and smart, and the active lane-keeping assist is confident without feeling like it’s trying to wrestle the wheel from your hand. Combined with a quiet, refined cabin at highway speeds, the assists make the new Amarok a very capable cruiser.

There are two suspension tunes on offer. The first features twin-tube dampers, and is offered on the Core, Life, and Style, and the second is a tauter setup with monotube dampers offered on the Panamericana and Aventura.

The Amarok achieved a full five-star safety rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP and scored particularly well in the child occupant protection category. All models come with lots of standard safety kit, too, including traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist are included on Style trim and above.

To sum up, the new Amarok is bigger and more modern inside, finally features a competitive suite of active safety features, and drives with the polish you’d expect of a Volkswagen.  Thinking of a new Amarok, do not forget a towbar.