The Volkswagen Amarok continues to be an underdog in Australia’s large ute market, even when it shares its DNA with the nation’s present head honcho.
Its twin-under-the-skin is, after all, the Ford Ranger, which not solely continues to be Australia’s top-selling ute, but additionally the nation’s favorite new automobile bar none, with no fewer than 22,000 examples bought up to now in 2025.
The Amarok, meantime, has discovered 2434 new houses in the identical interval, making it the lowest-selling established ute nameplate regionally. After all, in contrast to virtually all of its rivals, the second-generation Amarok is offered in Australia solely in dual-cab 4×4 ute kind, which means there’s no single-cab or prolonged cab variations, and no handbook or 4×2 choices, so there’s a smaller vary with greater costs and extra gear to replicate its premium positioning.
However there’s additionally growing competitors within the ute market, together with from new rivals just like the BYD Shark 6 and different cheaper Chinese language dual-cabs, in addition to overhauls for fashionable fashions just like the Mitsubishi Triton and vary expansions for utes just like the Ranger, with the addition of 4 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants. And there’s nonetheless no concrete phrase on an analogous powertrain for the Amarok.
Volkswagen’s ute did convey a current MY25 replace that shifted some pricing and specs, and added a tray choice to a number of variants to create the primary double-cab/chassis variations. Hardly groundbreaking updates, however did they have to be?
WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the Volkswagen Amarok Life
The Amarok already supplied one of many extra various powertrain lineups of any ute in Australia, even with out electrification. There are three turbo-diesel powertrains together with a V6, and turbo-petrol engine that not even the Ranger presents right here, regardless of the very fact it traces its roots to high-performance Fords just like the Focus ST and Mustang EcoBoost.
On check right here, nonetheless, is the 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500 double-cab pickup. That seems like a mouthful, nevertheless it’s virtually so simple as the Amarok will get and it’s positioned second from the underside of the vary.
The Life TDI500 is powered by a four-cylinder biturbo-diesel, has material seat trim and 17-inch wheels, together with an unlined tub and different such stripped-back facilities. The one manner the Life can get extra barebones is by becoming an aluminium tray, however that provides $4000 to the $62,000 drive-away value as examined right here.
Is that this the candy spot within the Amarok vary? Do different variants do it higher, or must you simply go for a Ranger?
How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value?
The Life sits one rung above the underside of the Amarok vary, and prices $61,990 drive-away. That’s $6000 up on the bottom Core, and a whopping $10,750 lower than the following everlasting variant above it, the Type TDI500 with the identical engine.
| Mannequin | Drive-away value |
|---|---|
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Core TDI405 double-cab pickup | $55,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Core Tray TDI405 double-cab chassis | $59,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500 double-cab pickup | $61,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Life Tray TDI500 double-cab chassis | $65,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok 10 Deserts Version TDI500 double-cab pickup | $69,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Type TDI500 double-cab pickup | $72,740 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Type Tray TDI500 double-cab chassis | $76,740 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Type TDI600 double-cab pickup | $76,740 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 double-cab pickup | $79,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TSI452 double-cab pickup | $79,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Type Tray TDI600 double-cab chassis | $80,740 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Amarok Aventura TDI600 double-cab pickup | $82,990 |
The Amarok Life is most akin to both the Ranger XLS or XLT biturbo 4×4 dual-cabs – even when the mannequin lineups aren’t fairly in sync. These utes value $57,630 and $63,640 earlier than on-roads respectively.
Exterior of that duo, the dual-can 4×4 ute crowd is as massive as ever. There are nonetheless the standard names – Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and Nissan Navara – competing towards the Amarok.
There’s additionally a handful of rivals from China that proceed to place strain on these stalwarts. The GWM Cannon and LDV T60 aren’t brand-new however proceed to promote properly, whereas the JAC T9 is working to determine an Australian following.
Volkswagen’s ute remains to be pricier than the entire above.
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
What’s the Volkswagen Amarok like on the within?
Unremarkable, particularly by Volkswagen requirements.
After all, the Ford roots are apparent, but it doesn’t really feel as refined. The rounded air vents of the Ranger have been sharpened, and there are a good few uninspiring shapes and surfaces dominating the sprint and centre console.
In contrast to the D-Max/BT-50 sister fashions, wherein the interiors are virtually similar aside from nicer seats within the latter, the Amarok seems like an try to inject edgier Volkswagen styling right into a ute it wasn’t designed for.
That mentioned, many of the sensible advantages that include cheaper Rangers have been carried by way of right here. There’s an analogous phone-sized cubby forward of the gear selector, a pair of cupholders, a cut-out on high of the sprint, and a lidded cubby above the glovebox – all very helpful for tradies.
The seats within the Life are additionally work-friendly, with hardy material upholstery and sufficient bolstering to maintain entrance passengers snug in bends. These onerous surfaces will face up to put on and tear higher than any extra premium supplies, whereas the leather-based steering wheel trim is a worthwhile luxurious.
Fitted to this variant is a ten.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a smaller unit than the 12.3-inch different discovered from Type stage. It sits awkwardly on the dashboard with thick shiny bezels, however was responsive and snappy throughout our testing.
You continue to get wi-fi smartphone mirroring as commonplace, which labored reliably throughout our time with the automobile. Local weather management is – sadly – tucked away on this display screen, bar the only real shortcut button beneath it to open the local weather menu.
That is in stark distinction to the Ranger, which has a sequence of knobs and buttons beneath. The Amarok’s array of buttons might look cleaner, however the practicality of bodily local weather controls is much preferable.
In any other case, you’ll discover a USB-A and -C ports, a 12V outlet, a trailer brake controller, and even a wi-fi charging pad within the cubby beneath.
The steering wheel is a basic Volkswagen design, and we like that each one the buttons are completed in sturdy plastic. They’re all bodily too, which suggests they’re simple to make use of – particularly in comparison with the shiny haptic controls in different trendy VWs.
Behind the wheel is an 8.0-inch digital instrument show, flanked by easy meters for temperature and gas. It’s on no account flashy, however as with the Ranger it’s useful and easy, which suggests it’s simple to dwell with. Just like the infotainment display screen although, it’s the smaller of the 2 screens seen throughout the vary.
The few menus obtainable to scroll by way of are navigated utilizing the buttons on the appropriate of the wheel. This space is the place you’ll discover many of the Amarok’s bodily controls, with these few buttons and off-road controls on the centre console making up the remaining.
That makes for a cabin that’s intuitive sufficient to be snug, however in any ute we’d nonetheless prefer to see a extra conventional strategy with extra buttons. At the least the armrests are comfortable, and the centre storage bin is sufficiently big for a variety of odds and ends.
Getting into the again is a small hike, however the facet working boards make it simple to step up and in. These are much like different Amaroks, although they’re product of black plastic as an alternative of metallic.
The door opening is sq. however not as massive as we’d like, which suggests – when mixed with the excessive flooring – loading bigger objects like a toddler seat could also be troublesome. When you’re in although, there’s loads of area for passengers and their cargo.
If you might want to match a toddler seat, there are two ISOFIX and two top-tether anchor factors to utilise. There’s a fold-down centre armrest within the center and a 12V outlet on the again of the centre console, however there are not any USB shops to interrupt up the swathes of scratchy plastic.
The rear bench seat itself is upholstered in the identical material as up entrance, and may fold up or all the way down to reveal small spots to retailer issues. Headroom is suitable, and legroom needs to be positive for individuals lower than two metres tall.
As anticipated for a base-spec ute, the bathtub lacks any protecting plastic lining. This isn’t the top of the world, however the paint will rapidly scratch by way of regular use. The Amarok will be optioned with a ‘Modular Bedliner’ although.
Disappointingly, there are additionally no energy shops within the tub, as they’re reserved for higher-spec Amaroks, however tailgate help makes it simpler to shut with out a motorised operate. You’ll discover our tester is fitted with Volkswagen’s ‘Premium Fashionable Cover’, one of many many real equipment on supply.
The flexibility right here is superb in consequence. You may go for the facet home windows in three mixtures of lifting or sliding, whereas there’s electrical opening for all three panels, commonplace central locking, and built-in LEDs inside, maintaining every thing safe however accessible when wanted.
That each one makes the Amarok Life a stable workhorse, however its inside falls in need of justifying the $60,000-plus price ticket.
| Dimensions | Volkswagen Amarok Life double-cab pickup |
|---|---|
| Size | 5350mm |
| Width | 2208mm (1910mm excl. mirrors) |
| Peak | 1886mm |
| Wheelbase | 3270mm |
| Floor clearance | 235mm |
| Tub size | 1544mm |
| Tub width | 1224mm |
| Tub depth | 529mm |
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The TDI500 engine fitted to the Life and Type is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder biturbo diesel shared with the Ranger. It produces 154kW of energy and 500Nm of torque, with drive despatched to all 4 wheels by way of a 10-speed computerized transmission.
| Specs | Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl bi-turbo diesel |
| Energy | 154kW |
| Torque | 500Nm |
| Transmission | 10-speed computerized |
| Drive kind | 4-wheel drive with selectable 2WD and low vary |
| Weight | 2317kg (kerb) |
| Gas financial system (claimed) | 7.2L/100km |
| Gas financial system (as examined) | 8.1L/100km |
| Gas kind | Diesel |
| Gas tank | 80L |
| CO₂ emissions (claimed) | 189g/km |
| Payload | 913kg |
| Braked towing capability | 3500kg |
| Gross automobile mass (GVM) | 3230kg |
| Gross mixture mass (GCM) | 6350kg |
Our week with the ute comprised a number of freeway commutes, and a number of journeys all through Melbourne’s internal suburbs. The stop-start driving of the latter contributed to our greater gas financial system determine, though there was no load within the again.
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
How does the Volkswagen Amarok drive?
Ford’s twin-turbo diesel four-pot feels fully acceptable within the Ranger, and it’s no completely different within the Amarok.
NOTE: Volkswagen Amarok Type pictured all through this part.
You must put a bodily key into the ignition to start out the Life, which I usually favor to a push-button, nevertheless it takes a second to regulate your mind behind the wheel of such a contemporary (and costly) automobile.
Firing it up reveals a comparatively easy diesel idle that quickly quietens down as issues heat up. It’s completely habitable and slots into Drive utilizing a chunky gear selector, simply because it does in most different Rangers and Amaroks.
Setting off from a standstill offers an honest push within the again, and the engine feels fairly joyful beneath load, which is precisely what you need from a powertrain in a ute.
We preserve that 10 gears are far too many for a automobile like this, as essentially the most important suggestions it offers is fixed shifting beneath acceleration.
Nonetheless, it’s a stable powertrain setup, and the base-spec leanings of the inside tie in properly with the utilitarian traits of the diesel up entrance.
On the transfer, the Amarok Life displays a sometimes bouncy experience. That is particularly evident unladen, because the rear of the automobile will clatter over bumps even when street noise is acceptably subdued.
We don’t thoughts this tendency, because it’s nonetheless much more compliant than the experience you get on the bigger 18- or 21-inch wheels fitted to the dearer grades.
The chunkier rubber right here additionally means you will have extra leeway when tackling tough roads – sealed or not.
Just like the Australian-developed Ranger it’s primarily based on, which stays the ute benchmark in relation to experience/dealing with, the Amarok confidently retains itself in test in bends because of a well-sorted front-end in a stable ladder-frame chassis design.
You’ll discover a little bit of physique roll, however the steering is properly weighted and pointy sufficient to maintain you on observe. Forcing it to show at velocity will induce some tyre squeal, however the Life’s on-road efficiency nonetheless stands up properly towards the extra lifestyle-oriented Aventura.
Regardless of sporting massive 4Motion stickers, the Amarok truly runs in two-wheel drive more often than not. That’s as a result of the TDI500’s four-wheel drive system is designed for unsealed surfaces, and extended use on paved roads could cause driveline harm.
Rear-wheel drive interprets to decrease gas consumption on the street, and the biturbo diesel doesn’t have the center to correctly break traction except the roads are greasy anyway, and the well-sorted traction/stability management system takes excellent care of that.
It’s a special story with the Amarok’s extra highly effective engines, although including weight to the bathtub dulls issues down a bit.
When you’re off-road, the Amarok is greater than able to getting you to virtually any campsite. There are a number of off-road modes to select from, together with a locking rear differential, low-range gearing, and loads of floor clearance to assist preserve issues shifting alongside over the tough stuff.
We didn’t get the possibility to correctly check the Amarok’s off-road capabilities throughout our week with the automobile, however you possibly can try ourvideo assessment of the Aventura for a greater concept.
When the velocity picks up, the Life stays snug and presents loads of overtaking energy, nevertheless it’s not as easy as a V6 Amarok, whereas will stroll up snottier inclines and tow a big van or boat with way more ease.
Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless a complete suite of security gear, even when a number of it’s simplified for entry-level Amaroks.
Discover out extra
Discover out extra concerning the automobile
You get adaptive cruise management for one, albeit with none cease/go operate. It’s dependable in follow, and makes long-distance commuting a breeze with its potential to appropriately comply with lanes and sustain with site visitors round you.
We’ve had few hiccups with these methods in the actual world beforehand, though the higher-spec Aventura did throw up false distraction warnings throughout a earlier check. Rangers additionally have a tendency to do that, largely in the event that they deem your fingers to be off the wheel, however the Amarok Life stayed quiet.
Sadly, you don’t get a surround-view or perhaps a front-facing digicam, which might vastly enhance manoeuvrability when off-roading or navigating carparks.
Visibility remains to be good, although the optionally available cover does create a letterbox within the rear-view mirror.
| Off-road dimensions | Volkswagen Amarok Life double-cab pickup |
|---|---|
| Observe entrance and rear | 1620mm |
| Floor clearance | 235mm |
| Method angle | 30.0 levels |
| Departure angle | 25.6 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 22.0 levels |
| Wading depth | 800mm |
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
What do you get?
The Life sits above solely the bottom Core in Volkswagen’s Amarok vary as a mildly extra premium variant, however a great distance beneath the grades above by way of commonplace gear.
2025 Volkswagen Amarok Core gear highlights:
- 17-inch ‘Cobra’ alloy wheels
- Entrance disc, rear drum brakes
- Locking rear differential
- Energy-folding facet mirrors
- Aspect steps
- Mud flaps
- 2 x entrance tow hooks
- Metal underbody safety
- Plastic gas tank safety
- Tow bar
- 12-pin trailer plug
- Black facet mirrors, door handles
- Handbook locking tailgate
- 6 x tie-down factors in tub (pickup solely)
- Exterior tie-down rails
- Cargo field LED lighting (pickup solely)
- Automated LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Automated high-beam
- Halogen tail lights
- Vinyl flooring
- Gray headliner
- Material upholstery
- 6-way handbook driver seat
- 4-way handbook entrance passenger seat
- 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 4-speaker sound system
- Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wi-fi charger
- Single-zone air-conditioning
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Trailer brake controller
ABOVE: Volkswagen Amarok Type
Amarok Life provides:
- Rear disc brakes
- LED entrance fog lights
- Physique color facet mirrors and door handles
- Heated, power-folding facet mirrors with puddle lamps
- Locking wheel nuts
- Tailgate raise help (pickup solely)
- Energy tailgate lock (pickup solely)
- Privateness glass
- Six-speaker sound system
- E-shifter
- Electrical park brake
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Carpet flooring
- Eight-way handbook entrance seats
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
Amarok 10 Deserts Version provides:
- 17-inch black ‘Cobra’ alloy wheels
- Continental CrossContact all-terrain tyres
- 40mm suspension raise (275mm whole floor clearance)
- Composite underbody safety
- Black tonneau cowl
- 10 Deserts badging
- All-weather flooring mats
Amarok Type provides:
- 18-inch ‘Amadora’ alloy wheels
- Chrome facet mirrors and door handles
- Plastic tub liner (pickup solely)
- Chrome steel sports activities bar (pickup solely)
- 12V socket in tub (pickup solely)
- 230V sockets in tub (pickup solely)
- 400W inverter
- Matrix LED headlights
- LED tail lights
- Leather-based-look dashboard and door inserts
- ArtVelour microfibre upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- 10-way energy driver’s seat
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Rear air vents
- Insulated windshield
- Proximity entry and push-button begin
- Alarm system
ABOVE: Volkswagen Amarok Aventura
Amarok PanAmericana provides:
- 18-inch black ‘Amadora’ alloy wheels
- All-terrain tyres
- Dynamic suspension
- Black facet mirrors and door handles
- PanAmericana decal
- Black sports activities bar and steps
- Gentle tonneau cowl
- Roof rails
- Spray-in tub liner
- Leather-based upholstery
- Energy passenger seat
- Eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
- Black headliner
Amarok Aventura provides:
- 21-inch ‘Varberg’ alloy wheels
- Chrome bumpers, mirrors, handles
- Rear sailplane
- Electrical curler cowl
- Leather-based seats (Savona)
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
Is the Volkswagen Amarok protected?
The Volkswagen Amarok has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing carried out in 2022. This end result was drawn from testing of the carefully associated Ranger, with extra frontal offset and facet influence checks carried out on the Amarok by Euro NCAP, which has harmonised testing protocols with ANCAP.
| Class | Volkswagen Amarok |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 86 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 93 per cent |
| Weak street person safety | 74 per cent |
| Security help | 83 per cent |
Normal security gear throughout the vary consists of:
- 9 airbags
- Knee
- Centre
- Entrance
- Aspect curtain
- Rear
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Clever Pace Limiter
- Lane-keep help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing digicam
- Swerve Steer help
- Pace signal recognition
- Tyre strain monitoring
Amarok Life provides:
- Adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go
Amarok Type provides:
- Park Help semi-autonomous parking
- Encompass-view digicam
- Trailer help
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
How a lot does the Volkswagen Amarok value to run?
Like the broader Volkswagen Australia vary, the Amarok is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Volkswagen Amarok |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 12 months free, then service-initiated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped value servicing | 5 years |
| Common annual service value over 5 years | $460.4 |
| Complete capped value service value | $2302 |
Service pricing, correct as of July 1, 2025, is detailed beneath:
| Service | Worth |
|---|---|
| 12 months, 15,000km | $415 |
| 24 months, 30,000km | $415 |
| 36 months, 45,000km | $539 |
| 48 months, 60,000km | $421 |
| 60 months, 75,000km | $512 |
Alternatively, prospects should buy a five-year ‘Care Plan’ for $2200.
To see how the Amarok stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Amarok Life TDI500
The place different Amaroks cater to life-style consumers, the Life is pitched extra in the direction of tradies, which is a job it doesn’t tackle convincingly.
The MkII Amarok has all the time been a extra premium model of the Ranger. It’s dearer, however to your cash you usually additionally get nicer supplies and the most effective tech obtainable, even when it comes on the expense of the ‘life-style ute’ tag.
However the Life strips issues again with out a value reduce in equal measure. Don’t get us flawed – it’s nonetheless a well-built and dependable dual-cab 4×4 pickup, however if you happen to’re going to go for an Amarok at this value it’s possible you’ll as properly flip a coin with a Ranger XLT, and even an XLS and pay rather less.
It’s not accident there are simply 4 work-oriented variants within the Amarok’s 12-grade lineup.
The Amarok is at its greatest from the Type stage up. Its inside is a way more cohesive package deal, and it’s usually a little bit sharper in most areas with out compromising an excessive amount of on its utility.
The bones you get with the Life are undoubtedly stable. It will not be obtainable with the meatier diesel V6, however the biturbo 4 remains to be a top quality engine with loads of punch.
Which means it could actually nonetheless tow comfortably and supply a really respectable payload within the tub. The optionally available cover fitted to our tester additionally improves each space for storing and safety, providing added peace of thoughts and turning the Amarok considerably into the Everest wagon for which Volkswagen has no reply.
The Life TDI500’s inside can also be snug sufficient, even when it occupies a bizarre area between the ruggedness of the Ranger and the SUV-ness of the Amarok PanAmericana, not to mention the Aventura.
All that makes the Amarok Life an important ute, however we expect tradies are higher off saving their money and shopping for one thing else.
Occupied with shopping for a Volkswagen Amarok? Let CarExpert discover you the most effective deal right here
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