Amarok Enters The Chat! | 2023 Volkswagen Amarok v Toyota Hilux v Isuzu D-MAX | Drive.com.au

[@RocketRod63]

Bought the new Ranger Sport V6 last October as a tow vehicle for my 2.5T caravan. It’s now my wife’s daily driver & she loves it!! She moved on from an Audi S3 😂

[@gerriepretorius8978]

Why not use the 2.0Tdi as that would be a more realistic comparison wrt power figures?

[@micahfodor8433]

Honestly, the amount of times this guys says the word 'benchmark' set a new benchmark for the use of the word benchmark.

[@alexistavas4396]

He really sounds like an isuzu guy.. and i like that👍

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

We had to wait until 2023 for a ute to have comfortable seats. About bloody time these utes introduced car like comfort.

[@craigice9635]

If the Ranger is your car of the year, how can the Hilux be the benchmark?

[@damo5701]

Benchmark does not necessarily mean the best it is merely a point or reference things are measured against. The hilux due to its popularity, longevity and market dominance over the years, has become the benchmark against which rivals are measured. Ranger & Amarok both exceed the benchmark. Make sense?

[@michaelwiebe4282]

​@@damo5701 It does! With that said, RIP Mercedes X-Class!

[@beaviccoon470]

​@@michaelwiebe4282🎻🎻

[@chrisdungey]

I have an Amarok Style arriving in August. I think that’s the sweet spot in the range with good value for money. I’m very impressed and can’t wait for it.

[@Drivecomau]

Congrats on your new Amarok - the Style is a very compelling package. After you take delivery, please let us know your thoughts on the ownership experience with an owner review: www.drive.com.au/submit-owner-car-review/

[@braalo07]

The Old Dog Hilux is still very impressive to this day but it is now outdated. Hopefully will upgrade it like they did the Tacoma. The Tacoma was quite outdated but what they was quite a huge update

[@art-is-lazy4509]

I'm a Toyota guy but that hilux is a dinosaur, dual cabs with rear drums should be banned. We should get the new US Tacoma without the Toyota tax. I'd have the Ford VW over the ranger, which is just ugly, pity they used that 20 year old Ford V6 diesel instead of their own premium unit given what they charge.

[@stephenwhitworth7701]

To start, well done James on an awesome review. I watch so many reviews and you hear a little about the niggles, issues and so on but not often enough about the real life experience, you blitzed that issue with this review. It was long, but you sustained my interest and to be honest, I am looking at an EV for my next vehicle, but the presentation style held my interest. Okay being totally honest I am going through the mental gymnastics of a "end of life" or last vehicle investment, do I go old tech versus the planet's welfare? You didn't answer that question but to be fair, that wasn't your brief. Thanks for an excellent and very balanced review.

[@anthonyfarnan5935]

If you want to help the planet, buy a second hand car which has already been manufactured.

[@mzwandilejanuary4222]

Thank You for your efforts and putting together such depth of work. I'm in South Africa and enjoy all of what you showcase for us buyers and car lovers

[@hedydd2]

I wonder how long the crank in the Ford V6, used in Amarok and Ranger, will last before it snaps in half?

[@351tgv]

go away geek, this is not the same engine from that era, it has been reworked by ford and used in f150 where the service reports show very little goes wrong with them as they did in the Ford Territory in small displacement.

[@hedydd2]

@@351tgv You have swallowed the hype. It is the same engine. The same short crank with shared bearing lubrication drillings. The main difference is that the components are now machined and assembled in Mexico rather than the UK. The V8 was always sourced from Mexico as were the major components for UK assembly. Best of luck with this design-flawed engine. The majority never fail. A very significant minority do, despite many false promises of solutions over many years of production. Nothing will alter the fundamentals except a total redesign and that is not going to happen, probably ever, because all development money is going towards alternative fuel engines/motors and batteries.

[@1969cmp]

In 2019, a new 4x4 Core in base form could be had for $42k drive away. The market has gone bonkers for various reasons. Lab leak turned it all upside down.

[@fullmetal11441]

Very good review and comparison, thanks 👍

[@calvinsinvula1731]

We know both the amarok and ranger will do good on road. Can you put the two of them on gravel and see which shakes more. Which is more comfortable on gravel? An isuzu may accompany them for better comparison.

[@mentorv]

Amarok wins offroad and onroad

[@kondjashilimhanda5953]

Compare the car to the previous car and we see why wr should buy the new Amarok

[@scottcovo]

If your jump from car to car, can’t get my head around the blinker on the left. Why why why?

[@motorsportfreak1]

The last quality hilux was when it was made in Japan. 🎉

[@ayanda130]

Whats the difference with the hilux manufactured elsewhere? A hilux is a hilux😅

[@michaelwiebe4282]

Love your comparisons! If I had the money, I 'd go for the VW or Isuzu. The Hilux is not very refined, drives like a brick, but because of its reputation, is sold very well around the world!

[@tonitodd1922]

It's tough also. Dmax wears out faster than the hilux

[@StrawhatWZM]

4:09 that cupholder thing ain't gonna hold shit 😂😂😂

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

needs smaller cab and bigger tub / bed in the U.S we have. compact ford maverick and Hyundai Santa cruz pickups double cabs with 4' box

[@Drivecomau]

Not the best but better than nothing, ever try putting a drink down on a tray sitting on an incline?

[@tesla_models]

Since amarok entered the chat ranger left the chat

[@acde9355]

Hahahaha

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

No I think Toyota has alot to worry about 😂

[@tesla_models]

@@wickedleeloopy2115 yes off course, with electrification in mind the hilux future is a lot unstable especially with the ford and vw group coming up with electric version for ranger and amarok

[@tesla_models]

@@wickedleeloopy2115 Toyota is always bought for sake of reliability. Once Toyota reliability is down nobody will buy them anymore

[@mentorv]

Amarok winning almost all tests in the Utes now. Except for Raptor.

[@mzwandilejanuary4222]

The Amarok is not a workhorse though. I'll take the ISUZU

[@acde9355]

I'm really interested in the TDI500 Style since the 2.0 Twin Turbo Diesel is really awesome.

[@andreasgranrud3000]

ISUZU 💪👍

[@79denali]

amarok should kept the V6 tdi audi and ZF 8 .

[@anthonyfarnan5935]

And the roomier cabin and wider track of the old amarok 😂

[@351tgv]

If VW did that they would of have to spend a shit load $$$ on compliance costs. It made no commercial sense for VW to waste money on an old engine of whichbtheybahev said they are walking away from. I expect.to.see a PHEV turbo petrol soon which will be the propulsion of choice within the next 2 years.

[@anthonyfarnan5935]

@@351tgv so they used a 20 year Ford TDV6 in a 12 year old platform instead 😂 This joint venture was never about producing a second gen Amarok. It was more of a cheap and slow exit from the commercial van and ute market by VW in exchange for a licence of EV tech to Ford.

[@fullmetal11441]

​@@anthonyfarnan5935 I'd say they are filling the niche between Hilux and Raptor here in Europe quite nicely, as ford platinum is 20% more expensive and no one else is offering V6 and 4A. Wouldn't call it an exit, they spent around 3 years designing it. I'd say it's a reasonable distribution of resources in the times when all the car manufacturers here in EU are forced to balance their combustion and electric engine production. It's a good car with a low production cost, which saves them some CO2 emission permits 😀

[@endzmeet599]

The amarok has been a SUV with a tub since 2011. Mine has 280,000km on it and still drives better than my wifes 2020 hyundai tuscon . Go figure. The Germans will give you a nice drive and performance but it comes at a cost of reliability

[@tashingakeith5919]

I would have loved it if you had told us how much fuel the VW used. I would also love it if you incorporate real work fuel economy into all the reviews because it is a factor in buying decisions on all sectors

[@Sharky042003]

Dude how tall are you? You make these huge cars look small

[@leoesposito8762]

great video guys can't wait to see who will be knighted king of the road....

[@tanmupps5997]

Dmax is my favourite , I have no trust in ford things

[@tonitodd1922]

Ford is good bt expensive to own also

[@trickster8635]

Can somebody tell me which Isuzu TRUCK, has this 4 cylinder engine??

[@janbouwman4706]

Isuzu my choice by far

[@jerrymyahzcat]

Ahhh. Finally a soft open Ute tailgate (Isuzu). Makes the other two tailgates look like a joke.

[@catamircea8885]

there is no term of comparison. Amarok has v6, huge torque, lots of power, superior traction system (possibility of permanent 4x4), very high ground clearance. the only problem is to prove reliability over time. technically it is clearly superior.

[@MY2NDM3]

I'll take a Japanese Ute over a Ford any day. I do like the look of the new Ford Amarok over the Ford Ranger. Just disappointed that VW partnered with Ford on this project. If anything were to break on the Amarok, it will be the the Ford drive train. Only time will tell.

[@motorsportfreak1]

All Japanese Utes are made in Thailand.

[@brasilsurfguru]

the other 2 are from Thailand

[@351tgv]

There was talk that VW were in talks with Mazda but then Mazda done the deal with Isuzu leaving WV either to walk away or partner with a company that also had other options for them re: Van and passenger cars. Remember the next Transporter willmbe a Transit clone. The new electric Explorer for Europe is the I.D4

[@namtrader9674]

I agree with you

[@stephendooley9386]

The similar priced Amarok Life 500nm would of been best,

[@Drivecomau]

Unfortunately we could only got this variant pre-launch.

[@skatewaverider]

The Toyota is so old now and that leather looks like hard vinyl plus it’s way overpriced compared to the others…. The isuzu is good value for money

[@georgeszurbach444]

Australia the only country in the world that considerer the ranger as the mid size benchmark!!

[@matta9432]

What the rough waiting time for the amarok

[@keepitmashed7402]

CHANGE THE NUMBERS FROM 2.8 TO 8.2 THEN I MIGHT BE INTERESTED......... MASSIVE POWER

[@noelmclean9803]

but rangers have a lemon of a gearbox? and the rangers are the only ute stuck at the beach

[@muneshnaidu8579]

Bench mark is set with ranger...hilux is way behind...

[@shashioojageer1744]

Put them in a drag race

[@MrPlanet911]

It will probably take Toyota another 10 years to put a USB-C connection in.

[@Ederson9926]

2.0L engine Amarok Style is enough to beat these two down.

[@daverae7586]

Just ordered mine

[@351tgv]

Not really a fair fight here for D-Max and the old turd. That said I think a better fight would be to see the Amarok against the BT50, the X former lover vs the new lover Amarok. If Toyota were serious the Hilux would if been given the Tacoma treatment but alas Toyota are now living off reputation.

[@Sabumnim666]

Wow $149 tail gate assist, getting excited over very little. We have the sr5 HiLux's at work and they are very cramped especially in the rear, and reliable, it is not the same as the old pre 2000 year, also the ride is not a patch on the other utes, then there are the many issues that the Hilux has which are not publicized, God forbid you upset Toyota by calling out an issue. I am not saying the Hilux is a piece of junk but it is nothing like the advertising and is very much overpriced for what you get. The current offerings from nearly all manufacturers are pretty damned reliable and there is no clear leader.

[@josemj9415]

Amroke best

[@rudolfengelbrecht8518]

Which bakkie wil last for at least 20 years with minor repairs?

[@saudabrahams]

Hilux the benchmark? 😂

[@Shambles7698]

Hilux still better in exterior and interior because it reliable and dependable

[@bluedunn374]

Buy a Toyota, wait 2 years and get an outdated & overpriced Ute

[@keepitmashed7402]

the hilux is a SLUG BARGE

[@johnnumbat9782]

Thanks James but quoting Ford Ranger as car of the year is laughable - we all know that the bogan Ford brand is unreliable yes I know Ford pays big money for all you journos to praise it but wouldn’t it be nice if you could be honest - yes the Hilux needs to some improvements like sprung rear tailgate, rear disc brakes and ride but I’ve owned two Hilux’s now and wouldn’t own anything else - the Amarok with left side turn indicator and sharing the Ford drivetrain are deal-breakers for me - I hope Isuzu have fixed the well known tearing/cracking of the wheel well in the engine bay which would be expensive to fix if out of warranty - look forward to maybe some honest reviews of the new Nissan/Triton cousins.

[@keepitmashed7402]

would not buy a hilux or d max way to under POWERED RANGER V6 POWER TO TOW

[@kondjashilimhanda5953]

That is not an amarok

[@gstar1309]

Hilux is an underpowered, gutless outdated and overpriced piece of junk . I bought the new 23 rogue and sold it after 8,000 kms .

[@TheVix211]

Hopeless benchmark.....Hilux, no inclusion at all.

[@zanechristerpher780]

Nah ranger all the wayyy even looks better thn the amarok

[@keepitmashed7402]

AND WAY TO OVER PRICED