Is it a BETTER Ford Ranger?? 2023 VW Amarok ute review | New dual-cab 4x4 bakkie pick-up truck!

The big question people will want answered - is this a better ute than the Ford Ranger that it's based on?
In some ways, yes it is. But in others? Not so much.
The fact there's no properly hardcore Ford Ranger Raptor rival in the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok range means it mightn't have the headline-grabbing attraction of the other ute, but it does have a different engine option - a top-spec model with a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine - as well as V6 diesel across multiple grades.
All models are double cab / dual cab, and all are 4x4 / 4WD. So it hits the market where right in the bullseye. But with prices north of $50K for the base model, is it too expensive? And does it justify the cost?
You might be surprised! Watch and find out for yourself.
--
00:00 Intro
00:31 Is it the right price?
03:12 What are the best alternatives?
04:22 Is it the right size?
06:35 Interior
12:18 Under the bonnet
13:39 Driving
17:52 Efficiency
19:07 Is it safe?
19:51 Ownership
20:38 Verdict
--
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#make #model #review

[@Waheeda-kl8lt]

I really like and enjoy your reviews. You are doing great work

[@YZJB]

Great review, Matt!

[@therightcar]

Thanks mate!

[@kashifrasheed2187]

Detailed review and great car

[@masterq2.033]

If it had the Ranger rear tub and lights. The old Amarok V6 diesel and 8sp ZF. The Navara price tag , I would take one.

[@therightcar]

FrankenUte.

[@deanlgreen]

Excellent review

[@therightcar]

Thanks!

[@user-su8wi2oc6o]

Good work

[@AmberKwow]

Great review 👍🏻

[@therightcar]

Thanks!

[@KM-gh3ob]

Absolutely much better and detailed review thank you

[@therightcar]

Thanks!

[@KM-gh3ob]

I will say on the blind spot monitoring it's a nice gimmick to have, however I have seen some drivers merge whilst the blind spot monitor is clearly saying there is a vehicle there.Finally as you mentioned some models don't have this feature,so how can this be a 5 stars ancap if we are talking safety Ancap should be across everything not just collision zones airbags etc ..Blind spot monitor is a safety correct 👌🏽

[@therightcar]

Yeah - blind-spot is not part of the scoring considerations for ANCAP. It should be.

[@AtifKhan-fw5jd]

Great review Meet

[@therightcar]

Thanks

[@TVseriesfangirl]

Beautiful 😮😮

[@user-pp2cj7rx7c]

Interesting Great Knowledge

[@user-qc4qx1tb1f]

Beautiful

[@rokana9641]

Very good looking vehicle this...

[@imranjaved9673]

Amazingly good

[@hareemdilawaizkhan9237]

Amazing

[@351tgv]

Matt a great review. pretty much spot on what my thoughts were about the Amarok. Now that you have the video running I can share my thoughts about the turbo diesel versions (as I have already mentioned the turbo petrol version elsewhere on the Hilux video). I am pretty much disappointed with the sequential turbo version (re: Bi-Turbo), its virtually a clone of the Ranger version, so much so that VW have not changed the shift points on the transmission, it needs the same 5 forward gears to get to 100km/h, the transmissions is also so slow to downshift when needed on electronic kickdown, yes it has torque but again the stupid transmission is slow to shift so it feels like there is a torque hole (re: lag), I had to use the awful toggle buttons to force the transmission to downshift, note: not an issue on the turbo petrol or turbo diesel v6. On the positive side VW had given the Amarok a retuned steering and suspension calibration, something that MAZDA did not with the current BT50 but did with the previous gen Mazda BT50, so well done VW for doing that. On the V6 turbo diesel, again its the same as the Ranger but seems to have a faster transmission calibration like the Ranger version does. Everything else like interior and exterior and function of the tub I agree with you. Finally, against the former Amarok gen? hmm, I know its way better then their own effort however it will take a lot of convincing current old gen Amarok owners to change to this "Ford-badge" but what those owners don't understand is that this is not a Ranger clone, far from it, Iif a VW Amarok oner has never driven a Ranger they will find it a cut above their current gen Amarok, that said I can't see anyone who has been an owner of ranger switching to this unless they want turbo petrol power, I think VW is on a winner here, it will sell in bigger numbers then the X-Class or the previous gen Amarok did. Edited: spelling and added some extra stuff.

[@therightcar]

Thanks mate. Great to get your thoughts!

[@zulfiqarghaffari5326]

amazing car

[@mixupchannel643]

What a beautiful car 🚙

[@user-cz1rc4ej5o]

Wonderful Ranger car ❤❤

[@M8YM8]

So I have personally driven about 10 utes in the last few weeks, everything from the GWM Cannon to the Ranger Sport. The Navara Pro4X Warrior won for me. For $72k you get a mainstream vehicle which already has a lift, bigger wheels/tires, tow bar, underbody protection and wider wheel track. The 360 camera was actually pretty usable as well. For a Salary Packaged vehicle, having everything done at point of sale and covered under warranty was important for me.

[@351tgv]

Premcar have done a great job with the Navara, I drove a manual one a few weeks back and it was easily able to keep up against the previous gen Ranger Raptor in the rough stuff, that said it's a shame that Nissan due to agreement with Renault that Premcar are not allowed to work their magic on the Renault 2.3L sequential (re: Bi-Turbo) engine or at least use a a shorter final drive ratio to help it at low to middle rev range to boost it up, that said the Navara is a great choice.

[@therightcar]

Great point. And it’s a good rig.

[@shanea9613]

Smart man matey mate. I did the same but ended up with a dmax. I'm not a massive off roader. But I liked the navara pro4x too and see where you are coming from. My dmax is still stock as a rock. They are all pretty good these days.

[@M8YM8]

@@shanea9613 the current drive-away pricing on the X-Terrain is very compelling

[@shanea9613]

@@M8YM8 I agree. I got mine last year. For $62k with tow bar and weather screens and bonnet protector.

[@eathernet5a]

Thanks Matt, really enjoying your reviews and channel. Just traded an Amarok Core after five years, was happy with the vehicle but not the VW ownership experience, especially in relation to warranty. Wouldn’t matter how good the new one is, not doing that to myself again!

[@bogged2theeyeballs695]

I personally know of 3 friends who have experienced the same. One persisted for 3 years, the other 2 traded their Amarok after 12 months of total frustration.

[@therightcar]

Thanks for letting me know, Brent. Sorry it sucked!

[@therightcar]

How frustrating it must be to have a car you like but a service department you don’t.

[@shakeelqureshi6771]

Powerful car

[@calvinsinvula1731]

I have watched plenty reviews but no journalist seems to know the style variants. So far I have learnt the style comes in either bi-turbo 2 l 154kw or 3.0 l 184 kw v6. But what seems more confusing is that the other style comes with 3 bar led day time at the top of the headlights and a hallowagen indicator at the tail. Where as this one you reviewed comes with full led day time lights and full led at the tail just like the Aventura. Also in the next review could you clarify the differences between the Pan Americana and the style v6. Is there another difference apart from the blacked out wheels and sports bars of the pan americana? They say it's off road focused but I don't see how it differs from the style v6. Any difference in suspension tuning? Thank you.

[@LyfovRyan51]

Take delivery of a Style about a weeks time. The Core model isn't available or the Style with the V6. Still i look forward to delivery day.

[@markhansford5930]

Would love to see a stand alone test of the base model and top spec with the petrol.

[@therightcar]

I might be going back to drive the base model in two months or so… stay tuned!

[@351tgv]

@@therightcar - I will say tis much, the Core pretty much drives like the equiv XL in terms of 6-speed torque converter spec, I did drive the manual version but it was a quick down the road turn right, do a u turn and drive back the way you went, the clutch feel is pretty much what you would expect as for the signal turbo diesel? if you have driven a Transit or an Endura its pretty much the same feel from the engine, has quick spool up on the turbo then runs out of puff real fast at around 3,500rpm but you can pull over 4,000rpm but why would you unless you need engine braking when going down a steep hill for extended period.

[@morgan28d]

as vw tdi owner wouldnt look at this as not a vw engine that would have made the difference here .. xclass all over again

[@therightcar]

Yeah, the move away from VW TDI to a V6 from Ford isn’t going to be right for everyone.

[@hobo1704]

At least it won't cost as much for repairs as a VW

[@351tgv]

you do realise that the X-Class has a Mercedes engine and transmission and its own 4x4 running gear and nothing to do with the Navara right in terms of V6 option? I agree the 4cyl option is pure Nissan Navara but the V6 is not.

[@AmirZaib-rx7ov]

Revo 4/4 very good

[@sadiaiftikhar7459]

👏

[@wquin4394]

60-70 yes!

[@chandamusonda6883]

Review the Ranger Platinum when it comes out 🛻

[@therightcar]

I’m planning to!

[@user-zq2ph9qh3g]

Grate car

[@brent3855]

I'm guessing the 2.3 petrol is a Ford Ecoboost like the US Rangers use?

[@therightcar]

Yeah, it's the Mustang engine.

[@351tgv]

Aside from pricing my view is that VW have outdone Ford with the Amarok Ranger twin, having already done a 500km test drive of the 2.3L turbo petrol i4 / 10-speed I can say with practical real world application testing that its worth the extra $$$ and extra in fuel costs (note: for best performance use 98 RON since the engine is Euro 6 petrol compliance which means it has a petrol particulate filter) the over the turbo diesel V6 however the upside is you will not have top put up with Euro 6 diesel emissions that owners will have to invest time and money into making sure everything works the way it should , I'm sure that Matt's review will have a near same conclusion that I have about the Amarok, the main things where Ranger objective excels is climate control, , off road ability and in general service and from a subjective standpoint form of exterior and interior looks as well as function.

[@therightcar]

Thanks mate! You’ve always got such good access to cars…!

[@351tgv]

@@therightcar - Matt I have a lo more I could say but will wait for your review to go live and reply then.

[@351tgv]

@@therightcar - just know the right people, it also helps when in a former job that I was a large purchases of fleet vehicles, of course now semi retired. that said I really would like to get my hands on ... nah never gonna happen.

[@raysalter6456]

Amorok expensive here in New Zealand I was looking at the panamericana but price is $91k, no tonneau cover, so thinking more towards ranger wildtrak 😊

[@therightcar]

What’s it cost comparatively?

[@raysalter6456]

@therightcar 91k for panamericana plus orc the ventura is 93k do you think vw has as overpriced there utes Matt? considering for parts??

[@raysalter6456]

Hey Matt the Panamericana is now 95k Aventura 96k here in New Zealand 😮😮

[@andrewpink3703]

Am looking to replace my 2018 Amarok Ultimate 580 and although this is a far better vehicle in terms of space, tech, safety I'm nervous to leave the bulletproof VAG 3.0 and risk the Lion engine. After driving the V6 Wildtrack it felt nowhere near as quick or refined as the VAG and lining them up for a friendly drag race was quite an eye opener......let's just say that German kilowatts are clydesdales and USA are ponies. Without many other options though it may just be worth taking the risk and not owning it out of warranty.

[@masterq2.033]

Wish they kept the old Amarok V6 an 8 speed ZF. That may have convinced me.

[@ropsyso6940]

I recall reading in some car magazine in South Africa that there would be options of the former Amarok's versions of the top speck transmission and engine. Guess it was just speculation. There was a recent review - in South Africa - of the new top of the range Amarok where the reviewer reckoned the old bakkie was a better ride - rode like a car with better transmission, whereas the new car felt like a bakkie (which it is😢). I don't suppose it would be possible to do a comparison between the new topdog against the old? Pointless, perhaps?

[@therightcar]

Kinda pointless. But a drag race would be fun.

[@masterq2.033]

@The Right Car? I think they did a drag race in Australia on one of the car channels between the Ranger V6 and the old Amarok. The Amarok won. Then it's as easy as ABC to have a reliable remap on the old Amarok, giving a good boost.All with in the specs of the engine in other applications as well as the 700nm of the driveline.

[@351tgv]

@@masterq2.033 - Just remember that the previous gen TDi v6 also had "over-boost" at the top end in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears, Ford appears to have tuned the LION V6 for consistent torque curve to 80% max power re: shift points appear to keep the engine in the 2,000 to 3,200rpm so to 100km/h it needs 5 gears when the transmission is left to do its own thing. PDRIVE have shown time and time again that both the sequential turbo (bi-turbo) and V6 have the same shift points o the transmission and since there is no SPORTS MODE there is not much you can do about it.

[@unpluggedkiwi1063]

After my experience with Ford, will not touch anything with a Ford motor or transmission. Have owned 7 performance VW's and only ever had 1 problem. A sensor packed up on my Polo GTI. The cars warranty had finished about 3 months prior, but VW replaced the sensor free of charge.

[@therightcar]

What happened with you and Ford?

[@GearUpind]

It’s a rebadged ford thats fine but to maintain VW I’m not sure about that

[@therightcar]

Have you had a bad experience with a VW dealership?

[@351tgv]

for the most part I agree however there are several degrees of change wit the main one being the option of a very good turbo petrol engine also unlike Mazda with the current BT50 this time round VW have returned the suspension & steering on every version

[@damien2198]

Not in diesel version esp against the Platinum version price wise, and VW service is so much more expensive than Ford one

[@JF-di1nr]

Great review - stick with the Ranger.

[@therightcar]

Thanks! Driving the entry models this week!

[@muhammadnawaz5411]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@tyzon00800]

Blar blar

[@muhammadnawaz5411]

❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jameswilson4712]

0:21 yeah it’s not a better option

[@kentaylor2950]

Great review and I think you nailed it with the Style being the choice I would go for if opting for an Amarok. But the ford rangers offer better value and you get more kit. For example the Wildtrak V6 is $9k less than the aventure but comes with more stuff. The VW only looks to have a more premium looking interior and driver display and thats it? It loses a lot of practicality. The centre console looks clumsy and the location of the brake controller is weird. Those rear sidesteps are gone too which is a bummer. And then Ford have that Wildtak X and Platinum coming which offer even more stuff and still cheaper than the Aventure. I guess that Turbo petrol could be it's biggest drawcard, other than it "not being a ford" thing that will inevitably draw people in. Maybe having it look like the old Holden Colarado with an X front bumper design was planned?

[@351tgv]

steering and suspension tune is different from Ranger, like the previous generation Mazda BT50 the Amarok has different feel, if you prefer a body on frame truck which actually steer with feel and have near zero body roll on sweeping bends at speed then you will like the Amarok, the dampers (shocks) also have different rebound levels, a bit like buying an R-Line or S-Line over the standard spec trim, its not outright stiff there is compliance, but there is only so much you can do with leaf springs, shame that VW did not want to pay a bit more and get access to the watts link coil spring rear suspension, would of been interesting to see what they could of done with it. My wish would be for for the turbo petrol, to be offered at lower trim levels but VW have there reasons. and if any says 452Nm is not enough, look at that torque curve, the engine has a full 452Nm from 2,000 all the way through to 4,500rpm so at peak torque revs the engine is developing 213kW no "turbo diesel" has anywhere near that at those revs, that said even at 3,000rpm the engine is developing 142kW again more than enough and a near much for the 2L sequential turbo diesel engine.

[@medz3398]

Style is better value compared to ranger offering especially if trying to get asset write off

[@kentaylor2950]

@@medz3398 i agree in terms of mid-spec, the Style offers much more than the Ranger Sport for a similar price.

[@therightcar]

Great thoughts, Ken. Thanks for commenting!

[@irenedeguzman8238]

Dealers are now more than 80k plus on roads for style and still selling like hot pancakes.

[@jockmiller3056]

Looks ok but Wouldn’t go near VW reviews on customer services 💩

[@therightcar]

There are plenty of loud voices when it comes to bad service it seems.

[@351tgv]

@@therightcar - Matt do you not recall all the early 2012/13/14 issues with the Amarock and the exploding turbos on the 4cyl version? Also AWD systems overheating in early versions and VW were making owners sign NDA's as to get warranty repair work done? Car Advice (the good on not the crap one that is drive now) had heaps of owners telling everyone bout it.

[@QueenirfanahmedAqeelhuma-sm4xm]

Bilu

[@zoltrix7779]

When are they going to stop wasting money on those sports bars. They serve no purpose at all. The front needs less chrome and the light grey plastic looks stupid. Its over styled. Still the Ranger looks stupid at the front also, so fucking square, the only model where the front works is the Raptor, and thats because the front is simpler, not over styled. When you buy a ute, heated seats are somehow a luxury, yet they are standard on all Ford vans. Anyway, whatever, these vehicles are a general waste of time. I'd much rather see the Ford Maverick in Australia, because its enought ute for most people.

[@therightcar]

I’d have a Maverick.

[@President4747]

Sonfun the car that have been made by teo teams people try to put in comparison 😂😂 you review vw yet you cant stop talking about ford so whats the point? Bring ford and do review

[@seadoomania]

If your not towing heavy loads why would you bother and just get the raptor

[@therightcar]

Maybe you want a ute to use as… a ute?

[@BAH1981]

Are all car reviews scripted by one person?

[@therightcar]

All of them in the world ever? No. I script my own and barely stick to it.

[@darwonboyful]

No chance id buy the VW over the ranger. The VW looks terrible and those wheels dang wft?

[@jaimechapeau267]

Thanks but no thanks. VW is hopeless because they simply don't care about the customer. When I get rid of my VW I will never look at that brand again. You can keep that turd on wheels mate.

[@therightcar]

Wow mate. What have you got?

[@jaimechapeau267]

@@therightcar I have a 2012 VW Caddy Trendline Wagon. The car is ok although I perhaps paid too much and the car has minor quality issues for such a brand. The support is appalling. Too many issues to mention. I am looking for a ute. The Amorok is not on the list. I'd rather buy a Mahindra S11.

[@therightcar]

Wow, well hopefully your next vehicle is less troublesome.

[@jaimechapeau267]

@@therightcar I will alright. The main thing I will be steering away from VW. The Japanese are top of the list, i.e., Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi. The wildcards are Mahindra and SsangYong (KG Mobility).

[@9W8o7l7f4]

Way too expensive! Poor quality.

[@ethanfaggotter7540]

thanks matt can you please do a review on the all new LDV T60 max luxe Mega Tub please !

[@therightcar]

Hey Ethan! I'll try. The team at LDV don't have many press cars, but I have a friend at a dealership who may be able to help out... It might take a month or two, but stay tuned. Thanks Matt

[@MasterMind-io6bp]

Beautiful