2023 VW Amarok: Australian News and Everything You Need to Know

This is everything you need to know about the new 2023 Volkswagen Amarok for Australia, from the big reveal to Australian pricing and our first comprehensive drive review. Hit the links below.

JUMP AHEAD

• Dec 7: New Amarok DRIVEN!
• Dec 7: VW confirmed $80k+ for flagship
• Dec 7: Electric Amarok SUV in the works
• Dec 7: VW Amarok EV confirmed
• Nov 27: Walkinshaw Amarok late 2024
• Nov 19: Petrol Amarok to win VW owners
• Nov 17: New Amarok will stay premium
• August 2: Initial Australian details
  • Features
  • Engines & drivetrains
  • Safety
  • Dimensions
  • Availability
• July 8: New Amarok designed for Oz
• July 7: New Amarok REVEALED!
• July 7: Amarok v Ranger – SPEC BATTLE!

December 7: NEW AMAROK DRIVEN! Words & Video

We've finally driven the new-gen 2023 Volkswagen Amarok, with Jez jetting (Jet jezzing?) to South Africa for a world's-first spin in the new ute. Get our full story below.

December 7: VW confirms $80,000+ price point for flagship Amarok

Prices are set to rise as VW positions its second-gen Amarok as the dual-cab ute segment's most heavily specified and premium offering

December 7: Electric Amarok-based SUV in the works

VW has previously said it had no plans to introduce an Everest-like companion to its Ranger-based Amarok, but now with an EV ute in the works, it seems an electric SUV variant will join it.

December 7: VW Amarok to get an all-electric option!

While it remains to be seen if it will ruin the weekend, Volkswagen has confirmed it will introduce an all-electric version of the new Amarok sometime before 2030.

November 27: Walkinshaw-fettled Amarok due late 2024

Fans of the current partnership between Volkswagen and Walkinshaw in Australia will have to wait until at least late 2024 for a meaner, powered-up version of the new Amarok.

November 19: Petrol-powered Amarok to win over current VW owners

Volkswagen says it will offer a turbo-petrol engine in its new Amarok to win buyers with more urban needs

November 17: New Amarok to stay premium, no plans for single-cab or cab-chassis in Oz

The new-gen Amarok will be more premium than ever, Volkswagen says, and you won't be able to get a single-cab or cab-chassis variant here in Australia. Details at the link below.

August 2: Initial Australian details announced for 2023 Volkswagen Amarok

The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will arrive in Australia in early 2023 with an optional turbocharged petrol engine, the brand confirmed to dealers today.

Production for the local market will commence in late October, with assembly taking place in South Africa – allowing for quicker shipping times compared to the outgoing Argentina-built model, an important aspect during the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage.

Volkswagen Australia claims its dealers have been met with an overwhelming amount of inquiries for the second-generation Amarok ute, which shares its platform with the recently-launched ‘T6.2’ 2023 Ford Ranger.

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Five grades will be offered in Australia, with the availability of a single- or twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, or an Amarok-first 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol.

The new trims are Amarok, Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura.

These powertrains are shared with the Ford Ranger, but only the diesel mills are offered in Australia, giving the Amarok a unique selling point in comparison to its heavily-related twin.

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Of note, while the Ford Ranger has gone automatic-only, a six-speed manual transmission will be offered on the entry-level Amarok – joining standard features exclusive to flagship Ranger variants, such as LED headlights, a wireless phone charger and a trailer brake controller.

While a Ranger Raptor-rivalling variant with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 is unlikely, the marque’s partnership with Walkinshaw will continue for modified variants engineered locally.

This opens the door for an Amarok W-Series with the four-cylinder petrol unit, joining units with the flagship diesel V6 powertrain.

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"Since the Amarok was globally revealed four weeks ago Volkswagen dealers have been beset by inquiries and customers intent on placing deposits," said Ryan Davies, director of Volkswagen Commerical Vehicles in Australia.

Australian pricing and full details for the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will be detailed in the coming months.

See below for a full specification breakdown and everything else we know about the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok so far.

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2023 Volkswagen Amarok features

Amarok (replacing Core)

Amarok Life (replacing Sportline)

Amarok Style (replacing Highline and Highline Plus)

Leather upholstery is available as an option.

Amarok PanAmericana (replacing Canyon)

Amarok Aventura

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Colours

Volkswagen will offer ten colour options for the Amarok, including; frozen white, agate black, blue lightning, carbonized grey, lucid red, moondust silver, diffused silver and moroccan blue.

The latter finish is unique to the Amarok, while the remainder are shared with the Ford Ranger.

Metallic paint is a $710 option across the outgoing Amarok range.

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Engines and drivetrains

Volkswagen has confirmed the 2023 Amarok will be offered with four powertrains in Australia, consisting of three diesel units and a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol mill.

The range will kick off with a Ford-sourced single-turbo 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine producing 125kW of power and 405Nm of torque, matched with part-time four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

It is fitted as standard on the entry-level Amarok, with mid-spec Life and Style variants stepping up to the bi-turbo unit.

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The bi-turbo 2.0-litre has 154kW and 500Nm, with a shift-by-wire 10-speed automatic transmission and selectable 4MOTION four-wheel-drive.

A higher-output 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine producing 184kW and 600Nm is optional on the Style, and standard on the range-topping PanAmericana and Aventura grades.

As with the bi-turbo four, it is matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission – replacing the previous VW-sourced eight-speed setup – but with full-time four-wheel-drive (and low-range), as seen on the Ford Ranger.

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Lastly, a 2.3L turbocharged petrol engine with 222kW and 452Nm – as found in the Ford Mustang and Focus ST – is optional, exclusively in Aventura guise.

Six drive modes are available: Normal, Eco, Slippery, Snow/Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow/Haul.

Combined fuel economy figures for the 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will be announced closer to launch; however, for reference, click here for the 2023 Ford Ranger’s efficiency numbers.

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Safety

ANCAP is yet to test the new-generation Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok, but the latest-generation passive and active safety systems are likely to see a five-star result.

Nine airbags (dual front, side, curtain, front knee, and front-centre) are fitted across the range – up from four airbags in the previous Amarok.

Each variant includes the following active safety equipment as standard:

Rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring is standard on Life grades and above.

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Dimensions

Availability

The 2023 Volkswagen Amarok will launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2023 (January to March inclusive).

Customers can now pre-order the Amarok at Volkswagen dealerships nationwide.

July 8: New Amarok designed and developed in Australia

The second-generation dual-cab has been designed with Australia in mind. get the full story below.

July 7: 2023 Volkswagen Amarok revealed

Here it is, after months of sketches and speculation (and sketchulation), VW has unveiled its new-gen Amarok ute. Get all the details at the link below.

July 7: New Amarok v New Ranger – SPEC BATTLE!

Just how different are the new Ford Range and VW Amarok utes from the each other – and the models they replace?