MOTORING REVIEW: All roads are VW Amarok's destination

THE SECOND generation of the Volkswagen Amarok pick-up arrived here last summer with a smart looking new exterior and more upmarket interior as well as all-wheel-drive as standard. Long regarded as a true workhorse vehicle, Amarok is popular with the farming and construction industry, as well as tradespeople and families who enjoy active lifestyles.

This is a huge vehicle with great road presence. At 5,350mm long, it is longer and higher than its predecessor. The longer wheelbase of 3,270mm provides more interior room and allows for more stability while the shorter overhangs front and rear improve the vehicle’s off-road capabilities.

My top specced double-cap version came in a Mid Blue Metallic exterior colour, had chrome-plated exterior finishes, huge squared wheel arches, 21-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, and a ‘Sport Bar’ in its body colour for the cargo area, unique to the top Adventura spec.

You climb up high into the cabin, aided by sturdy hand grips on the pillars and by side steps. The cabin is fitted out with high class materials including, in my press vehicle, Savona leather seats which were actually a bit firm, but fine nonetheless. Both front seats have 10-way adjustments for a perfect fit.

Rear occupants have good head and leg room - except for the person in the middle as the central console extension impedes somewhat on their legroom. They can also carry their equipment in the cargo bed which, at 1,651mm long by 1,854mm wide, is deeper and longer than before and can take a Euro pallet loaded sideways or lengthways. Payload is 573kg and Gross Vehicle Weight 3,190kg.

The central locking includes the tailgate, but my test vehicle came with the optional roll cover which is not part of the keyless system but could be opened and closed with the key fob.

A 12-inch portrait-styled infotainment system with colour touch screen - and beautiful graphics - for the navigation system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility take up much of the dash. There's also a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel which shows all relevant drive info. After my week-long test drive, it showed an average combined fuel return of 11.3 L/100kms which equates to almost 24mpg.

The row of large buttons below the central screen were for volume, climate controls, front seat heaters, drive modes, and the Auto Hold function. Other features were dual zone climate control, an area view camera, wireless charging pad, Harman Kardon premium sound system, an electronic locking differential button located beside the Downhill Descent control.

There's a 12V power socket and both A- and C- type USB ports as well as a wireless phone charger. Cubbies include a good area below the front armrest, two large cupholders, very good door bins, and a decent bucket-type and lockable glovebox.

I had previously driven my review vehicle, a six-cylinder 3.0 TDI 237hp 4Motion with its 600Nm of torque, on quite a challenging track at Carton House, Maynooth, where we drove in 4WD Low mode as it applies more torque for better grip. Maximum power is sent to all four wheels for negotiating tricky conditions like very sharp turns in tree-lined tracks, navigating up steep slopes and through deep ruts as well as driving across narrow bridges. Front cameras show the track in front and also the view from above on two screens on the dash which greatly helped when I was driving up high slopes. Ramp angles have been increased front and back to improve ground clearance on rough terrain and wading depth increased to 800mm. All Amaroks with automatic transmissions can tow trailers of up to 3.5 tonnes (braked), 750kg (unbraked).

Grades are Amarok Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura. Standard equipment includes power folding mirrors, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, VW Connect with eCall Emergency System and Online Voice Control, adaptive cruise control, rear view camera and parking sensors.

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Customers can choose from 4- and 6-cylinder turbocharged engines - 2.0 and 3.0 TDI diesels and a 2.3 TSI petrol option. Ten-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual transmission are available. Plus points were the high driving position which made me feel secure and safe while driving in heavy rainfall. I was impressed with how well my car drove and how quiet and refined the powerful engine was, its excellent acceleration and I hardly felt the gears shifting. Steering is quite direct, as I like it.

Large side mirrors have blind spot alerts. The Park Assist Plus includes park distance control in front and rear with rear traffic alert. The system, with a 360deg all-round view, proved invaluable when I had to park this huge pick-up into a single parking space in my shopping centre carpark. A tight fit, certainly.

There are 25 assistance systems onboard which helped Amarok being awarded a top 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP which the first generation model had not attained.

Prices for the basic model RRP start at €72,555.00; option of metallic paint €830; my car RRP €73,085. Price includes VAT of €11,126.58 and VRT of €8,748.00.