Test drive Volkswagen Amarok
Building a competitive pickup truck from scratch is not an easy task, and Amarok is an example. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz and Renault decided to develop their models based on the Nissan Navara, and Fiat based on the proven Mitsubishi L200.
In Europe, meeting a Volkswagen Amarok at work is a common thing. He carries construction materials, serves in the police and shovels snow from a mountain road with a dump. But drivers see off the updated pickup with surprised looks - matte gray, a dandy sports arc, a "chandelier" on the roof, and most importantly - a V6 nameplate at the stern.
Pickup trucks for outdoor activities are experiencing a boom in popularity, acquiring an “automatic”, comfortable seats, a bright passenger interior, and a multimedia system with a large screen. Their sales are growing even in Europe, where the pickup has always been a purely utilitarian vehicle. Volkswagen sensed this trend early: when introduced in 2010, the Amarok was the quietest and most comfortable in its class. But not the most popular - he achieved serious success only in Australia and Argentina. For six years, Amarok sold 455 thousand cars. In comparison, Toyota sold more Hilux pickups in the last year alone. The Germans decided to correct the situation with even better equipment and a new engine.
The V2,0 6 TDI unit replaces the diesel with the smallest volume of 3,0 liters in the segment and a narrow operating range. The same one that is put on the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne. Interestingly, both engines, old and new, were recalled during Dieselgate - they had software installed that lowered their emissions. VW was forced to choose the big one out of two evils - the two-liter EA 189 diesel engine no longer meets the strict environmental standards of Euro-6, and the possibilities for boosting this unit are practically exhausted.
The three-liter engine turned out to be more environmentally friendly, it has better characteristics and a longer resource. In the initial version, it produces 163 hp. and 450 Nm, while from the previous two-liter unit with the help of the second turbine only 180 hp were removed. and 420 Nm of torque. There are two more variants of the 3,0 TDI: 204 hp. and 224 hp. with a torque of 500 and 550 Nm, respectively. Thanks to the extended transmissions of the eight-speed "automatic", the new engine, even in the most powerful version, is more economical than the previous unit with two turbines: 7,6 versus 8,3 liters in the combined cycle. In the passenger car range, this engine is no longer so in demand - the new Audi Q7 and A5 are equipped with the next generation 3,0 TDI sixes.
The matter was not limited to one motor: Amarok was seriously updated for the first time in six years. Chrome parts have become more massive, and the pattern of the radiator grille and the shape of the lower air intake are more complex. The changes are designed to make the pickup truck lighter and more visible. It looks especially impressive in the top-of-the-line Aventura with a sporty roll bar behind the cab and in the new matt grey.
Instead of the old oval foglights - narrow blades. The same motif is in the interior: round air intakes have been changed to rectangular ones. Even round MultiConnect holders were sacrificed, on which you could hook a cup holder, ashtray, mobile phone or clothespin for documents. They are more appropriate on a commercial vehicle, and the updated interior of the Amarok has become too light: luxurious seats with 14 adjustments, paddle shifters for shifting gears of an eight-speed automatic, electronic security systems, a parking assistant, a multimedia system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and XNUMXD navigation. The overall impression is still spoiled by hard plastic, but something must remind us that we are inside a pickup truck, and not a refined SUV.
With a sports arc, the wind in the body is less noisy at high speeds, and in general the pickup has become quieter - the two-liter diesel engine had to be turned to go fast, and the new V6 engine does not need to constantly raise its voice. But still, the Amaroku is still far from the Touareg with its excellent soundproofing.
With the maximum possible return of 224 hp. and 550 Nm acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h takes 7,9 seconds - this is 4 seconds faster than the same pickup truck with the same twin-turbine unit, all-wheel drive and automatic transmission. The maximum speed increased to 193 km / h - a trip on the autobahn showed that this is quite an achievable value. Pickup at high speed does not scour and slows down confidently thanks to reinforced brakes. The regular suspension has been optimized for comfort, but the Amarok's ride, like any pickup truck, depends on the load. With an empty body, it shakes on small, barely noticeable waves of concrete pavement and cradles the rear passengers.
The pickup moves easily with two tons of gravel on the hitch. The maximum weight of a trailer with brakes, which is able to tow an Amarok with a new V6 engine, has increased by 200 kg, to 3,5 tons. The carrying capacity of the machine has also increased - now it exceeds a ton. This news may make the Moscow owner of a pickup wince, but we are talking about a car with reinforced Heavy Duty suspension. The variant with a standard chassis and a double cab, which is mainly purchased in Russia, according to the documents, transports less than a ton of cargo, therefore, there will be no problems with entering the center.
Cargo records are not so relevant for the Russian market: more modest characteristics are enough for towing a boat or camper. Our body capacity is measured not by the width of the euro pallet, but by an ATV, and pickups themselves are purchased as a more affordable and roomy alternative to an SUV.
The crawler gear for the VW pickup is still only offered in conjunction with a hard-coupled front axle and a manual transmission. Versions with "automatic" are equipped with permanent all-wheel drive with a Torsen center differential. For off-road driving, there is a special mode that dampens the gas, keeps it low, and activates the descent assist assistant. The electronics that bite the slipping wheels are quite enough for passing the obstacle course, and the rigid blocking of the rear axle is needed only in difficult cases.
The first gear of the automatic transmission is still short, so there is no shortage of traction at the bottom. The peak torque of the V6 engine is available from 1400 rpm all the way up to 2750. It is not surprising that the Amarok easily climbs the slopes of the off-road special route without a load. A three-liter diesel engine in its most powerful version, it seems, is able to convince any skeptic: a downshift is really not really needed for such a car.
The Amarok is quite capable of winning the quietest body and stiffest frame category. On the "elephant" steps, the pickup keeps a stiff upper lip: no squeak, no crunches. The doors of the suspended car can be easily opened and closed, and the windows of the cabinet do not think to fall to the ground.
Building a competitive pickup truck from scratch is no easy task, and Amarok is one example. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz and Renault decided to develop their models based on the Nissan Navara, and Fiat based on the time-tested Mitsubishi L200. But it seems that the work on the mistakes was successful, and VW finally managed to create a harmonious pickup with passenger comfort, good cross-country ability and a powerful engine.
The Russian pickup market has always been small, and last year, according to Avtostat-Info, it sank more than twice, to 12 units. At the same time, the number of presented models has significantly decreased. Optimism is not added by the introduction in Moscow of a cargo frame for trucks with a gross weight of over 644 tons, including for pickups, as well as tightening control over converted SUVs. Nevertheless, sales of pickups for the second month show growth compared to 2,5, and demand is shifting to the regions. Buyers do not save money and generally prefer cars with "automatic". The sales leader in the segment is Toyota Hilux. It is also the most expensive car in the class - it costs at least $ 2015. The pre-styled Amarok with a starting price tag of $ 13 takes only the fourth line.
In Russia, the updated Amaroks, which can still be driven throughout Moscow, will appear in the fall. If in Europe the pickup will be presented only with a V6 engine, then for the Russian market at first it was decided to leave the old two-liter diesel engine (thanks to less stringent emission standards). This is done in order to contain the rise in pickup prices. The V6 version will appear only in the first quarter of next year and exclusively in the most powerful performance (224 hp) in the maximum Aventura configuration. However, the Russian office does not exclude that they may revise sales plans and equip more versions with a six-cylinder engine.
