Viva, Amarokoroko!

We take a spin through the Western Cape's Cederberg to See if the Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok retains its poshness.

- Cyril Klopper

The original Volkswagen Amarok made its debut 13 years ago, and South Africans had mixed feelings about it. Criticisms were levelled at the "small" 2 l engine, and some even chided the bakkie's comfortable ride with the mindset "Buy a car if you want comfort." 

Over time, these opinions changed, and other manufacturers eventually followed the Amarok's lead in terms of engine size and carlike ride quality.

What do we have here? 

The second-generation Volkswagen Amarok was introduced earlier this year, and this time around, those very same South Africans found a different point to critique: the fact that it's built by Ford.

Indeed, the latest Amarok is manufactured at Ford's Silverton plant in Pretoria and shares the new Ranger's platform, thanks to a collaboration agreement between the two auto manufacturers.

Its bodywork and interior differ from that of the Ranger and were designed under the supervision of Gu-Han Kim, head of Volkswagen's design studio in Melbourne, Australia.

The new Amarok is available in both four-door double cab and two-door single cab variants. It's 96 mm longer overall than its predecessor, with a wheelbase of 3 270 mm - an increase of 173 mm - making for a more spacious interior, especially in terms of legroom for the rear passengers. The wading depth has also increased from 500 mm to 800 mm, allowing you to confidently drive through shallow rivers.

There are five trim levels available; the entry-level model is simply called "Amarok," followed by the Life and Style models. Two flagship versions round off the range, known as the Pan-Americana with its off-road styling, and the Aventura targeting city slickers.