It’s official: the new VW Amarok 222kW is coming to South Africa.
The 222kW Amarok will be the first model in the range to feature a petrol engine, giving it a niche appeal in a market dominated by diesel units.
The petrol bakkie has been on a rather confusing journey since it was first revealed, as it was initially confirmed for South Africa only to be put on ice for nearly a year.
It was first announced all the way back in early 2024, when the company stated that we would get our hands on it in the second half of that year.
However, the third quarter came and went with no word on the new Amarok, only for VW to declare in October that the model had been indefinitely delayed.
In other words, it hadn’t been cancelled, but we wouldn’t see it anytime soon either.
VW’s stated reason for the delay was that there was insufficient demand to justify the petrol version’s introduction.
Fast forward to August 2025, and the new Amarok has finally been confirmed for our market.
It made an appearance at last week’s Festival of Motoring, where a representative revealed to TopAuto that the 222kW Amarok will go on sale this November.
We asked why the model had finally been given the greenlight, but the person we spoke to simply told us that they didn’t know.
The logical explanation is that Volkswagen conducted new market research and decided that there was now sufficient interest to launch the petrol version.
Why a petrol version?
Petrol bakkies are fairly uncommon in South Africa, as diesel typically offers a better torque-to-power ratio and a lower fuel consumption – two things ideal for a practical vehicle that will be towing and travelling long distances.
However, interest in petrol models has started to take off in the last few years, particularly in the luxury segment, as there is a growing niche for a more refined driving experience.
Surprisingly, VW has officially confirmed that the new powerplant will be paired with the range-topping PanAmericana.
We’d previously assumed that the petrol block would be sold on the Aventura, which is meant to be the more urban-focused of the two flagship grades.
The company describes the PanAmericana as the off-road flagship, while the Aventura is better-suited for city use.
For those of you who are more familiar with the Amarok’s half-brother – the Ford Ranger – it’s akin to Ford announcing that the Wildtrak will receive the new engine instead of the Platinum.
In any case, the new bakkie will be fitted with a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol mill that develops 222kW and 452Nm (hence its unofficial designation as the Amarok 222kW).
This is paired with the 10-speed automatic gearbox, which connects to the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.
Unfortunately, the carmaker has yet to announce pricing, but considering the trim level it is attached to, don’t expect it to be one of the cheaper units in the Amarok family.
Right now, the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel PanAmericana goes for R1,094,500 while the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel version starts at R1,190,900, which gives us a ballpark estimate of where the new entry will land.
Of course, you’re getting a lot more than just an engine, as the flagship bakkie comes with all of the brand’s high-end equipment like IQ Light Matrix LED headlights, 18-inch “Amadora” alloy rims with all-season tyres, a tubular styling bar, side steps, roof rails, underbody protection, and a rear diff lock.
It also has a leather multifunction steering wheel, an electric driver’s seat, “Cricket” leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, a 12-inch digital driver display, and a 12-inch portrait infotainment screen.
Furthermore, the PanAmericana has an expansive driving aid suite with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver-fatigue detection, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and Park Assist.
More information on the new VW Amarok 222kW PanAmericana will be announced closer to its launch window in November.
VW Amarok 222kW PanAmericana at the 2025 Festival of Motoring
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