VW has discontinued the 110kW Amarok models in South Africa which up to this point served as the entry-level models for both the single (SC) and double-cab (DC) body styles.
As a result, the bakkie is now exclusively offered with 125kW, 154kW, and 184kW powerplants.
Another consequence of shedding the most affordable variants from the line-up is that the barrier-to-entry for the Amarok has now increased by a significant margin.
Previously, the two-door variant was available from a starting price of R505,000 and the four-door from R599,000.
Now, however, the bakkies start at R581,900 and R650,500, respectively, reflecting an increase of R76,900 for the Amarok SC and R51,500 for the DC.
VW South Africa confirmed to TopAuto that it had evaluated the sales performance of the 110kW models against their peers and decided that it would be more advantageous to have a leaner Amarok product offering with fewer derivates.
During their short time on the market, the entry-level Amaroks accounted for a mere 6% of the bakkie’s total sales across SC and DC categories.
The motivation behind introducing this engine option – which isn’t available in the Amarok’s architectural twin, the Ford Ranger – was to offer “a lower-priced entry model [that] allows customers to buy into the Amarok brand,” said VW.
The automaker said it’s considering launching a more powerful engine for the Amarok later in 2024 that is based on Ford’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost mill and will produce in the region of 222kW.
What’s available
With the removal of the 110kW Amaroks from the line-up, the bakkie is now available in two SC and 11 DC configurations in South Africa.
The SC models are exclusively sold with a 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel motor generating 125kW and 405Nm that pairs to a six-speed manual gearbox.
This 125kW driveline is also available in the Amarok DC, in addition to a 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel motor that produces 154kW and 500Nm, and a 3.0-litre, V6, turbo-diesel that does 184kW and 600Nm – both of which are paired with either a six-speed or 10-speed automatic transmission.
Buyers can opt for a rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive option in both the SC and DC shape, with fuel consumption pegged at 6.9-8.4l/100km, depending on the version.
The entire range further supports a one-tonne payload capacity and a maximum towing cap of 3,500kg.
VW Amarok Style
Switching to standard equipment, the Amarok SC now comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a multifunction steering wheel, manual aircon, an 8-inch digital driver’s display, a 10-inch central touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, hill-descent control, and six airbags.
In base spec, the Amarok DC mirrors the features list of the SC, and it gains two extra speakers for a total of four, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.
The four-door version of the bakkie is further available in Life, Style, Aventura, and PanAmericana trim levels that bring more to the table.
In Life guise, the VW receives 17 to 18-inch wheels shod with all-terrain tyres, body-coloured bumpers, an assisted tailgate, embossed fabric seats, a leather steering wheel, six speakers, and front parking sensors.
Stepping up to the Amarok Style further sees distinctive 18 to 20-inch wheels, automatic high-beam control, keyless entry and start, a 12-inch instrument cluster, a 12-inch infotainment system, electric and heated front seats wrapped in leather, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking.
VW Amarok Aventura and PanAmericana
Above the Style, the flagship role in the Amarok family is played by both the PanAmericana and the Aventura, with the former focusing on 4×4 prowess and the latter on conquering the urban jungle.
They boast amenities including Matrix LED headlights, an area-view camera, a wireless charger, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, driver-fatigue detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and Park Assist for semi-autonomous parallel, rear, and perpendicular parking.
The PanAmericana is then differentiated through 18-inch Amadora wheels, modified suspension, “Cricket” leather seats, and a dark matte grey finish on exterior components like the door mirrors, underbody protection, and bed liner.
The Aventura, on the other hand, sports 21-inch Varberg rims, perforated “Savona” leather upholstery, an electric roller shutter over load bed, premium floor carpets, and chrome finishes on the mirrors, door handles, and side steps.
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