2023 Volkswagen Amarok Core new car review

If you are willing to sacrifice flashy features and accessories you can save $20,000 and get your hands on a rugged, no nonsense workhorse ute.

Volkswagen’s two cheapest Amaroks have landed in showrooms and are ready to be put to work.

The German brand has boosted its range with the base Core and Life versions joining the more expensive Style, PanAmericana and Adventura in its rugged ute line-up.

Co-developed with the Ford Ranger, the Amarok has the right DNA and Volkswagen has imbued its own essence to make it feel and look different.

The Volkswagen Amarok Core is the brand’s cheapest dual-cab ute.

The mid-tier Style is expected to be the bestseller, but not everyone can stretch to a circa-$78,000 ute with the headline grabbing V6 motor.

Enter the Core, which is priced at about $60,000 drive-away. It uses a workmanlike 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that makes a modest 125kW and 405Nm and is matched to a six-speed auto.

Moving up to the roughly $64,000 Life grade improves this to the tried and tested 154kW/500Nm 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel and 10-speed auto combo found in the current and previous generation Ranger ute.

The Amarok Life gets a punchier bi-turbo diesel motor.

Each is several thousand more than equivalent Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger.

The Core and Life variants are rugged utes that serve up the steak without the fat.

You won’t find gaudy sticker packs, glossy sports bars, large diameter alloy wheels, interior ambient lighting and leather seats.

Instead, Core and Life owners make do with manually adjustable fabric seats. The Core has a plastic steering wheel and the Life wraps it in leather.

Drivers will have to insert and turn a key rather than press a button to start and there is only single zone airconditioning.

It is wide enough to fit a euro pallet in the tray

Hard wearing surfaces dominate the interior covering the dash, door trims and centre console.

The Core has vinyl flooring, which is upgraded to carpet in the Life.

Both score an eight-inch digital driver’s display and a 10.1-inch central tablet-style screen – down from 12.3- and 12-inches in higher grades – that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Multiple USB ports are complemented by a wireless device charger, too.

It’s a handsome but understated ute with 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights to give it some pop.

Interior space is excellent with plenty of head, shoulder and leg room in all rows. Two adults can easily fit in the rear pew, but they’ll go without aircon vents.

Its seats are softer than those found in the Ranger and well suited for long trips.

The tray has plenty of tie down points and can fit a euro pallet but there is no tub liner or tonneau cover.

It has high and low gears when in four-wheel drive mode.

Safety is one of the biggest areas of improvement. A five star ANCAP rating broadens its appeal to fleet buyers.

It has nine airbags providing standout coverage for both rows and a wide variety of active driver aids.

The Core and Life will automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential collision and will help keep you centred in your lane.

The Core misses out on rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring that’ll warn you as a car approaches from the side as you reverse and alert you if a car is in your blind spot.

On and off the road the Amarok proved its mettle.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel in the Core isn’t awe inspiring but it gets the work done with little fuss.

The Amarok Core’s engine isn’t flashy but gets the job done.

It was willing and able in stop-start city traffic and on the open road. The six-speed automatic transmission made the most of the vehicle’s modest torque reserves but it will work overtime when pushed up steep hills or asked to overtake at speed.

The Life’s torque heavy bi-turbo engine is a supreme performer with noticeably more grunt and oomph than the Core.

We also tested the Core with 900kg in the tray and the ute had little problems hauling the load up hills and chugging along on sweeping country roads.

The suspension is firm when unladen but it calms down significantly when loaded up. Quick and light steering feel more SUV-like than ute.

The suspension is firm when unladen but calms down when loaded up.

There are both low and high gears when in four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential adds to its off-road ability.

It made light work of muddy and rutted trails, crawling up slippery surfaces and traversing deeply scored mud pits with ease.

VW has also launched a new range of accessories with more than 100 items available direct from the dealer, meaning the lighter spec variants can be used as a blank canvas for those wanting to customise.

Volkswagen claims the Core will drink 8.0L/100km, which is more than the beefier bi-turbo, and you’ll need to do a lot of unladen highway driving to hit that number.

A five year/unlimited km warranty adds peace of mind. A prepaid capped price servicing pack costs $1800 for five years, which is very reasonable.

VERDICT 4/5

No fuss dual-cab ute that gets the job done without showing off.

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK CORE

PRICE From about $60,000 drive-away

ENGINE 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, 125kW and 405Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $1800 for five years

SAFETY Nine airbags, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist, reversing camera and adaptive cruise control

THIRST 8.0L/100km

SPARE Full size

PAYLOAD/TOWING 1042kg and 3500kg braked

Originally published as 2023 Volkswagen Amarok Core new car review