The Dutch importer of Volkswagen has decided to bring the Amarok to the Netherlands after all. The pick-up is directly on the price list, although the second generation, which was presented in the summer of 2022, was not originally intended for the Netherlands. Four years after the introduction of the model, that course is therefore changing after all.
The first generation of the Amarok was also available in the Netherlands, but disappeared from the market a few years ago. The return now comes after Volkswagen responds to the expiry of the fiscal arrangement requirements as of 1 January 2027. Until that date, the Amarok did not meet those requirements, which made the pick-up effectively unsellable in the Netherlands as a company vehicle. With the disappearance of those requirements, the Amarok can now be ordered with a grey number plate.
The starting price for the entry-level Edition version is €66,990. Above it are the Style (€70,990), the Dark Label Edition (€69,990) and the Aventura Edition (€72,990). It is notable that the Amarok shares its technical basis with the Ford Ranger, just as the Volkswagen Transporter shares its basis with a Ford model. The Ranger is available with plug-in hybrid drivetrains, among other options, but the Amarok does not get that option. It is supplied exclusively with a diesel engine.
Under the bonnet is a 3.0 V6 with 241 hp and 600 Nm of torque. In its basic form this is a Ford engine, which Volkswagen takes over for the Amarok. The power and torque place the pick-up in the segment of heavy work vehicles and tractors, where robustness outweighs fuel economy or compact dimensions.
In the Netherlands, the Amarok is for now only available with a double cab and five seats. The loading bed is 1.65 metres deep and 1.58 metres wide, of which 1.21 metres lies between the wheel arches. A Euro pallet fits crosswise. The payload is 991 kilograms and the pick-up may tow up to 3,500 kilograms. For business drivers looking for a robust tow vehicle, that combination makes the model interesting, even though the price remains an important point of attention.