2024 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 review

Want to head off-road? Although you could buy a ute and head directly to your nearest aftermarket supplier in search of more capability, carmakers are now going all-out to offer similar functionality from the factory, and with the surety of a full warranty.

Volkswagen has dabbled with the idea before thanks to the input of Australian specialists Walkinshaw, but it’s taken things in-house with the second-generation Amarok this time around. The result is the 2024 Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana.

With a tougher look, more rugged interior, and some hardware aimed at going deeper into the wilderness than the posh Amarok Aventura, think of this as Volkswagen’s take on a Toyota HiLux Rogue or Ford Ranger Wildtrak.

At $76,000 before on-road costs, it’s not cheap – but the PanAmericana might be the smartest pick in the Amarok line-up.

How much does the Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 cost?

The Amarok PanAmericana sits between the Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 ($73,590) and Wildtrak X 2.0 ($76,890).

In the Toyota HiLux world, it’s more expensive than the range-topping GR Sport ($73,990 before on-roads), and is pricier than even the most expensive Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain ($67,500 before on-roads) or Mazda BT-50 Thunder ($73,945 before on-roads).

Volkswagen Amarok pricing:

• Volkswagen Amarok Core 2.0 TDI405 4Motion 6AT: $52,990
• Volkswagen Amarok Life 2.0 TDI500 4Motion 10AT: $56,990
• Volkswagen Amarok Style
  • 2.0 TDI500 4Motion 10AT: $66,990
  • 3.0 TDI600 4Motion 10AT: $70,990
• Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI600 10AT: $75,990
• Volkswagen Amarok Aventura
  • 3.0 TDI600 4Motion 10AT: $79,990
  • 2.3 TSI452 4Motion 10AT: $79,990

Prices exclude on-road costs

What is the Volkswagen Amarok like on the inside?

Behind the wheel there are some really interesting trims and finishes that make the PanAmericana stand out from the rest of the Amarok range.

From the rough-grain brown leather to the baseball glove-style stitching, it’s a unique take on the off-road ute formula, and one that really separates the Amarok from the closely related Ford Ranger.

The fundamentals are the same here as in the rest of the Amarok line-up, however. That means front passengers sit high in generously padded seats, and there’s enough adjustment in the seats and leather-trimmed wheel for tall or short drivers to get comfortable.

Most of the materials are nice enough to look at and touch, but the plastic trim pieces flowing from the dashboard into the transmission tunnel are pretty scratchy across the range, let alone in this near range-topper.

On the technology front, the Amarok is mostly good. The vertical touchscreen starts fast, has crisp graphics and identifiable fonts, and has wireless phone mirroring – but falls into some of the traps afflicting other Volkswagen Group products.

There are no dials for the climate control, for example, so you need to take your eyes off the road and prod at the screen twice to change the temperature, and there are lots of sub-menus when you start diving into the driver assistance screens.

Ford has already rolled out a software update to the Ranger and Everest with a goal of reducing button presses; and it wouldn’t hurt Volkswagen to do the same here. What VW offers here is strong, in fact it’s not far off being excellent, but bigger icons and a smarter layout would be welcome in a few places. 

The Amarok is missing is the app connectivity you get from the Ford Ranger, which is a shame. Being able to test the indicators and lights on a trailer from the outside of the car using an app, for example, is very handy, as is the ability to control your zone lighting.

The digital instrument display is standout, however. It looks modern, and offers the right blend of information and legibility. The splashy graphics when you change drive modes add a hint of flair, and the fact no Ranger except the Raptor and Wildtrak X have the same full-sized digital dashboard as the Amarok is a tick for Volkswagen.

Storage spaces abound up front. There are cupholders on the transmission tunnel, a wireless phone charger under the dash, and a deep central bin.

However, the trailer brake controller makes it harder to put a phone in that charger, and means the USB-A and USB-C ports are recessed to the point of being hard to reach. A flip-top bin above the glovebox features ridges to stop phones sliding around, too.

As for the rear seats? They’re a meaningful improvement on what was on offer in the last Amarok, which Volkswagen says was a key priority when developing the second-generation car.

Leg room and head room are improved, although they’re par for the class rather than standout. The elevated rear bench will do wonders if your kids are prone to carsickness, and the inclusion of air vents will no doubt be welcome during hot Australian summers.

ISOFIX points feature on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tether points for child seats. There are no rear USB ports, however.

Anyone who wants to fit a child seat will need to be patient. As is the case in most of these dual-cab utes, the fact the top tether point is up against the rear bulkhead makes it hard to attach a finicky seat anchor.

The tray still features space for a pallet between the arches, and has up to six tie-down points. Bare metal, a plastic tub liner, and a spray-in bed liner are offered depending on the model, and the range-topping Aventura has a powered roller cover that can be operated from the key.

The tailgate features a torsion bar, making it easier to open than it otherwise would’ve been.

What’s under the bonnet?

The TDI600 packs a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel shared with the Ranger, making 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, mated with a 10-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive.

That means, unlike in Bi-Turbo models, you’re able to run on sealed surfaces with the security of four-wheel drive without differential binding.

Claimed fuel economy is 8.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, and the fuel tank holds 80 litres. We saw 9.4 litres per 100km over a week of mixed driving.

How does the Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 drive?

The off-road oriented Amarok is pretty damn nice to drive on the road.

Volkswagen offers two suspension tunes in the Amarok; the PanAmericana has a stiffer setup than the lower-end Core, Life, and Style, and is instead aligned with the range-topping Aventura.

Rather than combining that with big, SUV-like wheels though, the PanAmericana has 18-inch wheels wrapped in tyres featuring sensible sidewalls.

On the road, it’s nicely settled by dual-cab ute standards, including over small city bumps, where there is just a hint of bouncing from the rear axle when you’re not carrying a load. Potholes and speed bumps won’t shake your fillings loose in this VW.

With that said, it’s still not as comfortable as a dedicated family wagon or four-wheel drive. As is the case with all the utes we test, even a refined work vehicle is still a work vehicle at heart.

Compared to the last model, the new Amarok has light steering that makes it easy to park in tight places. Outward vision is excellent, the cameras are clear, and the V6 engine is also smooth and torquey at low speeds.

The engine traces its roots to Land Rover, rather than the broader Volkswagen Group like the 3.0-litre in the last Amarok. Its outputs aren’t a huge leap forward, but in combination with the standard 10-speed automatic the new engine feels more effortless, more of the time.

That plays out with a satisfying surge of performance from below 2000rpm when you lean on the accelerator, and solid in-gear response at highway speeds.

It doesn’t need to work as hard as the 2.0-litre engine option from lower-end models when you’re in a hurry, and when you need it to dig deep you’re immediately aware there’s a higher ceiling on what it can do. The inclusion of full-time four-wheel drive also elevates the PanAmericana above Bi-Turbo versions.

Even if you’re not off-roading, rear-wheel drive dual-cab utes on off-road oriented tyres tend to be a bit sketchy on wet tarmac. Flicking the Amarok PanAmericana into 4A solves that problem.

Off-road, the PanAmericana is capable, without going as far as a Toyota HiLux GR Sport or Ford Ranger Wildtrak X. The more rugged wheels and tyres offer an extra degree of ability compared to an Aventura, and the off-road hardware makes going exploring relatively idiot-proof.

Everything you do with the four-wheel drive system is clearly signposted on the dashboard, making it easier for nervous drivers to know what’s going on under the skin.

Volkswagen points to the Amarok’s improved ground clearance (235mm), wading depth (800mm), approach and departure angles (30 and 25.6 degrees) as evidence of its off-road ability. In the real world, it’s every bit as capable as its main dual-cab rivals.

What do you get?

Amarok Core highlights:

Exterior

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Front disc, rear drum brakes
• Locking rear differential
• Electric folding side mirrors
• Side steps
• Mud flaps
• 2 x front tow hooks
• Steel underbody protection
• Plastic fuel tank protection
• Tow bar
• 12-pin trailer plug
• Black side mirrors, door handles
• Manually locking tailgate
• 6 x tie-down points in tub
• Exterior tie-down rails
• Cargo box LED lighting
• Automatic LED headlights
• Rain-sensing window wipers
• Automatic high-beam
• Halogen tail lights

Interior

• 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 4-speaker sound system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired, wireless)
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless charger
• Single-zone air-conditioning
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Plastic steering wheel
• Vinyl flooring
• Grey headliner
• Fabric upholstery
• 6-way manual driver seat
• 4-way manual front passenger seat

Amarok Life adds:

• Rear disc brakes
• LED front fog lights
• Body colour side mirrors and door handles
• Heated, power-folding side mirrors with puddle lamps
• Locking wheel nuts
• Tailgate lift assist
• Power tailgate lock
• Privacy glass
• 6-speaker sound system
• E-shifter
• Electric park brake
• Leather steering wheel
• Carpet flooring
• 8-way manual front seats
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go

Amarok Style adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Chrome side mirrors and door handles
• Plastic tub liner
• Stainless steel sports bar
• 12V socket in tub
• LED matrix headlights
• LED tail lights
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear air vents
• Insulated windshield
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Alarm system
• Leather-look dashboard and door inserts
• ArtVelour microfibre upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 10-way electric driver’s seat
• Surround-view camera
• Park Assist

Amarok PanAmericana adds:

• 18-inch black alloy wheels
• All-terrain tyres
• Dynamic suspension
• Black side mirrors and door handles
• Panamericana decal
• Black sports bar and steps
• Soft tonneau cover
• Roof rails
• Spray-in tub liner
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Black headliner
• Leather upholstery
• Powered passenger seat

Is the Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 safe?

The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating against the 2020-2022 testing protocols.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 9 airbags
• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
• Lane-keep assist
• Swerve Steer assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Intelligent Speed Limiter
• Speed sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Front, rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Amarok Life adds:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go

Amarok Style adds:

• Surround-view cameras
• Park assist

How much does the Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600 cost to run?

The Amarok is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty like the wider Volkswagen range.

Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

The first five services are priced at $329, $329, $414, $329, and $400, respectively – totalling $1801. Volkswagen Australia also offers a five-year Care Plan which costs $1800.

CarExpert’s Take on the Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana TDI600

The PanAmericana is a typically polished, Volkswagen take on the off-road oriented ute formula.

As we already know, the turbocharged V6 diesel packs a healthy punch, and the addition of full-time four-wheel drive is welcome on wet roads if you’re towing.

It doesn’t go as far off the road as a HiLux GR Sport or a Ford Ranger Wildtrak X, but the trade-off for that is a more refined drive on regular roads. It’s well balanced, perhaps more than the Aventura with its oversized wheels and posh chrome trim.

This is the Amarok we’d be buying.

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BUY: Volkswagen Amarok
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Amarok