The new Volkswagen Amarok goes off-road

The sheer size of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ new Amarok model should be a pretty good indication as to how much power and force this truck really has. The top-end models can haul up to 3.5 tonnes, yet it’s one thing to say the Amarok is a monster off the road – and quite another to show it.

Enter the Amarok Trailblazers Challenge. As is shown in the video above, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles sent a pair of potential Amarok drivers up to the Lake District to give 2017’s model and all its new bells and whistles a test drive. It saw the pairs rolling over rocky paths, touting loads in its massive bed – which features an incredible 2.52m² load surface – and even doing donuts on the beach.

Mighty on the outside, the Amarok is said to be just as impressive on the inside with a range of tech features. The new Amarok offers a Composition Media radio on a 16.5 colour touchscreen, rear-view cameras and electronic voice amplification that makes it easier for people in the back seats to hear those in the front – especially handy when you’re making use of the truck’s six speakers.

The improved Amarok now comes not just with a newer, sleeker look but with better steering, more comfortable seating that can be adjusted 14 ways and, most importantly, a 3.0L TDI V6 engine. The engine comes in three states of tune, with the most powerful offering 550Nm of torque. That’s a considerable step up from similar mid-sized trucks in its class.

All this might make you think the Amarok is a beast of a car – and in some ways, it is – but it’s designed to be as good-looking on the road as it is off. It’s got sleek horizontal lines, chrome fittings and a smooth drive to thank for that, not to mention roomy back seats that can fit a lot more than just a bag and a sheep dog.

For more info on the Volkswagen Amarok: https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/range/new-amarok/amarok