Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok

BY JEFFREY GIBBS

The all-new secondgeneration Volkswagen Amarok is starting to roll into Aussie dealerships and while it shares many components with the Ford Ranger, there are more differences than initially meet the eye.

The sleek Volkswagen boasts a powerful 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, advanced Matrix LED headlights, dual 12-inch digital screens, and a more modern exterior design inspired by local tastes. The 2.3-litre powertrain produces a robust 222kW of power and 452Nm of torque, and pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission to make for a surprisingly engaging and responsive drive. This engine does not come with the Ford Ranger and is available at the mid-range Style level (priced from $66,990 with either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder or a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel).

The Amarok’s exterior design is very different and features a sharpedged and modern aesthetic with bodywork below the window line being exclusive to the Amarok. The unique exterior works to create a vehicle with toughness and muscularity, ideal for those who are looking for a car for daily commuting and off-roading.

Moreover, the sophisticated dual 12-infotainment and instrument cluster–screens are featured in the Style and more expensive variants, which is only offered on the pricier Ranger Platinum and Raptor variants.

Overall, the Volkswagen Amarok is a very attractive option for people looking for something stylish, powerful, and reliable.

With its powerful engine, advanced Matrix LED headlights, dual 12-inch digital screens, and a modern exterior design, this car is a great choice for both urban and off-road driving.

Unfortunately for customers in Australia, if they want a Ford Ranger they will need to wait, with buyers of almost all V6 variants facing “extended” wait times from the factory in Thailand.

Ford’s latest intel around new-vehicle delivery times indicates a wait list of up to 15 months for the more popular, high-spec models, and up to a two year wait for vehicles in desired colours and with certain options.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicle director Ryan Davies claims that despite global shipping and quarantine issues, Amarok supplies are healthy both in terms of production and vehicles already heading for Australia.

Most variants should have a delivery window of three to six months. The Ranger and Amarok are both top-selling utes in Australia, attracting millions of buyers a year.

However, the Ranger is the more popular of the two, with an expected 50,000 units sold in a good year. The situation is reversed for the Amarok, with VW aiming for 10,000 units sold by 2023.

This should make the Amarok a rarer and more exclusive ute down the road. In terms of performance, the Amarok is an impressive ute with its unique suspension setup delivering a smooth ride.

Compare that to the Ranger, and it’s clear why there are so many fans of both vehicles.