A7, the 197kW/580Nm Porsche Cayenne Diesel, and even the
200kW/600Nm Audi Q7.
In the Amarok it’s pretty much the same workhorse as in the
more luxurious applications, but the oil pan has increased in
size to hold another 1.5 litres, and its tune leans to conserving
longevity over outright pace. VW says the extra oil also lowers
maintenance costs, stretching service intervals out to 40,000km
depending on use.
The six-cylinder engine adds 80kg over the front wheels
compared with the four-pot. Bigger discs with two-pot calipers up
front and, in a segment first and aimed at roping in the 195km/h
top speed, discs with single-pot calipers down back replace the
more traditional drums, adding further weight.
Combined with 14-way leather seats borrowed from the
Passat, the top-spec Aventura will sit at the top of the Amarok
range above the only other V6-engined model in the line-up, the
Highline. With all the fruit on board, it weighs in at 2320kg. Doing
some simple back-of-the-napkin maths on the 2.0-litre’s 3040kg
GVM, it only leaves 720kg for passengers and luggage. Pack light.
The Aventura, which should sneak in under $70,000 when it
arrives in November, will sit on 20-inch alloys, while the Highline
will sit on 19s. An off-road circuit in an old quarry outside Munich- part of the international first drive program – used a fleet of
Highlines fitted with 17-inch alloys, so it’s good to know that the
more reasonable wheels will fit over the V6’s bigger brakes.
The drive track wasn’t too challenging and the VWs tackled
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
UPCOMING Euro 6 diesel emissions
standards in Europe forced VW to drop
2.0-litre sales there, but in Australia it’s
a very different story. We were to have
introduced Euro 6 in 2019, but the federal
government has since removed the
deadline and left things somewhat open-
ended. It allows VW to keep selling the
2.0-litre here alongside the V6.
Smooth, quiet and refined at any revs,
the Amarok’s V6 growls rather than
roars under load
Top-spec Aventura
rides on 20-inch alloys.388 http://www.4X4australia.com.auDRIVEN VW AMAROK AVENTURA V6TDI