2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X price and specs

High-end Volkswagen Amarok V6 variants have always been in big demand in Australia, but the company is perhaps leaving the best until last.

By pairing with Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Group, it’s been able to offer a range of upgraded Amaroks with better on- or off-road credentials.

The Volkswagen Amarok ‘W-Series’ commenced with the more road-oriented Amarok W580 and W580S models, designed with tarmac touring in mind. They’ve now been joined by the (previously announced) W580X off-road option.

2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X price and specs

MORE: Volkswagen and Walkinshaw in talks over new Amarok flagship

Walkinshaw will make 600 of the Amarok W580X utes at its Clayton operation in Melbourne’s suburbs, tested as a finished product on trails in regional Victoria and South Australia, plus its own rigs.

They’re a kind of swansong for the current model that dates to 2011, with the new (Ford-based) model to be revealed on July 7.

Pricing

The 2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X costs $78,890 before on-road costs – up $1500 over the initial pre-launch price announced in December 2021.

By contrast, the Amarok W580S costs $82,990 before on-roads.

2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580X: $78,890
2022 Volkswagen Amarok W580S: $82,990

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Engines

There are no mechanical changes to the V6 driveline.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 produces 190kW of power (200kW on overboost spurts of 10 seconds under hard throttle) between 3250rpm and 4500rpm, and a strong 580Nm of torque as low as 1400rpm, out to 3000rpm.

It’s mated to a permanent 4×4 system and an eight-speed automatic transmission supplied by ZF, the low gear/s of which act as a low-range equivalent.

It outguns all of its four-cylinder diesel competitors when it comes to acceleration and rolling response, and will continue to do so until the new V6-powered Ranger arrives in mid-2022. Not bad for a ute dating back to 2010…

The Amarok W580X retains the base car’s 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity. The zero to 100km/h dash takes a brisk 7.3 seconds, which was the province of hot hatches just a generation ago.

Fuel Economy

It uses a claimed 9.5 litres of diesel per 100km (I averaged 10.9L/100km on a fairly aggressive road loop), and has an 80-litre fuel tank.

Dimensions

The Amarok is 5254mm long, 2019mm wide in the body, 1882mm tall, and sits on a 3097mm wheelbase. Payload is 847kg.

The tub measures 1555mm long, 1620mm wide, 1222mm wide between the arches, and 508mm deep.

There’s no tub liner or sports bar, which you can address via VW’s accessories catalogue or through the aftermarket.

Servicing and Warranty

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

Maintenance in the Amarok is required every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.

Volkswagen Australia offers five-year Care Plans which cover scheduled servicing for that period, and are significantly cheaper than paying as you go.

The five-year service package costs $2050 for the six-cylinder Amarok, according to the Volkswagen website.

Safety

When the Amarok (as a 2.0-litre four-cylinder) was tested by ANCAP more than a decade ago in 2011, it received a rating of five stars.

That rating was based on a frontal offset score of 13.99 out of 16 and a side impact score of 16 out of 16. Whiplash and pedestrian protection were rated Good and Marginal, respectively.

All 2021 Volkswagen Amarok models come standard with front and front-side airbags and anti-lock brakes, but there are no airbags for rear seat occupants – unlike all competitors.

There’s also no active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking, which means the Amarok wouldn’t receive five stars if it was assessed again in 2022.