2010 Volkswagen Amarok First Drive

Through the thick brown dust we can see the car up ahead is struggling. The terrain isn't that steep, but it's strewn with large rocks and loose gravel that are clearly challenging the tiny front-wheel-drive vehicle as it bumps and bounces its way along this lonely road here in the foothills of the Andes, the Rio Negro province of Argentina.

There are no such problems from where we sit, though. The 2010 Volkswagen Amarok is coping with the conditions with impressive ease, its willing turbodiesel engine, four-wheel-drive traction, supple suspension and generous ground clearance combining to make life a lot easier than that of our friend up ahead in the locally built pickup. Little wonder, then, that after a mere mile or so we've left him well behind on our way to the town of San Carlos de Bariloche.

Lone Wolf for (South) America
The 2010 Volkswagen Amarok takes its name from the Inuit people of Greenland, where it means "wolf." A crucial component in plans by Volkswagen to overtake Toyota as the world's No. 1 carmaker, it has been conceived as a direct rival to the ubiquitous Toyota Hi-Lux. At the moment, the Amarok is set for sale throughout South America, Australia, New Zealand and selected European markets such as Germany.

Volkswagen officials were evasive when Inside Line pressed for an official comment on plans for North America, although they admit their latest model has been developed to meet our tough crash test laws, indicating there is a chance that the Amarok will one day get to compete in the world's biggest pickup market. Ironically, the idea of a VW pickup was originally conceived in the U.S., where the American-built VW Rabbit Pickup began to be built in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, in 1979.

VW introduced the Amarok to South America with a team of race-prepared trucks for the Dakar Rallye.

Taking on the Hi-Lux is, of course, a huge task. However, Volkswagen believes it has learned a lot by studying what makes the rugged Toyota such a success. The result is a pickup that is simple in layout but well thought out in detail.

Truck Tech
The new truck is assembled at VW's Pacheco plant on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Of course, "new" in this case doesn't mean high tech or even innovative. As Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, head of Volkswagen's commercial vehicle division, explains, "It was important to guarantee durability and ruggedness. With this in mind we have developed a whole new platform unrelated to any other Volkswagen model."

Previewed by a concept of the same name from the 2008 commercial vehicle show in Frankfurt, Germany, the 2010 Volkswagen Amarok boasts a boxy profile that helps deliver generous cargo capacity. There are hints of the German carmaker's latest design themes around the front end, but the rear is disappointingly generic.

Despite the Amarok's utilitarian brief, the interior is anything but spartan. In fact, there's a good bit of style about it. As with the exterior, Volkswagen's designers have clearly set out to provide their new pickup with links to some of VW's more popular models, as we discovered in the switchgear and high-quality steering wheel.

Beyond Basics
The driving position is excellent, affording good vision all around. There's also a good range of adjustment for the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and the driver seat. Just don't expect the sort of comfort you get in a Touareg. As Schreiber points out, the seats are shared with Volkswagen's lowly Fox, a cheap and cheerful hatchback produced primarily for South America, as part of an overall effort to keep the Amarok's price competitive with the Toyota Hi-Lux.

The first model to launch comes with a four-door double-cab body, while the two-door single-cab version will follow next year. Accommodation in the double-cab's second row of seats is functional, but the flat bottom cushion of the seat ensures that it'll be used only for short journeys. That said, there's sufficient width for three-across seating.

The standard equipment level differs from country to country across three distinct levels. However, there is no shortage of extras. Features carried over from other Volkswagen models include an impressive sound system with both USB and Bluetooth capabilities, plus satellite navigation with a touchscreen interface. The dashboard is also fitted with three 12-volt power outlets to cater to a variety of aftermarket gadgets.

Powered for the Third World
At the moment, the 2010 Volkswagen Amarok's only engine choice is a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel inline-4, yet it's surprisingly stout. This common-rail diesel produces 161 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and backs it up with 295 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm. By comparison, the Toyota Hi-Lux's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-4 makes 172 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 rpm.

With its standard six-speed manual transmission, the VW pickup can be coaxed up to highway speeds without any obvious strain. The power delivery is quite linear, as one turbocharger is tuned for low-end response while the other is aimed at enhancing top-end performance. But with a redline set at just 4,500 rpm, the Amarok is clearly more workhorse than sporting pickup. There is no automatic transmission available and VW, in fact, is still debating whether to use a low-cost torque convertor design or high-efficiency dual-clutch automated manual.

Volkswagen says the Amarok gets to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 11.1 seconds and will eventually reach 112 mph, proving 0.9 second quicker and 7 mph faster than the comparable Toyota Hi-Lux. The big test, however, will be the Amarok's ability to lug major loads. With a payload capacity of 2,529 pounds, we suspect the Amarok will tax the output of its turbodiesel. That said, this common-rail diesel proves impressively economical.

Two other four-cylinder engines are planned to be added to the lineup: a single-turbo 2.0-liter diesel inline-4 that makes 120 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque and a 2.0-liter gasoline unit that makes 158 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque.

Pickup Tech
The 2010 Volkswagen Amarok's ladder-frame chassis and live-axle rear suspension with leaf springs represent pretty basic technology, but VW has nevertheless managed to give this pickup a fluent, progressive and predictable personality on the road. The old-fashioned suspension soaks up most bumps with impressive composure without the floaty feel you get in some smaller pickups.

Volkswagen's major achievement lies in the Amarok's overall refinement. Although it is noisy at startup, the engine settles into a suppressed hum when up to optimal operating temperature, and there's no unruly driveline whine while you're cruising down the road.

With 11 inches of ground clearance and a generous amount of wheel travel, it's no problem to go off-road, and indeed VW introduced the Amarok to South America with a team of race-prepared trucks for the Dakar Rallye that finished very well. Our heavily optioned truck had full-time four-wheel drive, which featured low range for serious off-road travel plus electronic limited-slip differentials both fore and aft.

It might be a VW, but the Amarok will traverse some serious terrain, proving as agile as the Toyota on rocky tracks, muddy roads and creek crossings. There's also a hill-holder feature that comes in handy when you're forced to stop on steep ascents, while hill descent control automatically provides braking to slow you down on steep downhill sections.

Welcome to (North?) America
Right now, Volkswagen remains undecided as to whether it will bring the Amarok to North America. Despite its obvious appeal, the chances of a U.S. launch are tied to efforts to modify the so-called chicken tax law that slaps imported pickups with 25 percent duty. "The decision would be a fairly simple one if the duty is repealed," says Jens Bobsien, a Volkswagen spokesman. "Our cost competitiveness and sales margins would instantly improve."

As it stands, it's hard to see how Volkswagen can successfully compete with American-built pickups on price. One solution might be to build the 2010 Volkswagen Amarok in the U.S. using assembly kits shipped from Argentina. "It's an interesting scenario that I wouldn't rule out," says Bobsien. With VW creating a new manufacturing site in Chattanooga, Tennessee, there's clearly a slight chance that the Amarok can build on the good impression it made here in Argentina.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.