Volkswagen Amarok handed International Pick-Up of the year award | Car Advice

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Volkswagen Amarok handed International Pick-Up of the year award

By Brett Davis |

Volkswagen’s first ute has picked up an award at the recent International Van of the Year ceremony. The Volkswagen Amarok was awarded International Pick-Up Award 2011, the first of such category.

A team of 23 judges from across the world took part in the selection process who all noted the Volkswgen Amarok’s ‘effortless off-road abilities’ as well as offering class-leading on-road comfort and handling. The panel of experts said,

“The new Volkswagen Amarok distinguishes itself by fantastic driving qualities, both on- and off-road. It sets new standards in the pick-up category in respect to load capacity, interior room, comfort, ergonomics and fuel consumption.”

The Amarok was also noted for its array of safety features offered as standard across the range. All Volkswagen Amaroks come with a Electronic Differential Lock, Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) and Hill Hold Assist and Hill Descent Assist, as well as an off-road compatible Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS).

The all-new Volkswagen Amarok will be available in Australia from March 2011. Expect full range details as well as pricing early next year.


 
  • Shak

    So were the judges only from markets were the Amarok has been released, because markets like Australia have not been able to test these cars yet, so we cant form subjective opinions and views on them.

  • Dave S

    I am sure it is a great ute. But what were the other contenders? There are so few international utes arounds. There are so many markets specific models.

    • stanislaw

      ..other contenders came from ford (ranger), isuzu, toyota, nissan,mazda & mitsubishi..
      just google it, no probs..

      • ted

        thats right. Hilux ,triton, navara, ranger, d-max, etc..the usual suspects were all there.

    • Dave S

      Thats right – an easy win. Since all its competitors are 3 or 4 years old or more or unreleased yet.

  • JEKYL & HYDE

    can’t wait for some aussie testers to start stunt driving it over here,and see how it pulls up…

  • Eric

    VW came 1st who came 2nd and so on.

    Eric

  • sakegaby

    …gggeee !!! and award already !!!
    It really sh…. me to tears when I see big companies “inventing ” awards.

  • stanislaw

    ..and the ’2010 International re-call Kings’ award goes to…TOYOTA !!!
    Thats 2 years in a row( or 3??)…Well done Toyota.

    • Handsome Al

      Ok… So if Toyota screw up their cars, they have to recall them.. But if Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Land Rover, hummer and Jeep screw up… People call it “Character of the Car”??

      • Slippery

        No Al Toyota’s really are sh** I should know as I am silly enough to own one at the moment. Had to wait nearly 12 months to get the tailshaft recall done and they don’t even want to know about the clutch.

  • Chairman

    I can’t believe that the Ssangyong Actyon Sports Utility didn’t win :(

  • Dennis

    It was a basic test, no towing or real off roading done…

    Can’t wait to see how it goes here.

  • yowza

    Yeah considering Ford, GM, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota etc Ute/4×4 Pick-Up trucks are a generation older.

    The funny thing is, Warranty claims and Quality reports show otherwise…. yet the panelists around the world are enamoured with VW… its like every award has their name on it.

    • jamie

      ..yeah rite, nothing to do with good engineering at all, why not just say that vw bribes everyone.

  • LukasUtopia

    The Australian award will come. Reliability – would have been thoroughly tested.

    • Devil’s Advocate

      Well as thoroughly tested as you can over only a few days. Hardly an indication of reliability over long term ownership…

  • My password

    Have seen VW Amarok at Sydney Motor show and must say that it lacks rear leg room. Awards should not be given just because its a VW or BMW etc..Upcoming ford ranger is actually amazing!!!

    Isuzu was the best part of the show though for a good reason….:-)

    • beetlejuicer

      Yeah, so amazing you can do all that with wood! Nice to See Ford is so worried about VW they are already advertising a vehicle that is 12 months away and doesn’t even exist except as a bunch of test mules.. Now THAT is marketing.

  • Hung Low

    Another VW sponsored award show! This has the smallest tray, unproven road tested towing ability and real world long term reliability/durability, yet wins an international pick up award!
    The new Ford Ranger looks to have this beat in every department and its only a matter of time when this will be proven.

    • Devil’s Advocate

      Are you making things up again hung low? From what I have read the Amarok supposedly has the largest width between the wheel arches (1222mm) in it’s class with an overall width of 1620mm. This allows a standard European pallet to be loaded into it sideways (afterall, VW is European!). Just from my brief search I found out that the “tub” in the Amarok is 105mm wider and 40mm longer than a Hilux. I also found out the tray is longer than the Triton and the current Ranger/BT50 twins by 50mm and 25mm respectively. So in what way does the Amarok have the smallest tray or were you just saying that because your “calibrated eyeball” told you it was smaller? ;-)

      I am not saying it is better than the other utes out there, but you don’t go around making up random things to attempt to support your rather unfounded argument. Other than in the end of course time will tell either way WRT reliability/durability etc!

    • ritchie

      Hung low,your so full of it,presumptious & ignorant..u’ve reached a new low..

  • http://ozmazda.com ozmazda

    I looks great but lets see if VW can produce a good ute for our Aussie outback……still would a new 2011 Mazda BT50 as the Ranger looks too Yanky looking….

    • Shak

      If you were seen by any Outback person in a BT-50 in their territory, you would either be shot, or have large flaming objects thrown at you. They dont like girly things. Dont you watch Toyota adds.

  • hugespud

    No I didn’t catch it, unable to stop because of a leaky master cylinder :)

  • Aussiecars

    How is this an international Award? its European judges, at a European event judging cars sold in Europe… Maybe they should rename there awards “European ******* of the Year award”… Anyways, looks like a nice ute, Interior looks a little dated though.

  • beetlejuicer

    Well the ground clearance on a current Hilux is about as girly as you can get maaaate..still, you’re right, the BT50 is about as ugly as design can get. At least the Amarok was built in South America where men are men and the alpacas are nervous..

  • Anthony

    With cars like the Amorak,and all new Jetta,VW will surely continue to climb up the sales ladder locally.

    They are 8th ATM,this is going to be the company to beat.

    Watch out everyone else.

    • Dennis

      The thing is, i bet Great Wall will sell more utes than VW ever will..