Volkswagen Amarok Highline: from $67,990 plus on-road costs. 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel; 165kW/550Nm; 8-spd auto; 7.8L/100km; AWD
Ford Ranger Wildtrack: from $60,090 plus on-road costs. 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel; 147kW/470Nm; six-speed auto; 9.0L/100km; 4WD
Value
Amarok
At $67,990 (plus on-road costs), the range-topping Amarok V6 Ultimate is the most expensive dual-cab ute currently on-sale in Australia, and therefore starts this test on the back foot against the top-of-the-line Ranger Wildtrack.
For that, the Volkswagen has the most powerful engine in its class, comes standard with an eight-speed automatic, rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, has a full leather interior with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and an 8.0-inch multi-media screen with sat nav, reverse camera, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay.
But it's also missing some key safety gear, including airbag coverage for rear seat passengers and the latest active driver aids such as adaptive cruise, emergency braking and lane departure warning ? all of which are included in the Ranger.
Ranger
The Ranger XLT which sits one rung below the Wildtrack has been Drive's Best Ute champion in our Car of the Year awards for the past two years. At $60,090 (plus on-road costs) when fitted with a six-speed automatic, it immediately offers a compelling case against the Amarok.
When you consider it also comes with a leather-trimmed cabin that features dual-zone climate, heated front seats and a multi media display with Ford's latest Sync3 capability that includes sat nav, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring, the Ranger doesn't lack for anything in comparison.
In fact, it picks up more gear as it has curtain airbags for rear seat passengers, a full suite of active driver aids plus a bed liner in the rear tray and a lockable tonneau cover.
Winner: Ranger
Inside
Amarok
The Amarok has been praised for its more car-like interior ever since it first arrived in 2010, and the updated model introduced this year with the V6 continues that theme with a host of features that are familiar from within the VW passenger car line-up.
The seats are comfortable, the driving position is great, and the quality of the leather feels genuinely premium. The instruments are clear and easy to read, the multimedia screen is lifted straight from a Golf, meaning it's intuitive to use and has good functionality.
There's also decent space in both the front and the back with enough rear legroom for adults to travel without too much hassle.
Ranger
The Ranger's cabin is a little more colourful than the Amarok's, which suits the more adventurous nature of the Wildtrack.
The overall design and quality of materials is just as good as it is in the VW, but instead of full leather trim it uses fake cowhide on the bolsters of the seats only and a more durable, body-coloured fabric for the cushions.
Ford's latest Sync3 is also easy to use and the Ranger's instruments are more comprehensive with the inclusion of the active driver aids.
The Ranger is just as spacious but comes with a few more thoughtful touches such as a cooled centre console bin and a household power point in the back seats that can re-charge a lap top, power tools or run a low-voltage light for a while.
Winner: Ranger
Engine
Amarok
As far as leapfrogging the competition goes, the Amarok has jumped to the top of the heap with the fitment of the most powerful engine in its class. The 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel features in other Volkswagen group products such as the Touareg and Audi Q7 SUVs and the previous-generation Porsche Panamera limousine and produces 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque in the Amarok with a claimed average fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km.
It's a cracking engine that is more car-like than others in its class, with a linear power delivery, an immensely strong mid-range and it's quiet at highway speeds.
Ranger
The Ford has a unique 3.2-litre five-cylinder configuration that has served the Ranger well in terms of balancing strong outputs with respectable levels of refinement. It can't quite match the Amarok's numbers, generating 147kW and 470Nm, and consumes slightly more diesel, with a claimed average of 9.0L/100km. But, in the real world, it doesn't feel that short of the mark with a strong surge of pulling power once on boost and a unique warbling exhaust.
Winner: Amarok
How it Drives
Amarok
The Amarok's arrival changed the perception that dual-cab ute drive like trucks, and this updated model incrementally improves on that. While it maintains its rough-and-ready underpinnings ? with a traditional ladder frame chassis and leaf-spring rear suspension set-up ? the Amarok is easy and comfortable to drive with good steering and well-tuned suspension. A key attribute in achieving these attributes is that it rides on road-biased Continental tyres rather than dual-purpose rubber.
The eight-speed automatic shifts smoothly, but the broad spread of ratios and small powerband of the engine means it changes often under acceleration.
Ranger
One of the big reasons why the Ranger has taken out our Car of the Year crown in the Best Ute category for the last two years is because of its nicely balanced ride and handling traits. It's a close contest between this par as to which is more comfortable on the road; the Ranger soaking up bumps with a little more compliance and yet its dual-purpose tyres are noisier at highway speeds.
Winner: Amarok
Workability
Amarok?
First things first, the Amarok doesn't actually have a low-range transfer case gearbox, instead relying on a mainstream permanent all-wheel transmission with a diff lock and electronic smarts to get it through the rough stuff. In some situations, that makes it a lot simpler to operate as there's only a few buttons to press. In the more extreme conditions though, it might not go as far off the beaten track as the Ranger. The tyres don't help its cause there either.
As for towing capacity, it can pull a maximum of three tonnes with a braked trailer. It has a payload of 864kg and four tie-down points in the tray, which is unique in that it can fit an Australian pallet between the wheel arches, has a light on the sports bar and features a spray-on, anti-slip protective coating.
Ranger
The Ranger is as tough as they come, and smarter than the Amarok in terms of its workhorse status. For starters, it can tow more (up to 3500kg), carry more (with a 950kg payload) and its combination of slightly higher ground clearance, a low-range transfer case transmission and dual-purpose tyres gives it the edge in off-road ability.
Its tray is slightly smaller in width and length but it has a more durable plastic tubliner, a lockable, retracting hard tonneau cover and a 12V power outlet.
Winner: Ranger
Verdict
Amarok
Volkswagen has raised the bar in terms of engine performance with the Amarok's V6, and continued to develop an impressively flexible and comfortable ute with a taste of the good life from within the cabin. Problem is it is hugely expensive and lacks the safety credentials.
Ranger
The Ranger, on the other hand, sets the benchmark for safety with a suite of driver aids not found on any of its rivals. That it drives just as well on the road, can go further off the road and carries and tows more than the Volkswagen makes it the ideal playtoy for adventurous families.
Winner: Ranger
2 Comments
stumbles | 2017-01-03 08:32:32
60 to 70k for these trucks......ok.
BuilderBob | 2017-01-25 00:54:47
Based on reviews I first drove the Ranger Wildtrak, then the Ultimate and I came to my own conclusions. You keep focusing on airbags and driver fatigue aids which I have absolutely no interest in. I don't need a chime every time I go to change lanes and I am sufficiently experienced in driving to know that tail gating is going to eventually cause an accident that no electronic gizmo is going to protect me from. What I am interested in, is the fact that as a owner of a company that needs a ute and a parent that you cannot get leather seats (way easier to keep clean) without going aftermarket for another $3k in the ford. You seem to think that a garish orange is ok but I hate it. Secondly, in the race to have a large screen, the Ford aircon vent on the drivers side is behind the steering wheel and I could not on a hot day get direct air blowing on to me (but my left hand felt great). Who thought this was a good idea? The window buttons are set back on the arm rest on the drivers side and you have to lock your elbow back to operate them. These things add up to ergonomic fails for a $60K vehicle from Ford that in the real world are a pain. Having heard a few rumours about reliability, paint durability particularly and resale, I looked up the number of Rangers for sale on the second hand market. There were something like 1600 XLT's for sale. Clearly the impact of fleet buyers means I would have a tough time selling it down the road (no pun intended). As someone who also owns a BMW and had a number of them, I noticed a lot of features in the Amarok that are common (must be a german thing) that I like and appreciate that barely get a mention in reviews. In a hot climate, I like being able to have all the windows come down with the touch of a button to cool the interior, or the nav directions are on the display in the dash (ok not like my heads up display but the next best thing). It's like comparing a Toyota and a BMW. Once you've owned one you know the reason for the quality / features / safety and people rarely go back. I think the price is not as bad as you claim when you take into account the additional features. I'm buying the Amarok and it was a no brainer...