Volkswagen Amarok

Design & Quality

The real deal with the Amarok cabin is the way you feel inside a premium SUV rather than a typical pickup. That is what Volkswagen is trying to offer, and attract some high-end users in the UAE. The overall design of the cabin feels not just modern but quite futuristic, and at the same time very minimalistic. The dashboard is quite subtle and driver-focused, with all controls within your reach.

The quality can be determined by the superior material used, be it soft-touch plastics or leather. The 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital driver display grab your attention for their sleek design, nice placement, along a user-friendly interface. The ambient lighting gives you a special feel and an awesome vibe.

After a quick initial look and feel of the cabin gives you the impression that it is durable for customers using it in the UAE. However, some lower plastics appear to be a bit basic for the price, but that doesn’t take away the fact that the overall quality is impressive for a pickup. It is comfortable, spacious as well as quite convenient as well with all the latest tech that you wish.

Front Seat

Given the overall premiumness, you won’t complain about the front seat as it has enough support and comfort ingrained. The features include power adjustments and heating/ventilation, leather seats with memory settings. And, the high seating position makes you feel in control, and also great view of the front and sides, and ease of driving is superb.

Electronic Parking Brake

A standard electronic parking brake with hill-start assist has additional features to make your driving even more easy and comfortable.

Rear Seat

Although not a typical car, the rear seat is right behind, making the cabin a practical place. The seats are of bench type, but what you will love is the amount of space inside, and so you get sufficient legroom and headroom for three adults or kids. The rear AC vents do a perfect job in providing you with quick cool air during summer or otherwise hot weather conditions. Also, you can fold the seats for extra cargo space whenever necessary. And, so, overall, the rear seat is a complete family space promising comfort and practicality.

AC Vents

A standard dual-zone climate control ensures the cabin is not just spacious but also very user-friendly by offering the best and powerful AC. This is necessary considering the weather conditions we face in the UAE.

Storage Options

Considering the use of the pickup for personal and business purposes, the cabin is a great example of practicality. The first element of it is the amount of space that is provided to store your everyday items, utilities and also business-related stuff. This includes a sizable glovebox, door pockets for 1-litre bottles, a centre console with cupholders, and a rear armrest with storage.

Armrest

For your comfortable drive for longer hours, there are front and rear armrests with cupholders. You will notice the front armrest is padded and spacious, while the rear one is smaller but serves the purpose.

Charging Options

Charging options these days have become quite compulsory, considering how many devices we carry. And so, the Amarok allows you to keep your devices powered with two USB-C ports in the front, two in the back, a 12V socket, and an optional wireless charging pad. Rear USB ports are great for keeping kids’ devices charged on road trips.

Cargo Space

One of the big aspects of any pickup is the ability to carry cargo, and the bigger the better. And, so the cargo deck is a big selling point for automakers as well buyers to consider based on their business needs. With the Amarok, you get a cargo bed of 1.2 cubic meters that should serve all your needs for space. It is wide enough for a Euro pallet sideways, with sturdy tie-down rings and an optional tonneau cover you can buy. We believe the cargo deck is perfect for carrying work materials, camping gear, sports equipment or any specific business cargo. Additionally, you get a 3.5-ton towing capacity that handles trailers or boats easily.

• Seven airbags (driver, passenger, side, curtain, driver’s knee)
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keep Assist

• Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Blind-Spot Monitoring
• 360-degree camera

• Park Assist and parking sensors
• Hill Start and Descent Control

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ISOFIX child seat anchors

Being a pickup that has both commercial and lifestyle applications, the Amarok exterior has to look a certain way. What I mean is that the personality of a strong and bold, mighty pickup is what customers expect. And honestly, Amarok appears exactly that way; its design exhibits toughness, but also features modern, stylish design cues that make it quite a premium, high-end pickup.

The new design now makes it look different, a lot fresher and stronger than its predecessor, and the 2025 tweaks provided sharper LED headlights and a few contemporary elements that make it highly desirable among its users. Its road presence can be gauged by 5,350 mm length, 1,910 mm width, and 1,888 mm height, along with a 3,270 mm wheelbase, which makes the Amarok quite imposing on the roads. The 233 mm ground clearance and 800 mm fording depth give it the much-needed off-roader abilities.

Front

For any pickup, the front is always the key selling point; it is there that its true character is defined. And, in case of Amarok, the front looks is something of a real deal. You get an instant impression of a mighty, capable and rugged vehicle. With a commanding overall appearance, a wide grille that comes with chrome accents and a prominent VW logo. The LED headlights look great, and come as standard across all the variants, there is IQ. Light LED matrix headlights that adjust automatically for superior visibility without blinding the vehicle coming from the opposite side. What you also notice is the rugged tow hooks and fog lamps, which further add to the overall look of the pickup, highlighting its strong, ready-for-anything abilities.

Side

From the side, the Amarok undoubtedly looks rugged and displays its powerful characteristics. You can’t fail to notice the muscular wheel arches, chrome side steps, and a stylish look. The tires are prominently visible and give the pickup a great look, actually tires are very much part of the design, especially true when you look from the side. Similarly, the cargo bed is wide enough to fit a Euro pallet sideways, with strong tie-down rings to safeguard cargo, and so give it a great look overall from the side.

Alloy Wheels

The Amarok is offered with multiple tire sizes in alloy. The 17-inch Combra wheels on 255/65 R17 tires,  the 18-inch Amadora wheels or 20-inch Bendigo wheels both on 255/55 R20 tires. These are stylish looking alloys that not only give a sporty and appealing design angle but also add to driving experience with good grip and comfortable driving and also helps in better handling of the pickup.

Rear

At the rear of this pickup is the highly visible C-shaped LED taillights with nicely decorated animated graphics, the cargo get can be locked, and there is a nice-looking chrome-accented bumper. You’re provided with a cargo bed LED light and an optional tonneau cover, which is a practical feature that helps keep your items/cargo/gear secure in dusty or rainy conditions. A rear tow hook is provided, which is able to take up to 3.5 tons of weight, and so you can tow two trailers or boats quite easily.

Colors

You are able to buy the Amarok from seven available colours, including Clear White, Midnight Black Metallic, Bright Blue Metallic, Light Grey Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Deep Red Metallic, and Bright Beige Metallic.

City Performance

The performance of the Amarok inside the city is impressive, and this is largely attributed to the highly capable and refined 2.0L engine. It drives a lot more easily, smoothly because of the strongly responsive, and everyday traffic that we encounter in the UAE cities and towns. Despite the tough and mighty feel, navigating this pickup is surprisingly a lot comfortable. What makes life easy with the Amarok is the lighter steering and higher seating position, and also the 10-speed automatic transmission. And, despite its a pickup, the fuel mileage isn’t bad either, you could easily achieve between 9 to 12km/L, with good driving habits, which should bring down your running cost and also help you use it for business purposes.

Highway Performance

On the highway, the Amarok is equally good; mostly, it drives easily and comfortably. You’ll like the fact that the cabin is well insulated, and so almost negligible wind or road noise even at high speeds. The powertrain is nothing to complain about, whether it is for overtaking or long-distance drives. Also, you get help from the 4MOTION AWD system that boosts confidence and stability. For the highway, the adaptive cruise control is the best, taking your stress off long drives.

Ride and Handling

Our experience with the Amarok reveals the true character of the pickup, which is how nimble it is to handle, very similar to a modern premium SUV.  Right from the blend of independent front suspension and a well-tuned leaf spring rear suspension is perfectly tuned for a great ride that is comfortable and also takes the loads of cargo with ease. The steering is precise, so you can manoeuvre through tight spaces without much effort. For your off-road fun drive or work-related needs, the Amarok doesn’t disappoint. The 4MOTION AWD and locking differential are known for superior grip on sand or gravel, and so a perfect pickup for UAE adventure trips. This is bolstered by high ground clearance and strong chassis.

• A 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 10-inch digital driver display

• 17-inch to 20-inch alloy wheels

• Dual-zone climate control

• Harman Kardon audio (optional)
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• IQ.Light LED matrix headlights

• 360-degree camera

• Ambient lighting
• Power-folding mirrors
• Wireless charging (optional)
• Over 25 driver-assist systems

Choose from three available variants of the Amarok in the UAE right now

Volkswagen Amarok Life

Starting at AED 132,900, the Amarok Life is a great balance of comfort and utility. With the same powertrain and a 4x4 drive, this variant is ideal for everyday cargo applications. There are standard features like a 10.1-inch touchscreen, multiple airbags, advanced safety tech, and premium comforts too, like leather seats and automatic climate control.

Volkswagen Amarok 2.0L PanAmericana

With a substantial price hike, the PanAmericana variant combines robust 4x4 capability with high-end features. You get an 18-inch alloy set, a 12-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon audio, and a digital cockpit, a real big deal for a pickup like this. In terms of safety, there is almost everything like adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and autonomous emergency braking. Further, off-road enhancements and luxury finishes make it a perfect fit for buyers looking for adventure, and don’t want to miss out on either comfort or tech.

Volkswagen Amarok 2.0L Aventura

At the same price, the Aventura variant has some elements targeted for city users. With features like electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring, roof rails, and a refined interior. With added tech and styling details, it’s a premium Amarok for buyers wanting a pickup for city comfort and with all the regular conveniences.

Zigwheels Recommendation: For most UAE buyers, the Amarok 2.0L PanAmericana is a suitable choice. And, the reasons are pretty simple. With the price you’re paying, there is everything you would want from a pickup. Comfort, safety, driving dynamics, commercial use and also great practicality. stands out. We like what it has on offer, which is off-road features, a premium interior and greater focus on safety. The PanAmericana offers you adventure-readiness without missing out on comfort or technology, and it looks well-equipped with everything and also some futuristic features, and is a best value buy.

The Amarok is an exceptional midsize pickup with some serious performance credentials for buyers in the UAE. What Volkswagen is promising you at a reasonable price is a combination of impressive off-road capability, high-end comfort and advanced tech. You’re getting a smooth engine, quiet and refined ride and handling, a spacious and well-equipped cabin with smart driver's features. This is topped by a practical cargo bed and 3.5-ton towing, it ticks all the right boxes as being work and leisure needs.

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