Volkswagen Amarok test drive since 2010 pickup

Volkswagen Amarok: Volkswolk

Volkswagen Amarok. The first European pickup. Before meeting with the car (it is produced, by the way, in Argentina) I was interested in one question. No, this is not about reliability, fuel consumption or the quality of finishing materials. It was interesting something else would Amarok, like most small diesel pickups, be perceived in the movement like a tractor? After all, most competitors delivering to the European market are exactly the same. Their diesel engines are rumbling like a thousand well -fed cats, and vibrations in the cabin and on the controls are almost like that of a jackhammer. And Volkswagen?

I climb into the salon, I am surprised at the width of the front panel and set up a standard Volkswagen chair and an even more standard Volkswagen steering wheel for myself. Touching, I'm going. As on ordinary Volkswagen!


Amarok’s design is controversial. In front is almost new Touareg. And the back and Volkswagen in it barely recognize

From the language of the Inuite Indians, Amarok is translated approximately like a single wolf. I don’t know about a wolf nature, but the Volkswagen pickup is similar to a loner: in sled qualities, it really is knocked out of a flock of relatives.

Very inside. Almost all the ingredients of the salon from golf and polo. The plastic is quite simple (but only for a passenger car!), But the steering wheel is adjusted by departure, and in general the landing is good. The pile is on the floor. Naked metal does not stick out of any time (and mini-loaders often sin). The diesel engine is noisy, but not so much that the noise can be called noticeable or irritating. And most importantly, almost no vibrations, no dental suspension! The car is going quite lightly.


The salon by the standards of pickups is excellent. The quality of the materials is not the highest, but everything is well collected, and the governing bodies are familiar with passenger folkswagen. On the front panel, as many as three twelve -volt rosettes: one on the shelf from above, and two near the lever of the checkpoint. The legs of passengers rest on the back of the front seats are closely closely. But the rear sofa can be folded

At the same time, the habits of Amarok did not diminent his commercial and transmission capabilities (although it belongs to the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and the world will be sold primarily as a working machine): depending on the performance (Heavy-Duty or Comfort), the Volkswolk takes on board 1, 15 or 0.95 tons of cargo, and in its hold between the wheeled arches, the euro gone is placed without problems. True, so far only an option with a double cabin is available to us; Modification with a single one will appear in about a year.


The two -liter engine is very economical: outside the city I managed to meet 7.5 l/100 km. Factory data for average consumption in mixed mode 7.8 l/100 km. It turns out that in full tank (80 l) is able to overcome up to 1000 km

The motor is also alone so far. A diesel engine with a double consistent turbocharged is the same that has recently been put on the T5 model. Power 163 hp, torque 400 nm at 1500 rpm. By the way, as Volkswagenovs assure, it has practically nothing to do with a two -liter diesel engine that is put on cars. Soon, a deformed version of this engine with one turbocharger (122 hp and 340 nm) will appear, and the Germans are going to make a gasoline version most likely for the Russian market, most likely, with a 1.8 TSI turbo engine. It’s just not clear whether the automatic box will appear

And in Austria and Slovakia, we rode comfortable amaroks with powerful motors and in decent trim levels.

Power of 163 forces Amaroku is quite enough. Yes, he is not particularly Shustr, but the driver clearly will not feel the flawed. If you believe the manufacturer, then from a place to hundreds of the rear -wheel drive Amarok can accelerate 10.8 s, and an all -wheel drive over 11.1. The motor pulls by the standards of modern diesel engines almost from the bottom, and the transmission of six -speed mechanics is quite short, so the car supports the city pace. True, there is but: the controls are primarily the pedal and the gearbox lever are still not easy.


The area of \u200b\u200bthe cargo compartment 2.52 m2 is one of the best in the classroom. And between the wheeled arches (distance 1222 mm) will fit the euro forge. There are two lifting options 0.95 tons and 1.15 tons (HEAVY-DUTY suspension option). The maximum mass of the towed trailer is 2.8 tons

For example, a tight clutch prevents smoothly, which sharply grasps the pedal at the very beginning of the stroke, while pushing the pedal unexpectedly increases several times. I am stalled, like a shameful kettle, more than once. And switching the large moves of the gearbox lever quickly interfere.

But in general, worthy! The front independent suspension does not cause complaints, and the rear bridge on the springs is not particularly Kozlit even on an unloaded car. On the Amarok highway, it easily goes 120-130 km/h, demonstrating wonderful exchange rate stability. I don’t want to go faster first of all due to aerodynamic noise, which from the mark of 140 km/h become uncomfortable. But I even tried to drive along the serpentines: of course, I didn’t get any pleasure from such a ride, but it was never terribly terribly. Turning Amarok can simply and safely.


Amarok's off -road data inspire a 240 mm clearance, an entry angle of 30 degrees, a congress 17.6 degrees

Transmissions for Amarok are offered as much as three: one rear -wheel drive and two with a drive for four wheels. Moreover, the last two are the same, but have cardinal differences. The first option with constant all -wheel drive, without any wisdom, is almost a complete copy of the Tuareg transmission. On such cars, we drove on public roads. A good option if handling on slippery coating is more important than patency. The second, with a strictly connected front hand, is great for off-road. There is already a reducing gear and forced blocking of the rear differential (option). On such a version, I happened to ride an off-road training ground, which is used for testing Austrian certification and Magna-Styr, which produces Jeep SUVs in this country.


To enable all -wheel drive or lowering gear, you must stop

On the steep thirty -degree and even forty -degree lifts, Amarok is playing playfully. It is enough to enable the lowered gear (the deemoletus ratio of 2.48 or 2.72), turn on the first or second speed, release the gas and the machine will do everything itself. And even if you stall in the middle of an ascent (or descent), then nothing terrible will happen. At least turn on the neutral and clutch, squeeze the aid system for descent from the hill that operates with the brakes also works with the engine turned off. Therefore, the car slowly, under the crunch of ABS, slides down. True, these systems are active only if the driver has chosen all -wheel drive and low gear in advance. Or pressed the Off Robe Defense button on an increased series of demultiplitor.

When the OFF-Road key is pressed, the ABS operation algorithm allows a longer blocking of wheels. I tried it on the ground and on braking with 60 km/h won more of the case!


Amarok will be produced in three main trim levels: the base of the nameless, as well as Trendline and Highline. The first is very naked: here the windows, and the locks, and the mirrors are manually controlled, bums, mirrors and doors are made of unpainted plastic, and the wheels are 16-inch stamped. There is no such simplicity in the more comfortable version of Trendline, plus there are fog lights, and semi-automatic climate control, and alloy wheels (also a dimension of 16 inches). Well, Highline flaunts things such as chrome bumpers and mirrors, 17-inch wheels, climate control, and other trifles. As an option, there is even a decoration of two -tone skin

Blocking the rear differential is also a useful thing, especially since the empty car has a very light ass, and dose gas on slippery coating so that the car simply crawls is difficult. And an electronic imitation of the rear differential lock (it works all the time until the driver turned on an honest lock) is not so effective.

The main world market for US pickups, but Volkswagenists are in no hurry to carry the car to North America. The main sales markets for him South America, Africa and Australia. Amarok will not see a star-striped country for several reasons. Firstly, it is not enough. Secondly, in the USA it is not in high esteem. And thirdly, he would be too expensive for the Americans.

But Amarok will definitely be the premiere in the fall at the Moscow Motor Show. Nothing is known about prices in Russia, but the company's representative office reported that Amarok will be more expensive than Mitsubishi L200 and a little cheaper than Nissan Navara. And if so, his chances in our market can be recognized as good. Although the loner in his segment Volkswolk will not be.


Vlad Klepach
Photo by the author
 
Specifications
Body
Type of pickup
Engine
Working volume, cm 1968
Power, L.S. at rpm 163 at 4000
Torque, NM at rpm 400 at 1500
Dimensions, mass, volumes
Length, mm 5254
Width, mm 1954
Height, mm 1834
Wheel base, mm 3095
Clearance, mm 240
Equipped mass, kg 1807
Dynamic characteristics
Acceleration from a place to 100 km/h, from 11.1
Maximum speed, km/h 181
Fuel consumption
Average conditional fuel consumption, l/100 km 7.8
City, l/100 km 9.9
Highway, l/100 km 6.5



 

Source: Auto.mail.ru