Volkswagen Amarok test drive since 2010 pickup

Nissan Navara vs Volkswagen Amarok. Portrait on the background

Nissan Navara. Price: from 1 279 450 rub. On sale: 2010
Volkswagen Amarok. Price: from 990,000 rubles. On sale: 2010

VW Amarok and Nissan Navara. One just appeared on the market, the second is present on it for a long time. The first is positioned by the creators as a workhorse, the second was assigned the role of a pickup in the style of Lakshari. And what does the consumer get in the end?

Test pillets
Oleg Kalaushin, 41 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 22 years, personal car - Renault Logan

Igor Kuznetsov, 48 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience 31 years old, personal car - Nissan Qashqai


We began to buy pickups from a certain time quite briskly. Moreover, mainly the owners of these rather controversial, from the point of view of functionality, are exclusively private individuals. Judge for yourself. Firms are little interesting in connection with insufficient carrying capacity and small body volume. Farmers, who, in theory, should simply pray for such cars, prefer to manage in a half cheaper. Small firms that could well use such machines for their intended purpose simply cannot afford them because of the high cost. So it turns out that mainly these dubblkebs are taken by ordinary citizens who need a fairly reliable and strong SUV, but they cannot afford it. There is only one way out. Buy a pickup, in the arsenal of which there is everything that is dreamed of. Well, the fact that the body will be filled exclusively with the air is already worried about few. And if it still worries? Perhaps we will begin to compare Amarok and Navara with the body.

If you do not pick up a roulette, then it is quite possible to converge in the opinion that the body of cars are almost identical in dimensions. However, the numbers indicate that the body of Amarok is more in length and in width. Not much, but still sometimes the very cherch or six centimeters may not be enough. Amarok and the sides are also important. And the designers tried to the maximum to push the wheel arches at Volkswagen, and therefore European is placed in the body without any problems. Provides in the body of Amarok and powerful rigging loops. However, Navara went a little further: the C-channel system was specially developed. Its essence is that along the perimeter of the body, in addition to the folding side, guides are laid, in which fasteners are moved and fixed in any convenient place. With their help, any load can be fixed in the back without problems. The main thing during this consolidation is not slipped and do not fall. Moreover, this applies to both the first and the second car. Half of the body, what's there, what is there, slippery, like ice. True, Navara has two rubber tapes laid along the loading platform, but they do not save either. In general, you need to be very careful, especially in winter. We also noticed that the Amarok body has illumination. It is integrated into the third stop signal. And if necessary, you can use it by pressing the corresponding key on the instrument panel. Do not also worry that you, for example, will forget to turn off this backlight. As soon as the car is set off, as the light goes out by itself. We did not find neither the third stop-signal, nor even more illuminations in Navara. As they did not find an additional 12-volt outlet that is present in the Amarok body.

Since people buy such cars as a replacement for full -fledged SUVs, the question raises reasonably: how is it in the second row? Is it comfortable? Since Navara is in our market for a long time, for starters we go to it. Opening the back door, you are surprised at the space that is provided to passengers of the second row. It seems that there is no less space than in comparable in size to an SUV. But it is worth sitting on the seat, as you understand that not only space and leather trim are determined. From the point of view of human anatomy, the seats of the second row are inconvenient. Vertical back, low landing all this does not contribute to a long stay in these places. Most likely, children whose age determines the use of children's seats can feel comfortable here. Fortunately, the system of their fastening is provided here. Turning and grunts, we go to study the second row with Amarok. Visually, the places in it are less, but it is worth sitting down, as you understand that the situation here is favorably different from the one that Navara can offer. Sitting is really convenient. The secret is simple: the rear places are slightly higher than the front row level, and therefore the landing is more anatomical. It is more convenient in Amarok and the front seats. In Navara, they are also good, but the lateral support is more developed by Volkswagen.

In general, if we talk about salons, then in the Nissan interior, of course, is more interesting. It does not contain the visual cheapness that Volkswagen promotes. And this despite the fact that both machines are quite richly equipped in terms of comfort, whether it be a well-sounding audio system or two-zone climate control. In addition, Navara also offers multiple. Amarok does not even have it in the options. As the latter does not have a rear view camera, the presence of which on cars with such dimensions is more than justified. However, in fairness, we note that in Navara it is only as an option.

Both cars were with diesel engines. On Amarok stood a 2.0 -fraud 163 -horsepower bituural power unit, on Navara 174 -horsepower 2.5 -lit -fiber and also turbocharged. Both engines showed themselves very well. Moreover, this concerned both traveling on public roads and outside them. True, traveling around the city was still more pleasant on Navara. Why? Yes, everything is simple: on Nissan there was a 5 -speed automatic transmission. By the way, one of the three that are offered for this car: there is still a mechanical six -speed and seven -speed machine. Amarok, so far, boasts only six -speed mechanics. And Navara can boast of a softer suspension, which also has a beneficial effect on general comfort.

And what can the cars on the road? As it turned out, a lot. Not to hit the mud with a bumper allows them a fairly large off -road arsenal. Both the first and second cars have a lowering row in transmission and a rigid blocking of the center differential. Also, Navara and Amarok can block the rear inter -long differential. Both pickups have a fairly impressive clearance of 240 mm in Navara and 249 in Amarok. Similar to machines and geometric cross -country ability. However, due to the smaller wheelbase of Amarok on excesses, less often struck by a belly. And it was possible to get out of captivity on it much faster than on Navara. The reason is all in the same mechanical gearbox. It is much easier to rock a car with mechanics than to do the same on the machine. However, with such an arsenal of locks, planting and Navara is quite difficult.


Volkswagen Amarok
It is impossible to say that this car is deprived of shortcomings. However, a spacious salon, a powerful engine and a large carrying capacity more than block those disadvantages that can be digged. Do not throw off the accounts that the machine has a full -fledged second row of seats. And alas, not every pickup sold in our market can boast of them.


Driving
Despite its cargo entity, the car is very well prepared for dynamic driving and asphalt. Stabilization systems help not to lose a car on a slippery road.

Salon
Unlike most cars of this plan, the rear row of seats here is very comfortable.

Comfort
Nothing superfluous, however, it will not be carried out in the car for several hours in a row in the cabin.

Safety
At the level of competitors.

Price
Adequate.


Nissan Navara
Pickup in the style of lakeshar. Perhaps this is how this car is characterized in one phrase. The salon is finished with high -quality plastic. The configuration contains skin, navigation system and rear view camera. He is not bad on off -road. However, it will be a fairly long period of time on the second row only in children.

Driving
On public roads in this, only dimensions can be confused by the driver. Otherwise, everything is very at a decent level. Unless the suspension is too impressive.

Salon
Spacious and convenient, but to certain limits that begin behind the back of the front seats.

Comfort
The driver and the front passenger will master the long road without problems. But in the back row, discontent will begin to grow quickly.

Safety
At the level.

Price
Acceptable.


Our verdict
Undoubtedly, both the VW Amarok and Nissan Navara should be considered an equivalent replacement for the SUV with the body of the station wagon. But if you still decide that you can do with such a half -year, we would advise you to opt for Amorok. With the functionality and degree of equipment similar to Navara, the German car has one very significant argument in its favor: the second row of seats can be considered complete. And for many it is important. And the cargo platform is better adapted to European standards.


Author: Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov

 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [January 2011]