2018 Volkswagen Amarok

Volkswagen Amarok

Amarok's always played to a more discerning crowd, squarely gunning for folks who want their double-cab to handle the Fourways commute and still drag a boat to Harties without flinching. On paper at least, it lines up against Ford's Ranger Raptor and the Hilux Legend, but the Amarok leans hard into the premium feel — you get the sense it was built for drivers who care as much about the Monday-morning N1 shuffle as the weekend braai. Diesel rules the roost here, with 2.0 BiTDI and 3.0 TDI V6 options, mostly tied to automatics. Price-wise, Amarok listings range wildly from R219,900 up to R1,329,995, with the bulk around R739,990, so you’ve got a shot whether you’re bargain-hunting or flashing the company card. The fact that dealers are holding 50 new and 69 used units says stock isn’t tricky to find either. Most buyers settle on the 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion Style — it's not hard to see why, with 24 up for grabs between R625,000 and R991,950, fitting that sweet spot for serious users who still want some badge appeal. The V6 Aventura, topping out at R1,329,995, targets a different crowd entirely. Used Amaroks span from 2012 models to nearly-new, with mileage averaging a relatively gentle 59,610 km. That hints at a fair few ex-fleet cars, probably with proper maintenance logs. Where Amarok leaves the Hilux behind is inside: the interior honestly feels more Golf than workhorse, which matters a lot if you spend hours behind the wheel. Resale values stay strong for exactly that reason — it’s what the Amarok should have been from the start.