The Volkswagen Amarok has been announced as the ‘Best Lifestyle Pickup Truck’ at the 2018 Professional Pickup & 4×4 Awards. The 12-strong judging panel decided that the Volkswagen Amarok was the most comfortable and refined of the eight pickups.
Unlike most automotive awards, the Professional Pickup & 4×4 Awards are judged by people who use pickups as part of their work from a wide range of professions; including plant hire, farmers, fencers, foresters, estate managers, groundworks and a professional hunter.
“The judges cited the excellent driving manners, spacious interior and high levels of specification as the main reasons for the Amarok’s triumph in the Lifestyle category,” explained Liam Campbell from Professional Pickup & 4×4. “Both on and off the road, the Amarok excelled thanks to the powerful 3.0-litre V6 and the faultless permanent 4WD system.
“Another aspect was the ErgoComfort seat, which is by far the most comfortable in the segment. The seat is 14-way adjustable and – strangely for a car seat – accredited by Germany’s Aktion Gesunder Rücken, or ‘Campaign for Healthier Backs’.”
Receiving the award, Alice Halliwell, Amarok Product Manager, announced her pride in winning the accolade.
“This is an important award for us because it is judged by professional users – the kind of people who depend on their vehicle, day-in-day-out,” commented Halliwell. “The Amarok has proved itself to be a fantastic all-rounder, and this award highlights the fact that it can combine workplace chores with comfort and convenience.”
Introduced in 2011 and updated in 2016, the new Amarok marked a step-change in the model’s history and appeal to a lifestyle audience. Although the external look stayed relatively the same, it gained a new 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, an all-new interior and the latest in in-car infotainment systems, safety and technology.
In addition to the range-topping 224hp/550Nm version with an eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF, customers can also choose a 204hp/500Nm or a 163hp/450Nm version along with a manual gearbox.
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