Skip to main content

The rugged Amarok pickup could help Volkswagen break into a new segment

Volkswagen has revealed that its upcoming crossover and SUV offensive could include a rugged seven-seater model based on the Amarok pickup truck.

“There is some very serious development happening at the moment for an SUV based on Amarok, which will be quite a large passenger vehicle,” affirmed Carlos Santos, the commercial vehicles director of Volkswagen’s Australian arm, in an interview with Motoring. “It’s not confirmed yet but it’s been going on since the start of Amarok.”

Recommended Videos

If approved for production, the yet-unnamed model will ride on the same ladder frame as the Amarok (pictured), an architecture that will allow it to go farther off the beaten path than a car-based crossover, and tow considerably more. The SUV’s main engine will be a 3.0-liter TDI V6 borrowed from its pickup sibling. Rear-wheel drive and an automatic transmission will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost.

Other engines will be offered, of course. Volkswagen’s gasoline-burning 3.6-liter V6 is a prime candidate, and markets where gasoline is expensive (or those where large-displacement engines are heavily taxed) could have to settle for a turbo four. Ultimately, technical specifications will vary greatly from nation to nation.

The Amarok has never been sold in the United States for a variety of reasons that range from regulations like the Chicken Tax to a perceived lack of demand, according to the executives in charge of Volkswagen when the truck was developed. However, the SUV is being designed with our market in mind because Volkswagen knows that it needs to add more crossovers and SUVs to its North American lineup as fast as possible. Surprisingly, the U.S.-spec model could land with the aforementioned TDI engine.

“The discussion has been reignited because obviously this V6 engine is able to be sold in the U.S. The 2.0-liter would never get into the States, but the V6 is the same as the one in the Cayenne and Touareg and is a well proven engine. We’ve got the volume to justify the investment,” Santos pointed out.

Read more: Volkswagen Amarok driven

A timeframe for when we can expect to see the Amarok-based SUV hasn’t been provided yet. However, Volkswagen’s first body-on-frame pickup has entered the second half of its life cycle, so it’s reasonable to assume the family-friendly variant will arrive in the next couple of years if it’s given the green light for production.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more
I tried an e-bike for the first time and now I’m hooked
It’s not about being a 'bike person', it’s about finding small upgrades to everyday life
A woman sitting on the Aventon Pace 4

Before this year, I’d never even touched an e-bike before, and the thought of riding one was never on my radar. With life already in constant motion thanks to two toddlers, biking wasn’t something I ever considered adding to the mix.

I’d always assumed e-bikes were for hardcore commuters or serious cyclists, not someone like me. I wasn’t looking for a big lifestyle change. I just wanted a quicker way to get to the park so we’d have more time to play before dinner.

Read more
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more