Volkswagen Amarok 10 Deserts Edition – Volkswagen is celebrating its latest Guinness World Record with a special Amarok 10 Deserts Edition inspired by the successful around-Australia pursuit of the same name and focused on the off-roading purist.
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VW Amarok 10 Deserts Edition Rob Fraser driving impressions
Limited-edition utes often rely on stickers and black trim to create a sense of exclusivity, but the Volkswagen Amarok 10 Deserts Edition offers something more meaningful. Developed to celebrate the Amarok’s record-setting crossing of Australia’s 10 major deserts, this special edition incorporates practical upgrades that improve its capability without compromising the polished road manners that have become a hallmark of the latest model.
Interior additions
Behind the wheel, the Amarok immediately feels approachable. It has none of the cumbersome nature that some lifted dual-cab utes can exhibit, instead delivering a confident, well-balanced driving experience. Visibility is excellent, the steering is precise, and the cabin remains quiet even at highway speeds, making long days behind the wheel far less tiring than many rivals.
Engine and drivetrain
Power comes from Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, producing 154kW and 500Nm. While some buyers may be tempted by the V6, this four-cylinder proves to be more than capable in real-world conditions. It delivers strong pulling power from low revs, making hill climbs, overtaking and towing feel effortless. The 10-speed automatic transmission is equally impressive, slipping through its ratios smoothly and rarely drawing attention to itself. Whether cruising through city traffic or covering hundreds of kilometres on regional highways, the drivetrain feels refined and well matched.
Susension Upgrades
The real transformation becomes apparent once the sealed road ends. The factory-engineered suspension lift increases ground clearance enough to make a noticeable difference when tackling uneven tracks. Washouts, rocky sections and deep wheel ruts can be approached with greater confidence, reducing the need to constantly pick a perfect line. Instead of worrying about scraping the underside, you’re free to concentrate on the terrain ahead.
Ride quality on gravel is another pleasant surprise. Rather than bouncing across corrugations, the suspension settles the vehicle quickly after larger impacts and maintains reassuring composure over constantly changing surfaces. It gives the Amarok an impressively planted feel, encouraging steady progress without making the driver feel disconnected from what the wheels are doing.
A significant contributor to that confidence is the combination of 17-inch alloy wheels and Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tyres. The taller tyre sidewalls help smooth out sharp rocks and rough tracks while delivering dependable grip across loose gravel, sandy sections and uneven climbs. They also retain good road manners, avoiding the excessive hum and vibration that can accompany more aggressive off-road tyres. For owners who spend weekdays on bitumen and weekends exploring fire trails or remote campsites, it’s a thoughtful compromise.
4WD System and upgrades
Volkswagen’s four-wheel-drive system complements the mechanical upgrades by delivering traction in a progressive, predictable manner. Instead of relying on sudden electronic intervention, the system works quietly in the background, helping maintain momentum over slippery or uneven surfaces. When conditions become more demanding, the rear differential lock adds another level of confidence, allowing the Amarok to continue moving forward where lesser-equipped vehicles might struggle.
The remaining additions—including the protective underbody components, distinctive exterior styling and practical all-weather floor mats—reinforce the vehicle’s touring focus without feeling unnecessary or overdone. They are functional enhancements that suit the Amarok’s intended role as a long-distance adventure vehicle.
Final thoughts
The 10 Deserts Edition succeeds because its upgrades have been chosen with purpose. It preserves the comfort, refinement and easy-going nature that make the Amarok an enjoyable everyday ute, while adding the durability and off-road ability expected by drivers who regularly venture beyond the bitumen. Rather than demanding an immediate visit to the aftermarket, it arrives ready to tackle Australia’s varied landscapes with confidence straight from the showroom floor.
VW Amarok 10 Deserts Edition – Everything you need to know
October 2024 update
The Melbourne-designed Amarok completed an arc of Australia’s 10 deserts in a record-breaking six days, 17 hours to underscore the honed toughness of the dual-cab 4×4 ute range.
Available from Q2 2025, the Volkswagen utilises the rugged Amarok Life TDI500 as its base, now featuring class-leading ground clearance, extra underbody protection and more off-road-focused tyres.
The core changes that helped the Amarok tame Australia’s Great Victoria, Great Sandy, Tanami, Simpson, Gibson, Little Sandy, Strzelecki, Sturt Stony, Tirari, and Pedirka deserts inspired these key alterations.
The designers created the Amarok 10 Deserts Edition to be more attainable than the flagship Amarok Style, PanAmericana, and Aventura grades, featuring a 500Nm bi-turbo diesel engine that weighs less than the V6.
Amarok 10 Deserts Edition
Complementing unique black ‘10 Deserts’ badging, a standard black tonneau cover and contrast white-only paint, 17-inch black alloy wheels are also unique to the 10 Deserts Edition wrapped in more off-road focused tyres.
The tyres retain the Amarok’s renowned sporty handling and segment-leading driver focus, while further advancing its off-road pedigree.
A suspension lift kit raises ride height by 40mm to deliver 275mm ground clearance – more than other off-road ‘specials’ in the dual cab 4×4 segment. The lift is augmented by genuine Volkswagen underbody protection.
Volkswagen will strategically position between $60,000 ‘sticker packs’ such as the Ford Ranger Black Edition, and rival off-road special edition variants that cost above $70,000 RRP.
Estimated pricing will place it between the current Amarok Life TDI500 and the Amarok Style TDI500.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles director Ryan Davies said the Amarok continues to go from strength to strength.
“We planned for the Amarok to cross 10 deserts in 10 days, but it managed to conquer the harshest Australian terrain in under a week,” Mr Davies said.
“Our aim with the Amarok 10 Deserts Edition is to capture the elements that made our Volkswagen 4MOTION product work so well in Australia – tougher tyres, underbody protection and class-leading clearance – then deliver them in a lighter and attainable package.
“This is one for the off-road purist, with everything you need for incredible off-roading and still with all the elements that make Amarok the driver’s ute.”
