Climb from a Ford Ranger into a Volkswagen Amarok and their basic cabin architecture is almost identical.
You’ll immediately notice the massive portrait-orientated infotainment screen, and the gear-selector, rotary dial for the drive modes and door handles are all very similar to the Blue Oval’s pick-up. And yet the Amarok’s cabin isn’t completely overwhelmed by Ford’s influence.
There’s a real sense of premium feel to the interior, which offers a strong and tactile mix of materials, crisp digital technology, good visibility and comfort. The brown leather accents in our Panamericana test car added an extra layer of richness, as did the leather-topped dash and steering wheel.
Indeed, perceived quality is generally good, but the plastic shrouding around the gear selector and on the dashboard feels a bit tinny. Some of the plastics on the doors are a bit on the cheaper side, but they’re robust and suit the Amarok’s character.
The 12.0in central infotainment display is graphically strong and responds quickly to inputs, and most of the icons are large, making it easy to function hop on the move.
There’s a catch, however, because while the Ranger gets a row of physical switches and dials for the climate controls, the Amarok does not, which means you have to fiddle around with the screen to adjust the temperature and fan-speed.
This is made more frustrating because of how the climate controls are positioned at the bottom of the screen, requiring a longer look away from the road.
The seat is endlessly adjustable, which means it’s easy to find a comfortable position, and the thin pillars, large rear window and chunky door mirrors help to provide excellent all-round visibility.
Rear-accommodation is acceptable for taller adults thanks to an indent in the roof which aids head room, and most passengers won’t complain about leg room, either. That said, carrying three adults might be a bit of a squeeze because the transmission tunnel limits space for middle-seat passengers.
