VW built a seven-seat, body-on-frame SUV prototype based on the first-generation Amarok.
It revisited the idea with sketches of a rugged SUV derived from the second-generation pickup truck.
VW confirms a third-generation Amarok is coming and an SUV sibling is under consideration.

It remains surprising that the initial Amarok never spawned an SUV version, since its body-on-frame architecture seemed perfect for challenging rivals such as the Ford Everest. Volkswagen actually constructed one in secrecy yet ultimately chose not to pursue it. Referred to internally as the Amarok wagon, the SUV adaptation was rejected by senior management after review.

This revelation came from VW Commercial Vehicles chief Stefan Mecha during a discussion with Australian outlet GoAuto. Although the basic elements for a closed pickup existed, executives worried about limited sales potential. Projections indicated viability in Australia alone, yet that single market proved insufficient for broader viability.

Nevertheless, certain VW staff have continued exploring the concept. Several years back, design leader Albert Kirzinger posted a rendering of a second-generation Amarok featuring a fully enclosed cargo area. The current model shares Ranger architecture, and the prior Ford partnership excluded any SUV counterpart to match the Everest.

Second-generation Volkswagen Amarok-based SUV official rendering

Looking forward, VW has already outlined a third-generation Amarok. Mecha noted ongoing talks with Ford regarding further cooperation while emphasizing that alternatives remain open. The present model has two to three years remaining, so its successor is expected near the end of the decade. An SUV version continues to be evaluated without a final choice.

For context, the Commercial Vehicles unit has already confirmed a partnership with China-based SAIC to develop a successor to the original Amarok. Now 17 years old, that first-generation model stays available in South America and will yield to a new Chinese-derived truck in 2027. This approach allows VW to maintain two distinct Amarok lines for separate global regions.

Even absent an Amarok SUV, the VW Group will address off-road demand through the Scout Traveler. Production begins in 2027 with pricing below $60,000. It will launch as a pure EV offering roughly 350 miles of range, alongside a range-extender variant using a naturally aspirated gasoline engine as a generator for more than 500 miles. Both will be built at a new facility in Blythewood, South Carolina.

Source: Scout Motors

What do you think?

Motor1's Take: VW's hesitation to create an Amarok SUV has long appeared as a lost chance. Perhaps with the third-generation truck the company will finally introduce a closed-body model to tap into strong off-road SUV demand. The opportunity existed years earlier yet went unrealized.

Current conditions at the VW Group remain challenging as it plans to halve its model range for major cost savings. Given these pressures, expectations for an Amarok SUV should stay measured, particularly with the Scout Traveler poised to serve that segment.

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Source: GoAuto