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Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger compared to beefy Lower Saxony
They are among the most important vehicles in the USA, and pick-ups only play a subordinate role for us. Can an all-wheel drive pick-up still make sense for everyday use? And if so - which pick-up is convincing?
One thing ahead, the Volkswagen Amarok and the Ford Ranger came to the test as special models with exclusive equipment and in bright colors. The Isuzu D-Max had to line up a little behind. But - in the end, it should be about the all-wheel drive, the engine, the transmission and the driving experience. In terms of looks, of course, the red lantern went to the Isuzu - but don't worry, it's not just about looks.
Conchita sausage and guildo horn at the opera ball
The Amarok came to the test with a mighty bracket and four high beams on it. And its outward appearance amazes schoolchildren in awe at the zebra stripe. But the Ford Ranger can also impress. With him, however, it is more the sheer size with which you become an obstacle in parking lots. All three are available in different cabin versions. The “Double Cab” baptized variant with a decent second row of seats was tested. This is how the craftsman's vehicles become leisure and family experts. Because in addition to the wheelbarrow, child seats now also match the appearance. The massive Ranger and the Amarok strutting through the area with its battery of high beam lights on the roof like a vain rooster - look like in comparison to the D-Max from Isuzu Conchita Wurst and Guildo Horn next to a street musician at the Vienna Opera Ball.
Even if the Amarok bracket draws everyone's attention, the engine / gearbox combination under the hood is more important. As the only one in the test, you get the Amarok with a modern eight-speed machine and a modern diesel engine. But only in this combination. At Ford, the powerful five-cylinder diesel is combined with a classic 6-speed converter gearbox. Of the ISUZU tries only five gears for its automatic.
[One_fourth]And who now offers the more practical all-wheel-drive pick-up? Where do you get performance instead of optics?
Volkswagen AMAROK
Ford Ranger
Performance: 200 PS Torque: 450 Nm Displacement: 3.2 liter Engine: five-cylinder turbodiesel Empty weight: 2.181 kg Trailer load: 3.35 to. Price: 41.114,50 € - to the driving report [/one_fourth][one_fourth]Isuzu D-Max
That was important
- driving experience
- everyday utility
- Value for money
Of course, the comparison of these three is mainly possible because all three implement the same concept. At the same time, however, the Amarok and Ranger serve different target groups than the D-Max. Since the Isuzu is extremely attractively priced, the question must be allowed - whether the surcharge for the other two is justified. The comparison primarily refers to the Amarok, there are already detailed driving reports for the other two in the blog.
[/one_fourth] [divider] [/divider] [one_third]driving experience
A Volkswagen with leaf springs on the rear axle. When you look under the sheet metal, the Amarok reveals its origins in the Volkswagen commercial vehicle division. In the interior, too, he prefers to indulge himself on the rustic tour. Hard plastic irritates VW customers who are spoiled by soft paint. But among the pick-ups, the Amarok is one of the shining lights. But not because of the additional light bar on the roof, but because of its confident performance on the street. You can tell the elevated seating position and the steering feel is unusually doughy for a VW - but that's about it with the restrictions. Despite the leaf springs, the Amarok does not buck across the street.
The Ford Ranger can do this just as well, but due to the lack of two gears and the slow-shifting gearbox, everyday life in the Ford seems less relaxed. The Ford spoils with the characterful growl of its five-cylinder, the VW can only oppose the gnarled four-cylinder diesel. The ISUZU radiates significantly more commercial vehicle charm. Neither the large-displacement four-cylinder diesel nor the old-fashioned five-speed automatic can convince. However, this is only noticeable in comparison with the two modern pick-ups. Otherwise, the rustic charm of the Isuzu powertrain matches the rest of the vehicle.
[/ One_third] [one_third]everyday utility
Parking is the biggest challenge. But those who do not commute to the city center every day and instead drive out into the forest with their dog - who flee at the weekend with the boat trailer, a racing car on the trailer, or only with the camper, who garden waste, building rubble every week or other junk disposed of - it quickly gets used to this luxury of space, easy-to-use loading area and the generous trailer loads.
All three pick-ups agree on this. While the normal family station wagon is shaking before the next visit to IKEA, the three load masters lure with rustic transport options. Driving a pallet of bricks from the yard of the hardware store? No problem. The question is rather: Who has the forklift at home to unload the pick-up again? The example shows the real target group for the pick-ups quite well. Anyone who really uses the vehicles and does not want to drive around with an empty loading area for reasons of ego, usually works independently. Architects, entrepreneurs and craftsmen bosses are likely to love the luxury versions of the workhorses from VW and Ford. The Isuzu, however, is probably more likely to be chosen by people who actually drive the car to the construction site.
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Price-performance
Now is the time for ISUZU. With 36.100 € the end of the flagpole has already been reached and he is keeping a “8.000 € respectable distance” to the Amarok. Ford can pay for the Wildtrak version of the Ranger with at least € 41.114,50. Both offer significantly more comfort than the Isuzu and also do not leave out modern entertainment. Even if the AMAROK disappoints in the interior with hard plastic, it looks decades younger and fresher than the ISUZU, whose interior cannot hide its origins as a commercial vehicle.
The Amarok scores with the successful coordination of the eight-speed machine and also has a lockable rear axle differential. However, more ground clearance and a greater wading depth are on the plus side of the other two. In rough off-road use, the Isuzu and the Ranger unfortunately lack the lockable rear axle, and both work with an all-wheel drive that wants to be operated by hand, but does not offer more than the option for pure rear-wheel drive or for all-wheel drive with a fixed distribution of drive power between the axles. The AMAROK offers the more intelligent all-wheel drive - although it offers less ground clearance. The Isuzu also has the largest towing capacity of the three candidates.
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striking
The Amarok is Volkswagen's first product in the pick-up segment and is about to become a real bestseller. At VW you are rarely in the niche group of first-time offenders, but when you do something, you do it right.
Positive
Offering the Amarok with a modern eight-speed machine is terrific. And the driving behavior can also convince. Soundproofing and processing are flawless. The Amarok offers the rough charm of a globetrotter.
Room for improvement
Only one motor and two power levels to choose from. The two liter TDI works in two power levels - the 8-speed automatic is only available with the top 180 hp engine. What a real top engine looks like, however, a tuner has to show: MTM AMAROK [click].
The Amarok in the pick-up check - the conclusion:
The Amarok inspires, the ranger fascinates, the Isuzu humps!
The Amarok can clearly decide this pick-up check for itself. Even if the Ford has more power and the Isuzu offers more trailer load and both have more ground clearance - the 8-speed automatic and the economical bi-turbo diesel bring a real advantage in everyday life.
However, none of the three can really deny its origin from the workhorse scene, but the Amarok seems to most clearly ignore its purpose as a commercial vehicle. Interested parties will not find it on the normal VW website, but only via the VW Commercial Vehicles website!