This is the flagship of the new Volkswagen Amarok range.

New Zealand gets it with what is arguably the best drivetrain of 2023 – a diesel V6, ten speed auto and the top spec 4WD system that featuresv  the clever 4A setting as well as 4-Hi, 4-Lo and 2WD.

In Aussie, the Aventura is available with a choice of 3.0-litre V6 single-turbo diesel power or 2.3-litre four-cylinder single-turbo petrol propulsion.

New Zealand’s simpler, we get the 184kW, 600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel which is plenty. Coupled with the ten-speed automatic and the best transfer case driveline currently on the market, it’s a formidable package.  Gaps between ratios on upshift are tiny, lending a true surge to forward progress. In our favourite 4-A setting, the front-rear torque split can be anywhere between 0:100 (RWD) and 50:50. Add in the electronic rear diff lock (at speeds under 40km/h) when grip goes AWOL and things are even more interesting.

Inside, the leather steering wheel and the leather seats are sumptuous.

The two parts of the car the driver is most in contact with have been finessed by Volkswagen, which has invested in unique calibrations for the electric power steering, and unique seat designs and cushioning. Clever. The seats, in Favona leather, are ten-way adjustable and heated.

Large digital screens for the infotainment system and the instrument cluster dominate.

Other helpful touches include extendable sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, four one-touch ‘auto-up’ power windows, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and quality material on the dash and door tops.

Wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are AM/FM and digital radio, along with embedded navigation. Infotainment is displayed on a 12-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen display, with a customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument display in front of the driver.

The Aventura has an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The whole Amarok Range has a five-star safety rating scored in 2022. The five-star result was based on a mix of crash tests by Euro NCAP using left-hand-drive examples of the Amarok. There are nine airbags including two front, two seat-mounted side, two ‘curtain’ airbags (including the second row), a driver’s knee airbag, and a centre airbag between the front seats.

The new model comes with a full suite of advanced safety technology including autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, speed sign-recognition, blind-zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree ‘surround-view’ camera.

Tyre pressure monitors (the proper valve type, not the wheel rotation sensor), which were previously available only on top-end versions of the previous Volkswagen Amarok, are now standard across all models in the new range. Including on the spare tyre.

From the front, the Aventura has its own identity within the range, with a distinctive ‘X-design’ front grille and tiny LED headlights. The new Volkswagen Amarok is heavier and thirstier than the vehicle it replaces. It now tips the scales in excess of 2.4 tonnes (with fluids). And even though there is a 10-speed auto to help keep engine revs low at freeway speeds, it’s still relatively thirsty.

Earlier versions of the Volkswagen Amarok V6 ute with a Euro 6 compliant 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 550Nm paired to an eight-speed auto, had a claimed fuel consumption average of 7.8L/100km.

The Aventura model has an official fuel consumption average of 8.4L/100km. It’s relatively easy to get close to that number on the open road.

Driving: the Aventura does a remarkable job at dealing with potholes and bumps even though it is on 20-inch wheels and tyres (275/45 R20).

The cornering grip from the highway tyres (Goodyear Wrangler Territory HT) is above average for a double-cab ute, and the steering is well weighted and makes the Amarok feel more agile than it is.

Sensor (proximity) key with push-button start, radar cruise control, front and rear airbags, blind-zone warning, lane-keeping assistance and speed-sign recognition – are all standard.

It is a big beast, though, longer in the wheelbase and wider than the outgoing model with one of the broadest turning circles in the double-cab ute class. Car parks require a few extra turns of the wheel – and occasionally a grab of forward and reverse – to ease a path into or out of a tight spot. This is less noticeable off-road.

On the open road – or in the suburban crawl – the new Aventura is a refined ride. It feels more like an SUV than a vehicle with workhorse DNA. It accelerates smoothly and easily.

Overall comfort and ease-of-use are generally good. But despite the luxury looks and high price, this isn’t the most competent or accomplished model in the new Volkswagen Amarok range. That would be one step down the range – the Panamericana, which is more obviously aimed at the desired mix of weekday practicality and offroad capability. Blessed with that engine/transmission combination, Aventura will definitely go off-road – but the use of 21-inch alloy wheels definitely limits choice of all terrain or mud capable tyres.