VW Amarok W600 Lands at $91,990 — Is It Worth It for WA Buyers?

The Volkswagen Amarok W600 has officially been priced at **$91,990 before on-road costs**, making it the most expensive mid-size dual-cab ute on the Australian market (short of the Ranger Super Duty). It's $300 dearer than the Ford Ranger Raptor — and it's gunning for a completely different kind of driver.

Due in showrooms in September, the W600 is the first Walkinshaw-developed Amarok based on the current-generation platform shared with the 2022 Ford Ranger. Think of it as the spiritual successor to the W580 — but sharper, better equipped, and significantly more expensive.

Built for the Highway, Not the Sand Dunes

Here's the key distinction for WA buyers: the W600 isn't trying to be a Raptor. While the Ranger Raptor is engineered for high-speed off-road punishment — the kind you'd throw at a weekend run to Lancelin or a proper outback bash — the W600 is tuned for sealed-road performance. Think Great Eastern Highway at 110km/h, not corrugated firetrails in the Pilbara.

Walkinshaw (the Melbourne outfit that, ironically, also built the Ranger Raptor Ford used to win three consecutive Finke Desert Races) has recalibrated the W600's steering for sharper response and cornering stability. Uniquely tuned Koni shock absorbers with Frequency Selective Damping and a thicker 22mm rear anti-roll bar mean this ute should feel genuinely planted on the long, straight runs WA country drivers know well.

The engine carries over from other V6 Amarok variants: a **184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel** paired with a 10-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. On WA's current diesel prices, that V6 won't be cheap to run — but it's a proven unit with real towing muscle.

What You Actually Get for $91,990

At nearly $92K before you add rego, CTP, and dealer delivery, the W600 needs to justify itself. Here's the spec breakdown:

• **Wheels & tyres:** 20x10-inch flow-formed dark-matte alloys wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport SUV rubber
• **Exterior:** Unique front-end styling, W600-specific grille, LED Matrix headlights with signature light bar, electrically deployable side steps, dual side-exit exhausts
• **Interior:** Savona leather, heated and ventilated front seats, embroidered head restraints, Harman Kardon audio, W600-branded sports pedals and sill plates
• **Safety & towing:** 360-degree surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, trailer assist, **3500kg braked towing capacity**, 954kg payload

Metallic paint adds $1100, and an electrically operated tonneau cover is a $3450 option — so a fully loaded W600 is pushing $96,000 before on-roads. Perth registration and CTP will add further to that real-world drive-away figure.

Should WA Buyers Bother?

If your ute spends most of its life on sealed roads — commuting through Perth's northern suburbs, hauling a boat to Mandurah, or covering long highway distances between regional centres — the W600's road-focused dynamics make a genuine case for itself over the Raptor.

But if you're regularly heading off-road, or if the price tag makes you wince, the **Amarok Aventura V6 at $82,990** before on-roads covers most of the same ground for $9000 less.

The W600 expands the 2026 Amarok range to six grades, sitting above the Aventura. For buyers who want something European, refined, and road-sharp — and aren't afraid to spend for it — it's a compelling proposition. Just go in with clear eyes on the final drive-away cost.