If the name VW doesn't immediately conjure up images of tough vehicles punting up low-range tracks, then don't worry. Aside from a brief fling with 4WD-equipped synchro in the '90s, Volkswagen never truly released any sort of 'traditional' off-roader – or at least as we know them. Sure, some of you reading this will remember punting Manx-bodied Bugs up tracks that 2WDs have no place going, but as far as transfer cases go, VW is a fairly new player. That said, it's definitely no new hand at building cars, and like all German companies, VW loves to push the technology boundaries.

But therein lies the rub – technology has traditionally been the enemy of us 4WDers. We like simple, reliable machines that can be fixed with an assortment of spanners and sockets, instead of $300,000 worth of diagnostics tools. The Amarok is the very definition of technology, but does that instantly mean that it won't be much chop where it counts?

There's only one way to tell, and that's to properly put the vehicle through its paces off-road, and in the manner that any of us would use it should we own one ourselves. So with the keys to a Trendline-spec dual-cab in our hands, we headed straight for our favourite tracks to see what the Amarok could do.

EXTERIOR

There's little doubting the Amarok's European heritage. VW, like all manufacturers, has gone to great lengths to create a front-end look that's distinctly recognisable as Volkswagen. One thing we like to see is the fact that the front wheel arch flares are cut at the point where the bumper meets the body. This means that guard modifications aren't required to fit a bullbar, which will substantially reduce the labour costs involved in paying to have one installed. And if you do pick yourself up an Amarok, then consider a bullbar a vital addition. The low-hanging front bumper doesn't do the vehicle any favours off-road (which we'll get to in a moment), but then again, what new vehicle couldn't do with a proper aftermarket front bar?

An important point to note is that as you step up the food chain into the higher-spec models, you're also moving up in wheel size. The Highline, for instance, features 18in wheels, and the Ultimate rolls around on 19in alloys. Your best bet is to stick with either a base model or the Trendline, which come with off-road friendly 16in rims – steelies for the base model, and alloys for the Trendline.

It's the little touches that make any 4WD great, and the VW is a perfect example of this. Take the tray for instance – three simple inclusions turn a good ute into a great one. The first is the inclusion of a tray light incorporated into the rear-window mounted tail-light. It's not blisteringly bright, but it does serve to illuminate the entire tray easily. Proper tie-down hooks bolted through the floor of the tray, and a 12V outlet mounted into the side of it, are both accessories that most ute owners would fit anyway, so it's nice to see them as factory inclusions.

INTERIOR

As you'd expect from a $50,000 vehicle, the Amarok's interior – at least, our Trendline test model's cloth interior – is well appointed. The Germans take great pride in offering a huge array of tech gadgets and gizmos in their vehicles, and the Amarok is definitely no exception. The seats are excellent, and easily some of the best we've ever sat in, especially with height adjustment as standard (via manual ratchet lever). Short or tall readers rejoice!