The Amarok tows 3,500kg with a high GCM, but its payload band is narrow and lower than most rivals, under a tonne on every variant. The V6 flagship is the tightest of them.
Amarok NF. 7 variants, figures transcribed from the manufacturer's spec sheets.
Volkswagen Amarok
Already set to the Volkswagen Amarok. Choose your variant, add what you're fitting, and see what payload you have left.
Amarok NF. Payload is GVM minus kerb weight, before you fit anything or put anyone in it.
| Variant | Kerb | GVM | Payload | GCM | Towing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aventura Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto V6 TDI600 (3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel) | 2,399kg | 3,190kg | 791kg | 6,300kg | 3,500kg |
| Aventura Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto V6 TSI (2.3L 4-cyl Turbo Petrol) | 2,292kg | 3,100kg | 808kg | 6,200kg | 3,500kg |
| Core Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto (6-Spd) TDI405 (2.0L 4-cyl Turbo Diesel) | 2,276kg | 3,250kg | 974kg | 6,200kg | 3,500kg |
| Life Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto TDI500 (2.0L 4-cyl Bi-Turbo Diesel) | 2,310kg | 3,230kg | 920kg | 6,350kg | 3,500kg |
| PanAmericana Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto V6 TDI600 (3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel) | 2,387kg | 3,350kg | 963kg | 6,400kg | 3,500kg |
| Style Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto TDI500 (2.0L 4-cyl Bi-Turbo Diesel) | 2,338kg | 3,280kg | 942kg | 6,350kg | 3,500kg |
| Style Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto V6 TDI600 (3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel) | 2,386kg | 3,350kg | 964kg | 6,400kg | 3,500kg |
The Amarok is one of the heaviest utes in the class before anything is fitted. That kerb weight is the reason its payload band sits under a tonne, so accessories bite sooner here than on a lighter ute with the same GVM.
VW publishes a rear axle rating for the Amarok, so a rear-heavy touring build can be checked against something real. With payload already under a tonne, a canopy and drawer system is a large share of the budget.
Volkswagen publishes a 350kg roof rating for the Amarok, which is unusually generous and easy to misread. That figure is a static rating; the load allowed while driving is far lower, and every kilo of it also counts against payload.
VW's brochure publishes both, and they differ by about 50kg. Tare is measured with 10 litres of fuel and no driver; kerb mass follows the ADR definition and includes a 90kg driver and full fluids. We use the published kerb mass. If you are comparing against another brand's tare figure, you are not comparing like with like.
There is no cab chassis and no single cab in the local range, so a tray is an aftermarket conversion rather than a factory option, and any weight figures for it come from the converter rather than from VW.
On most utes you can shop your way to more payload by choosing a lower grade. On the Amarok the spread between the best and worst is under 200kg, so if the numbers do not work on one variant they probably will not work on another.
Under one tonne on every current variant, and the spread across the range is narrow. Select your variant on this page for the exact figure from VW's spec sheet.
It is rated to, and its GCM is one of the higher ones in the class. You still cannot carry a full load at the same time, and with payload already under a tonne the tow ball weight is a significant share of it.
Volkswagen publishes 350kg, which is a static figure. The safe load while the vehicle is moving is much lower, and roof weight also counts against your payload and raises the centre of gravity.
They are two different measurements. Tare excludes the driver and runs a nearly empty tank; kerb mass includes a 90kg driver and full fluids. We publish the kerb figure because it is closer to how the vehicle actually leaves your driveway.
It varies by variant across the current NF range. The figure for yours, and the spec sheet it came from, are in the table above.