Volkswagen Amarok vs KIA Tasman

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Volkswagen Amarok in South Africa

Volkswagen Amarok

3.0 V6 TDI Double Cab Aventura 4Motion AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,252,200 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 12.8 km/l
VS
KIA Tasman in South Africa

KIA Tasman

2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,004,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tasman
Fuel Economy Amarok
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tasman
🔑 Ownership Tasman
Amarok starts ZAR 679995 cheaper Amarok from ZAR 593,200 · Tasman from ZAR 679,995

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Amarok Tasman
Engine Power 125 147 kW
Torque 400 440 Nm
Engine Size 1968 2151
Claimed Mileage 12.8 11.8
Ground Clearance 192 231
Boot Space 0 1115
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2095 2085
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Tasman

73
/ 100
+16
pts
#2

Amarok

57
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Tasman holds a noticeable edge over Amarok, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tasman +2 pts
Efficiency Amarok +7 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Tasman +13 pts
Ownership Tasman +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Tasman

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 20/20
Ownership 20/20

Amarok

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 7/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amarok

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Tasman

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Amarok

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tasman

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amarok Tasman
Ground Clearance 192 231
Wheelbase 3097 3200
Length 5254 5335
Width 1944 1930
Height 1834 1895
Kerb Weight 2095 2085
Gross Vehicle Weight 3150 3250
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 0 1115
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1115
Front Track Width 1550 1619
Rear Track Width 1540 1625
Turning Radius Available 12.6
Load Bed Length Available 1520
Load Bed Width Available 1165
Front Legroom Available 1040
Rear Legroom Available 855
Front Headroom Available 1010
Rear Headroom Available 955
Front Shoulder Room Available 1405
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1350
Max Payload Available 1100
Boot Volume Available 1115
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 940
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 80
Rear Overhang Available 1195
Spec Amarok Tasman
Engine 2.0L TDI Turbo Diesel 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged Intercooled Inline 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel
Displacement 1968 2151
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 125 147 kW
Torque 400 440 Nm
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger Twin Turbo Yes
Top Speed 180 185
0-100 km/h 10.5 9.8
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard D4HB
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 15.4:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 85.4
Piston Stroke 92.0 94.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol B7 Diesel
Power @ RPM 150 3,800 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,750 rpm
Engine Position Available Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity Available 7.0
Power 150 197
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000 rpm
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Diesel
0–100 km/h Available 9.8
Battery Capacity Available N/A
Charging Port Available N/A
AC Charging Time Available N/A
Engine Displacement Available 2151
EV Range Available N/A

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Tasman wins with 73 pts vs 57 pts for Amarok

In structured scoring, Tasman emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Amarok may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tasman edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Amarok 7 vs Tasman 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Amarok 18, Tasman 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Amarok 12, Tasman 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Amarok 7, Tasman 20. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amarok 13, Tasman 15. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Tasman edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tasman scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Amarok and Tasman in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Amarok scores 13 vs 15.

Efficiency: Amarok scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: Amarok scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Amarok scores 7 vs 20.

Ownership: Amarok scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Tasman the advantage in this comparison.