VW Is Reportedly Developing a New Pickup Truck for the United States

[tiktokbrainrot]

I wouldn't call VW "loose" since I don't know them well enough. But I do agree they are losers when it comes to quality. I have family members who have been stuck with some awful VW's that were plagued with issues. And their interiors have always been awful with hard cheap plastics.

My GLI blows the Mav away, and pretty much every modern ford, if we're talking plastic quality or design. And every VW in my family has been reliable, Moreso then any of the Chevys they used to have, and better then the one Toyota.

The MK 4 and 5 had issues but those were 20 years ago.

Is the Ford Ranger a good "reputation truck" for you?

The VW Amarok shares the same platform

Ford has mindshare from selling trucks here for the last century.

VW doesnt. It's got dealerships in major cities, but nothing in rural areas, and their last truck was the Rabbit 50 years ago.

Where they messed up was not making that Tarok they were prototyping in 2019. Had they followed through it would have come out a year before the Maverick did. They could still do it, and put their hybrid or PHEV powertrain in it to boot.

But knowing VW, they wont. That would make too much sense.

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[Cancunbadlands]

My GLI blows the Mav away, and pretty much every modern ford, if we're talking plastic quality or design. And every VW in my family has been reliable, Moreso then any of the Chevys they used to have, and better then the one Toyota.

The MK 4 and 5 had issues but those were 20 years ago.

Ford has mindshare from selling trucks here for the last century.

VW doesnt. It's got dealerships in major cities, but nothing in rural areas, and their last truck was the Rabbit 50 years ago.

Where they messed up was not making that Tarok they were prototyping in 2019. Had they followed through it would have come out a year before the Maverick did. They could still do it, and put their hybrid or PHEV powertrain in it to boot.

But knowing VW, they wont. That would make too much sense.

You are missing the point, the Ford Ranger and the VW Amarok are the exact same truck with the same quality, they are identical twin sisters.

 

[tiktokbrainrot]

You are missing the point, the Ford Ranger and the VW Amarok are the exact same truck with the same quality, they are identical twin sisters.

And you're missing the point - VW has no truck mindshare in the US. Regardless of having a "shared" platform, VW has no reputation for selling trucks in the US. That is going to be a massive uphill fight. I'm not sure how you mixed up a manufacturer's reputation in a sector of the space with the shared parts it has with another platform.

American consumers still freak out over 0w-20 oil thinking it destroys engines and there is a grand conspiracy to prevent us from using 10w-40 like their grandpappies, do you really think that VW selling a truck that shares components with the Ranger is going to be a selling point?

Also, they are NOT "identical twin sisters". Different fascia, different engine, different transmission, different electrics.

Here's the VW amorak:

\

Now tell me, does that look more like the Chevy Colorado:

OR the ranger it is built on:

Different fenders, different lights, different fascia, different engine, different electronics, different transmissions, different interior.....beyond the frame, what exactly do you think Ford is doing here that will sell that VW?

 

[Meeka]

And you're missing the point - VW has no truck mindshare in the US. Regardless of having a "shared" platform, VW has no reputation for selling trucks in the US. That is going to be a massive uphill fight. I'm not sure how you mixed up a manufacturer's reputation in a sector of the space with the shared parts it has with another platform.

American consumers still freak out over 0w-20 oil thinking it destroys engines and there is a grand conspiracy to prevent us from using 10w-40 like their grandpappies, do you really think that VW selling a truck that shares components with the Ranger is going to be a selling point?

Also, they are NOT "identical twin sisters". Different fascia, different engine, different transmission, different electrics.

Here's the VW amorak:

\

Now tell me, does that look more like the Chevy Colorado:

OR the ranger it is built on:

Different fenders, different lights, different fascia, different engine, different electronics, different transmissions, different interior.....beyond the frame, what exactly do you think Ford is doing here that will sell that VW?

But, VW has had nothing but good luck with their Diesels, so if they offered a diesel in this truck, I’d give it some thought. .

 

[Mudduck]

VW in the US truck market? Good luck. They don't have the truck reputation here. Ford, Chevy, Ram, Toyota own this space. A rebadged Ranger isn't going to move the needle. Unless they bring something genuinely different like an electric compact truck at a killer price, this is just noise.

For those of us that remember, we remember well. This was an awesome little truck. Was available with a diesel also, IIRC.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

And you're missing the point - VW has no truck mindshare in the US. Regardless of having a "shared" platform, VW has no reputation for selling trucks in the US. That is going to be a massive uphill fight. I'm not sure how you mixed up a manufacturer's reputation in a sector of the space with the shared parts it has with another platform.

American consumers still freak out over 0w-20 oil thinking it destroys engines and there is a grand conspiracy to prevent us from using 10w-40 like their grandpappies, do you really think that VW selling a truck that shares components with the Ranger is going to be a selling point?

Also, they are NOT "identical twin sisters". Different fascia, different engine, different transmission, different electrics.

Here's the VW amorak:

\

Now tell me, does that look more like the Chevy Colorado:

OR the ranger it is built on:

Different fenders, different lights, different fascia, different engine, different electronics, different transmissions, different interior.....beyond the frame, what exactly do you think Ford is doing here that will sell that VW?

While the 2025 Volkswagen Amarok and the 2025 Ford Ranger share the same foundational platform, mechanical architecture, and engine options (thanks to a joint development partnership), many automotive critics and drivers argue that the Amarok has the edge in several specific areas.

While the Ford Ranger leans into a rugged, utilitarian, and tougher workhorse aesthetic inside its cabin, Volkswagen positions the Amarok as a high-end, luxury lifestyle vehicle.

The Amarok uses softer-touch materials, unique grain patterns, and an overall layout reminiscent of VW’s passenger SUVs (like the Touareg, heritage from the Porshe)
The Amarok tends to feature a slightly more compliant, sedan-like ride that absorbs road imperfections and corrugated dirt tracks with less cabin shudder.

Utilitarian work truck get the Ranger. But if you prefer superior cabin isolation, luxury-grade interior materials, a more relaxed highway ride, and upscale styling without sacrificing towing or off-road muscle, the Volkswagen Amarok is often regarded as the superior overall package.

 

[babytruk]

But, VW has had nothing but good luck with their Diesels, so if they offered a diesel in this truck, I’d give it some thought. .

When I was shopping and decided to ship a Maverick to my location, the Amarok was on my short list. And since Diesels weren’t my thing, I could order with the Raptor 3.0 petrol engine. That would be a “Ford” engine. I also liked the simpler interior which felt more refined than the Ranger.

 

[GmanGM]

The VW Saveiro sells well “everywhere else” and comes as 2-door and extended 2-door.

Looks like a minuscule bed, can u even call it a truck bed? The Maverick bed should be at least 6-12 inches bigger can’t imagine going less.

They are probably sick of all the "Fathom will have a RAV4 sized interior" and are all, "If you want a RAV4 sized interior, why not buy something from the people that actually brought you a RAV4!"

Because Toyota has been stupid on this topic. Apparently satisfied w what they already have so “ go get it from them”.

 

[Meeka]

When I was shopping and decided to ship a Maverick to my location, the Amarok was on my short list. And since Diesels weren’t my thing, I could order with the Raptor 3.0 petrol engine. That would be a “Ford” engine. I also liked the simpler interior which felt more refined than the Ranger.

Good for you, the reason I post that was because VW had a big problem with their diesel pollution control and faced big fines because of that, but the majority of people here know that, at least the Boomers!

 

[MaverickDragon]

If VW deploys a truck to the US market, the big question will be...
Will it have Fahrvergnügen, or was that eliminated with the TDI powerplants....

 

[babytruk]

Looks like a minuscule bed, can u even call it a truck bed? The Maverick bed should be at least 6-12 inches bigger can’t imagine going less.

So get a standard cabin. Seen enough on MTC asking about getting a 2-door Maverick so the bed would be longer.

 

[GmanGM]

That would be be appreciated in the marketplace (but looks like AI so don’t count on it being real yet)

 

[inline_five]

Looks just as Fugly as the failed Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Remember the YouTube comparison of the Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruze ?
Both brand new and guess which one blew an engine during the video…

It came out later that the dealership had done the last oil change and screwed it up IIRC.

Had nothing to do with a bad engine.

 

[Dan2141]

As the previous owner of five VWs (New Jetta, New Beetle, Golf, Golf, GTI) I can say with certainty it will be unnecessarily complicated and very expensive to repair.

Soon there will be to many Trucklets to choose from?

https://carbuzz.com/volkswagen-new-us-pickup-report-august-2026/

Another possibility comes from Ford, because Volkswagen's Amarok pickup sold elsewhere shares a platform with the Ford Ranger. VW would likely have to make some changes to make this one happen for the US market. It would also probably have to convince Ford to build the trucks for it at Ford's plant in Wayne, Michigan, or build a completely new line for it at VW's own Chattanooga plant.

A third possibility also involves Ford: the just-announced Fathom electric vehicle. Ford and VW's partnership includes Ford Europe vehicles built on VW's MEB electric platform, so sharing Ford's brand-new Universal Electric Vehicle platform in the US cannot be ruled out. It could also help reduce Ford's risk exposure with a brand-new electric vehicle.

 

[GmanGM]

As the previous owner of five VWs (New Jetta, New Beetle, Golf, Golf, GTI) I can say with certainty it will be unnecessarily complicated and very expensive to repair.

And yet you will be talking about how you were the owner of 6 VWs

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