Volkswagen drops entry-level Amarok diesels and adds high-performance W600 trim

Volkswagen’s recent model-year updates across its lineup show a clear push toward premium features and performance-oriented trims while simplifying powertrain options. The 2017 Golf Alltrack remains a versatile AWD practical choice with a turbo 1.8-liter engine and solid fuel efficiency, emphasizing comfort and safety alongside all-weather capability. The 2025 Taos refresh raises its usability and refinement with updated styling, standard 8-speed automatic transmission, and a move to a more robust 174-hp engine, while trimming and trimming choices emphasize practicality over sportiness. The 2027 Jetta keeps its value-focused appeal with a 1.5-liter turbo and 158 hp, an 8-speed auto, and a roomy, refined interior, while expanding features like the IQ.Drive suite across trims. In Australia, the Amarok lineup shifts toward higher-spec, premium positioning for 2026, removing the entry-level diesels and introducing the Black Label edition with limited availability and a W600 Walkinshaw-tuned variant that prioritizes on-road performance enhancements. Taken together, VW is consolidating its lineup around stronger standard features, larger screens and driver aids, and tiered performance boosts through selective, limited-edition models, signaling a strategic pivot to attract buyers seeking more upscale and capable vehicles.