Volkswagen Amarok vs Toyota Hilux vs Ford Ranger: Which one has the lowest running costs?

Toyota is going to great lengths to promote its sporty GR sub-brand in the local market, and products such as the Corolla Cross are the perfect vehicles in which they can find new customers that are excited about the brand, but still want an efficient crossover. The GR-S certainly looks the part, but at its core, it is ultimately still a practical family crossover, so how does it compare with the Hyundai Venue and Volkswagen T-Cross in terms of running costs?

The figures

	Volkswagen Amarok 2.0BiTDI double cab Highline 4Motion	Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 Legend	Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo double cab XLT 4x4
Engine size	4-cyl, 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel	4-cyl, 2.8-litre turbodiesel	4-cyl, 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel
Power/Torque	132 kW/400 Nm	150 kW/420 Nm	154 kW/500 Nm
Gearbox	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	10-speed automatic
Ground clearance	237mm	286mm	237mm
Airbags	4	7	7
Driven wheels	All	All	All
Braked towing capacity	3 000-kg	3 500-kg	3 500-kg
Fuel capacity	80-litres	80-litres	80-litres
Claimed consumption	8.6 L/100 km	7.9 L/100 km	7.5 L/100 km
CO2 emissions	211 g/km	208 g/km	195 g/km
Service plan	5-year/90 000km	9 service/90 000km	Opt (R18 740.40)
Price	R794 200	R790 100	R782 100 (R800 840.40 with service plan)

 

Related: Latest Volkswagen Amarok driven in SA

Comparing the trio

Purchase price

The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.

Volkswagen Amarok 2.0BiTDI double cab Highline 4Motion

With the instalment parameters in place, the Amarok will work out at R13 605 per month over 72 months.

Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 double cab 4x4 Legend

With the instalment parameters in place, the Hilux will work out at R13 535 per month over 72 months

Ford Ranger 2.0 BiTurbo double cab XLT 4x4

With the instalment parameters in place, the Ranger will work out at R13 398 (R13 719 with service plan) per month over 72 months.

Fuel consumption

On paper, the Ford has the lowest claimed fuel consumption followed by the Toyota and then the Volkswagen. The real-world figures produced by the trio will very likely yield similar figures, however, from our experience, Volkswagen is the most efficient of the three models assembled here.

Service plans

Both the Volkswagen and Toyota come with comparable service plans, both spanning 90 000km, with the Volkswagen's being valid for 5 years and the Toyota's being for 9 services. The Ford loses out in this round as its service plan is an R18 740.40 extra, and is valid for 6 years/90 000km.

Verdict

Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, all three of these bakkies would be similar in terms of running costs provided the Ford has the optional service plan included, however, there can only be one winner and we feel that it is the outgoing Amarok on account of its real-world fuel efficiency.