In certain cases - bikinis worn by supermodels, for instance - the less-is-more approach is desirable.
When it comes to the number of gears in vehicles, however, the more-is-more approach is definitely gaining in prevalence, and cars with seven- and eight-speed transmissions are becoming ever more common.
Now Volkswagen has become the first motor manufacturer to introduce eight speeds in a bakkie. The auto transmission is available only in the top-of-the-range Amarok 2-litre turbodiesel Highline 4Motion double cab.
Inclusive of a 3-year/100 000km warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan, the automatic Amarok sells for R461 100, a R17 500 premium over the existing six-speed manual version which remains in the line-up.
Rather than the dual-clutch DSG transmission found in many two-pedalled VWs, the Amarok gets a torque converter automatic as it's considered better for heavy-duty applications such as off-roading or towing.
PERMANENT AWD
The new auto 'box comes paired with permanent all-wheel drive, which is a break with bakkie tradition where the driver can usually decide between 4x2 and 4x4 mode (the Amarok 6-speed manual still offers this).
Whether eight gears are generally necessary is debatable, but in the Amarok it addresses the long-running criticism that the powerful but relatively small 132kW/420Nm turbodiesel engine makes its peak torque in a rather narrow rev range.
I found that with more gear ratios the engine tends to stay within its power band more readily, and the engine's lusty torque is well served by the new eight-speed auto. The trouble with pairing automatics with turbodiesel engines, especially at high altitude, is that it can sometimes cause unnerving turbo lag, but thankfully this wasn't the case with the Amarok.
There's a broad spread of power and it starts right down at low rpm, without any significant "dead spot" when you move from a standing start. This is partly thanks to the lowest gear being a "crawler" ratio, which also does away with the need for a low-range transfer case.
The transmission can also be shifted into a Sport mode which holds lower gears for longer and has a marked improvement on the vehicle's liveliness. With eight speeds there tend to be a lot of gearshifts but this isn't a problem as they're quite smooth and seamless. VW's claimed sea level performance figures are a 179 km/h top speed and 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds.
CAPABLE OFF BEATEN TRACK
The abovementioned "crawler" gear, together with all-wheel drive and a generous ground clearance, give VW's one-tonner very capable off-road ability. It happily takes on dongas and soft sand, while the rear diff lock can be engaged for extra traction when the turf gets really technical. There's also a button-selectable Off-Road mode that activates hill descent control and adapts the ABS brakes to have shorter stopping distances in the dirt.
Eighth gear is an overdrive that activates in highway situations, and helps the biturbo TDI engine return a claimed consumption average of 8.3l/100km (compared to a claimed 8 litres for the Amarok manual). Our test vehicle managed 9.7, which is not too bad for a big bakkie with fulltime 4x4.
The Amarok has impressive finesse and is still the bakkie that gives the closest experience to driving an SUV. Its classy interior trumps any other bakkie's, even more recently-introduced rivals like the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu KB.
The soft-touch surfaces give the VW's cabin a very sophisticated appeal far removed from any workhorse origins, and there's plenty of passenger space along with all the luxuries and toys you expect for R461 100. These include front and side airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, remote central locking, onboard computer, cruise control, height- and reach-adjustable steering, electric windows and mirrors, and climate control.
One of my favourite Amarok features is a 12V socket on top of the dash for fitting a GPS without having a loose wire flapping around on the fascia. There's a 12V socket in the loadbox too.
As comfy as it is, the Amarok's a proper workhorse too with its 845kg payload, and it boasts one of the largest loadboxes in the segment with the ability to handle a euro pallet between its wheelarches.
TURBO TROUBLES
Our test vehicle unfortunately suffered a turbo failure during its time with us, which Volkswagen South Africa says is the first incident of its kind in the three years that the Amarok's been on the market.
We aren't aware of these vehicles having generally problematic turbos, but if you're an Amarok owner who's experienced a similar issue please email me on [email protected].