The improved efficiency is a result of idle-stop technology included in the Bluemotion Technologies package, which also includes regenerative braking and low rolling-resistance tyres.
Also helping economy is the greater spread of transmission ratios between first and top gear.
Top is geared as an overdrive with reduced engine speed for less noise intrusion into the cabin as well as greater efficiency.
Website goauto was impressed with the drive of the automatic VW ute, launched in Spain this week.
On the road, the Amarok TDI420 automatic in up-spec Ultimate Dual Cab guise was "nothing short of an eye-opener for this sort of vehicle, offering smooth and intuitive gear changes pretty much across the whole driving spectrum", said the website.
Over some of south-eastern Spain's hillier terrain the new 132kW/420Nm 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder unit did keep itself busy switching from gear to gear, but the response times made the automatic Amarok more pleasurable to drive than the already civilised manual version.
On twisty mountain roads, the website said, "this feels more like a well-sorted SUV than a separate chassis pick-up truck".
