VW Beetle Review

The Beetle's pretty and the Turbo version we tested is also capable of impress you during intimate moments, but the car knows that it can't only rely on these assets for you to live with it, so it also offers a decent level of comfort.

We don't know is she can cook (we didn't to want to risk ruining the engine compartment with some meat wrapped in tin foil), but the Beetle's interior is now more generous: there's plenty of space in the front and the individual rear seats are decent.

The visibility is surprisingly good, despite the low profile of her hat and the soundproofing is within the class limits.

Unfortunately, the suspension doesn't know how to handle the entire range of problems that can sometimes be raised by the road. Our test car dealt with this problem by trading handling in favor of ride (not to an extreme level) by using high profile winter tires.

The Beetle Turbo is set up in such a way that if she's driven at any pace up to eight tenths it provides a pretty fast yet smooth experience. Thus, the vehicle can be used for longer trips, but only by two passengers.

The good ergonomics brought by the VW education also contribute to a good overall feeling. You'll be safe if, when talking to your best friend about her, you tell him that, for this chapter, she's OK.


While the original Beetle was replaced, but not thrown off the market, by the Golf MK I, the second generation of the Bug borrowed the Golf MK IV's platform. The third incarnation of the Bug shares its tech side with the Golf MK VI - to be more specific, the Beetle is the most trendy attire thrown over the VW Goup's PQ35 platform, an architecture that, in various forms, serves as a base for models ranging from the utilitarian VW Caddy to the sporty Audi TT.

The Beetle Turbo is not only a fashion-addicted young lady, but also likes to go to the gym in order to be able to play with its owner at an advanced level. Thus, before heading out to production, she asked her big... cousin, the Golf GTI MK VI for support.

As you know, the GTI is a kind person, so it had no problem in lending her the entire powertrain. Thus, her sexy hood hides a 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder unit that uses direct injection and turbocharging to deliver 200 hp. However, the Golf did keep 10 hp for itself, just to make sure that it has a little advantage in the eyes of tech fans.

The unit works with a brilliant double-clutch DSG gearbox - we are talking about the six-speed, wet clutch unit. Even though the company has also developed a more efficient, seven-speed, dry-clutch transmission, this can't handle the torque of the 2.0 TSI powerplant.

The "21st century Beetle", as VW calls it, is about 100 kg (220 lbs) heavier than the model it replaces, but the engine more than makes up for this.

As for the gearbox, this manages to be brilliant at changing gears, whether you're burying the throttle or just trying to allow your lady friend in the right to take a nap during a long drive.

So, this pretty face hides hot hatch muscle, but can it put it to good use? We'll answer that in the "Open Road" chapter.

If you let miss Beetle, our test car, take over the conversation when reaching this chapter, she'll start bragging about her RNS310 system, which is actually more "tainment" than "info", since it doesn't include a navigation function.

Fortunately, this is one lady friend that you'll want to take with you to the karaoke show. Ask her to sing and the optional Fender audio system will flood the interior with joy. She even seems to speak French, as she said something about the "piece de resistance", a subwoofer the size of the moon placed in the luggage compartment.

Of course, since she comes from the VW family, you'll recognize just about everything, from the multifunctional steering wheel, to the park assist system.

She'll go on to tell you about the cruise control and the dual-zone climate control system, but if you want to tease her, you can ask her about the Xenon headlights - her cheeks will turn red, as she doesn't come with such a feature (of course, you can order it). All in all, she has a decent amount of toys for the class she belongs to.

When the Beetle went to be examined the by the specialists at Euro NCAP, she demanded to not be called "baby" and when they refused, she showed them that she means business.

The Bug can take you in her arms and keep you away from harm with a five-star safety rating and 92 percent score for adult occupant protection.

She has a profound character and uses it to deeply connect with the driver, as asset for which she received a score of 86 percent for safety assist She's also good with children, having received a score of 90 percent for the protection offered to the little ones. As for the contact with total strangers, such as pedestrians, the car received a 50 percent score.

However, she did trip on a few occasions, such as the time when the steering column met the driver's chest, but nothing severe was recorded.

Ask her to dance and you'll find out that she can cope with most situations just fine. However, if you ask the DJ to play a high BMP song, you'll notice that the rear end likes to step out a little bit more than it should. The lateral movements are easily tamed by the ESP, which can never be deactivated - the aforementioned oversteering tendency is probably the reason why.


We kept calling the Beetle a "girl" during this test drive, but she's actually a fully grown woman. One that is now dressed in clothes that make it sexier and bring it closer to the masculine part of the audience, albeit just a little bit.

Unlike the one she replaces, the "21st century Beetle" knows that she can't just rely on retro looks to win your heart, so she demonstrates maturity by offering elements such as a roomier interior.

She's much more refined than her predecessor, but not as capable overall as a Golf, the vehicle from which it borrows the entire list of hardware, from the platform to the engine and gearbox. But this is a risk that you're willing to take when you want to make that sexy silhouette yours.

In the 2.0 TSI version (Turbo in the US) we tested, she also frequently visits the gym, which is why she delivers hot hatch dynamics, but don't expect her to spend the night with you without ESP.

And for most drivers this is for the best, as if she's asked to dance, she'll let the back end slide pretty easily, a trashy feature that's instantly corrected by the electronic nanny.

Just like VW itself, the Beetle isn't a Wagen for the Wolks anymore - while the original was an affordable means of transportation, this is a woman that has a certain level of financial needs that have to be catered to i you want to take her home. To put it shortly, EUR28,000 (USD36,000) in the case of our test car.

If eye contact is your cup of tea, then you can't go wrong with the Beetle - this is a down-to-earth automotive icon style, but you have to keep in mind that for the money, you can buy hot hatches that stray into sports car performance territory. As for the less turbo Beetles, these come with pricing that is more reasonable, even being placed in the first half of the premium compact segment, which makes the car an interesting proposal.