The Volkswagen New Beetle is now in its 10th year of production -- and that's an awfully long shelf life for a car that was designed to be a novelty. Is the New Beetle still relevant? I spent a week with a base-model New Beetle to find out. $17,630 base/as-tested, EPA fuel economy 20 city, 28-29 highway.
First Glance: Has it been ten years already?
It's hard to believe that it's been ten years since the New Beetle was launched. When the New Beetle made its debut in 1998 as a 1999 model, it was nothing short of a sensation -- it was the must-have car of its time. Ten years later, the New Beetle remains the most easily-recognizable car on American roads, though it's hardly a novelty. Clearly Volkswagen wouldn't still be building the car if it wasn't still successful. So when I heard that Volkswagen was putting a base-model New Beetle with a five-speed manual transmission on the Los Angeles press fleet, I signed up for a week-long test drive to see for myself if the New Beetle was still worth buying.
The New Beetle hasn't changed much since its introduction. 2006 saw modifications to the headlights, taillights and fenders along with a new engine. For 2008 the New Beetle has been split into two trim levels, the base-model New Beetle S and the top-of-the-line New Beetle SE.
In the Driver's Seat: Back seat driver
Inside, the Beetle is a mixed bag. I love the simple controls and the body-color door trim (though admittedly the latter didn't really stand out on my test car, which had silver paint and a grey interior). But the plastic that covers the top of the dash -- and there's an awful lot of it -- is shiny and cheap, and the bottom-of-the-line stereo sounded like, well, a bottom-of-the-line stereo.
If you've never driven a New Beetle, the driving position takes some getting used to: the dash is huge and the windshield is far away, giving the impression that you're driving from the back seat. Parallel-parking can be a bit unnerving at first, but it doesn't take long to get accustomed to the Beetle's odd sightlines. A height-adjustable driver's seat (link goes to photo) and tilt-and-telescope steering wheel make it easy to get comfortable, and there are acres and acres of front-seat headroom. The back seat is cramped and the trunk isn't as big as you'd expect from a hatchback, though there's plenty of room if you fold down the back seat.
On the Road: No improvement needed
The New Beetle's 2006 update included a new 2.5 liter five-cylinder engine. The 2008 Jetta and Rabbit get an improved version of the 2.5 liter engine for 2008, but the New Beetle gets the same-old-same-old with 150 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque (vs. 170 hp and 177 lb-ft in other '08 2.5 liter VWs).
The New Beetle S is available with a five-speed manual transmission or an optional ($1,075) six-speed automatic; the New Beetle SE is automatic-only. My test car had the stick, and it was plenty scooty; the light clutch and precise shifter were a pleasure to use, and the strong low-end torque of the 2.5 liter engine makes the stick easy to drive, even in stop-and-go traffic. I've driven automatic New Beetles and while they aren't nearly as much fun, they offer more-than-adequate acceleration for short freeway onramps. The New Beetle is good fun in the curves, though it's not quite as smooth or refined as the current-model Jetta and Rabbit, both of which use a newer version of the "A" platform that underpins the New Beetle.
Journey's End: A lasting love affair
This is the part of the review where I normally compare the car I'm testing to its rivals -- but in this case, I'm not sure there's much point. If you want a New Beetle, chances are you don't want anything else.
For the record, the New Beetle's closest competitor is the pricier MINI Cooper. The New Beetle is more expensive than less-interesting coupes like the VW Rabbit, Pontiac G5 and Honda Civic, but bear in mind that the New Beetle's $17,630 price tag includes power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, faux-leather seats, antilock brakes and electronic stability control, the latter an important safety feature found on few small entry-level cars. (The SE model adds a sunroof, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, nicer stereo and wheels, and an automatic transmission -- hardly worth the extra $3,100 if you ask me.)
The main downside of the New Beetle is that it's built at VW's Puebla, Mexico, plant, which is not exactly known for Honda-like quality. If you buy a New Beetle, expect a few extra trips to the dealership over the course of the car's 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. I'd also consider buying used -- a 2006 New Beetle isn't all that much different than a 2008 New Beetle -- but make sure to keep a cash reserve for any unexpected repairs, as German (Germexican?) cars aren't cheap to fix.
Bottom line: The New Beetle is aging gracefully. It may not be the novelty it was ten years ago, but it's still unique, it's still enjoyable to drive, and it's still a great little car. -- Aaron Gold
Next page: Likes/dislikes, who should buy it, details and specs
