2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Turbo
As a journalist, many of the stories you report are what are assigned to you—in my case, it is certain cars. But sometimes you ask for something in particular, either because it intrigues, you, or you have a sense you’ll really dig it. Such is the case with the turbocharged Beetle convertible.
I had been very impressed with two other models (reviewed here) in the Beetle lineup, a basic drop top and a diesel coupe. What I really wanted to experience was the sportiest model, and I wanted that experience to be as immersive as possible—hence my request for the open roof version. I wasn’t disappointed; this Beetle was one of the most enjoyable vehicles I had in all of 2013, and that’s saying something, when I get the privilege of driving over 50 new vehicles annually, some costing five or six times the Beetle’s $31,765 MSRP.
To start with, the latest Beetle is really good looking; much more masculine than the older model, with a great stance, and lots of swagger for such a car in this class. Inside Volkswagen has done a great job as well, with a design that is contemporary and masks the hardness of most of the plastics quite well. It looks more expensive than it is, and even the black vinyl seats (with funky faux carbon fiber weave on their side panels) were tolerable on a hot day. My only criticism is for the fast responding and intuitive touch screen, whose display washes out in bright sunlight.
The Beetle Turbo is overwhelmingly good to drive too, meeting my needs much better than the fun but fatiguing Mini Cooper S Roadster or Fiat Abarth 500 (tested here and here). For a start, it rides much better, even on big 18 rims, smothering all sorts of poor road repairs and bad pavement that would send the other two jumping and skittering about. The Volkswagen actually road more serenely than many so-called luxury cars. And while it didn’t have the ferocious turn in of the Mini or on-limit fun of the Abarth, the Beetle displayed enough cornering acumen and steering feedback to be entertaining.
The Turbo is also plenty fast, with its 210 horsepower meaning 0-60 is available in under seven seconds. Real world fuel economy (like that delivered by most turbocharged engines) is dependent on where you drive; in town the VW wont break out of the teens, but on the highway it will almost hit 30mpg, and in mixed use mid-20s is the norm. Top up you get to hear the 2-liter engine’s rorty intake snort; drop the roof and you’re treated to the snap and crackle of the well-tuned exhaust, enhanced by the twin-clutch DSG gearbox’s downshift rev matching and upshift histrionics. About the only thing wrong with this six speed is the time it takes to engage first gear from a stop, meaning there is just a bit more lag when leaving the line than is ideal. A bigger dynamic demerit is the brakes, whose response is strangely nonlinear. In normal stop-and-go traffic it’s at its worst. First you get good stopping power, then it seems to fade away, so you react by squeezing the brake pedal harder. Suddenly, you have too much brake boost and the Beetle jerks to a halt, feet short of where you intended to stop. Under more extreme use this isn’t nearly as noticeable, but it is an aggravation in daily use.
Slicing the roof of doesn’t seem to have compromised the Beetle’s structure; this is the most rigid under-$50k convertible I’ve driven, and matches my wife’s BMW 335 convertible for perceived torsional rigidity, with almost no scuttle shake or rearview mirror rattle. It is also very quiet roof up and has excellent airflow management in open mode; I never felt the need for a mesh wind blocker. The Beetle also soundly trounced our own car by giving you the ability to raise or lower the roof at speeds of up to 30mph—and taking less than half the time it takes to fold or unfold the metal roof we have. The VW’s cloth top also means there’s still a surprising amount of trunk space, and two people can sit in back for short trips
On a quick test drive the Mini might impress more, and the Abarth is certainly a welcome fresh face to the ranks of retro funmobiles. But when it comes to something you can live with day in, day out, there is nothing to touch the Beetle Convertible in its class.
EPA ratings: 21/29; 24mpg combined
Price as tested: $31,765
Here is what Volkswagen has to say about it.
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