Vehicle Tested
2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4-cyl. Turbo 6-speed Automated Manual w/Sunroof, Sound)
Driven On
5/15/2012
Ratings Summary
The Beetle Turbo is a funky coupe with lots of style. It's reasonably comfortable and the 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder should be powerful enough for most folks. Front head room is excellent and cargo space benefits from the hatchback design. But it's more expensive and makes rear-seat sacrifices compared to some hatchbacks.
B
Performance
Average performance is not a bad thing. The Beetle never feels underpowered during normal driving. Available paddle shifters and a Sport mode add fun and are useful during passing situations.
| Acceleration |
B
|
The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder in the Beetle has some zip, hitting 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. But we found it to be pretty lazy off the line in normal driving. |
| Braking |
C
|
The Beetle stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, average for the segment. Using engine braking to help slow the Beetle revealed some lurching downshifts from the twin-clutch gearbox. |
| Steering |
B
|
The steering has good weighting, erring on the heavy side at speed although it's light during low-speed maneuvering. Which is good. |
| Handling |
C
|
While the Beetle's handling was merely average at the test track in terms of slalom and skidpad numbers, it's plenty capable around town and always feels planted and secure. |
| Driveability |
B
|
The Beetle does most things right and is an easy-to-drive little car. There can be a bit of turbo lag, and occasionally the transmission serves up jerky manual downshifts. |
C
Comfort
Seat comfort was fine over long distances. Ride quality can get busy at times. A fair amount of road and engine noise creep into the cabin.
| Seating Comfort |
B
|
The front seats were acceptably comfortable over long distances. The modest seat bolstering accommodates most hips and torsos. Manual lumbar support offered lower back relief. |
| Ride Comfort |
C
|
The suspension struggles to counter high-frequency road imperfections, and the cabin can get buzzy. But larger hits are absorbed well. |
| Quietness |
C
|
Road and tire noise can be invasive to the degree that the radio needs to be turned up a notch to neutralize. But the levels are within the acceptable range for this price class. |
B
Interior
Extensive glass and a high roofline make the Beetle feel spacious up front, but less so in the rear seat. The hatchback design and folding rear seats improve practicality. Controls are easy to learn.
| Ergonomics |
B
|
Vital controls are placed logically and within reach of the driver. Knobs simplify the climate control system. The media interface is a combination of touchscreen and hard buttons. |
| Ingress/Egress |
C
|
Large doors make entry easy. But the doors are heavy and can't open fully in tight parking lot situations. |
| Space/Room |
C
|
The bubble-shaped roofline creates a spacious cabin feel. Plenty of headroom up front, though adults will brush elbows. Rear seats are comfortable but head and legroom are minimal. |
| Visibility |
B
|
A considerable amount of glass is great for forward visibility. Large rear headrests obscure the rearward view considerably, however. Our test car did not have a rearview camera. |
| Cargo/Storage |
C
|
The small center armrest and elastic front door pockets are only somewhat useful. A cavernous bin below the center stack is nice for small items. Hatchback versatility is a plus. |
C
Value
With a low starting price and extras like roadside assistance and free scheduled maintenance, the Beetle presents a reasonably decent value argument.
| Build Quality (vs. $) |
C
|
We did not find any build quality issues of note on our test vehicle. Some of the interior plastics are hard and cheap-feeling, but that's fairly typical at this price point. |
| Features(vs. $) |
C
|
The $3,000 Sunroof and Sound package was the only notable option on our Beetle Turbo, which wore an MSRP of $28,385. |
| Cost |
C
|
Considering the strong turbo engine and the high-tech twin-clutch gearbox, there's some good car here for the money. |
| MPG |
C
|
The EPA rates the Beetle Turbo at 22 city/30 highway/25 mpg combined. We averaged 24.3 mpg. If you have a heavy right foot and a turbo, your mileage will suffer. |
| Warranty |
C
|
The basic warranty covers the Beetle for 3 years/36,000 miles. The drivetrain is covered for 5 years/60,000 miles. |
| Ownership |
B
|
Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance program covers the Beetle for 3 years/36,000 miles. But it's not as comprehensive as other programs. Roadside assistance for 3 years/36,000 miles. |
C
Fun To Drive
The turbo engine and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters add some fun to what is otherwise an ordinary drive. Although it's certainly not ordinary to look at.
| Driving Experience |
C
|
Personality isn't everything. The Beetle Turbo can be fun to drive, but you'll never call it an exciting sports machine. |
| Personality |
B
|
The classic roofline and overall shape scream personality, and it earns more style points than most cars. |
