Volkswagen Beetle 2013 Review

Volkswagen Beetle

OVERVIEW

A lot has changed too. The rear-mounted, air-cooled 1.2-litre boxer engine of the mint condition 1962 Beetle that delivered just 30kW has been replaced by a high-tech, front-mounted 1.4-litre twincharged unit that punches out almost four times as much power, 118kW to be precise.

Though the new Volkswagen Beetle doesn't have the personality of the classic Bug -- the thudding cadence of the engine and the charm of simplistic controls -- it is a lot safer, has loads of mod cons and does manage to offer something a little different, not least thanks to its retro design.

The kind of people who will find the new Beetle appealing are not necessarily Baby Boomers who grew up with the original, but "people who want to be a little bit different," reckons Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Australia's Managing Director. Put it this way: if the current crop of small cars (think Mazda3, Golf, et al) strike you as too conventional, perhaps too mundane, the new Beetle could be an interesting alternative.

Just one model is offered, tagged at $29,990 for the six-speed manual and $32,490 for the seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmisison. That buys you Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a 6.5-inch touch-screen infotainment system with USB and SD card ports, cloth seats, dual-zone climate control, an electro-chromatic rearview mirror, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, front and rear parking sensors, plus an eye-catching colour-matched dashboard.

Beyond the 'modern retro' design, standard exterior features include 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and chrome inlays for the front and rear bumpers and around the window line.

If you want Xenon headlights and LED driving lights, you'll have to shell out $2700 for the Technology Package, which also adds keyless entry and engine start, electrically folding side mirrors and a tyre pressure warning system. There is a Sports Package as well, adding 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, sports instruments and paddle shifters on DSG models for $1800.

Volkswagen also offers a handful of options, including leather upholstery ($3300), satellite navigation ($2500), a panoramic glass sunroof ($1700) and an anti-theft alarm ($600).

MECHANICAL

Based on the now-superseded Golf VI platform (the new Golf VII sits on more advanced MQB underpinnings and comes here in April 2013), the Mexican-built Beetle runs independent front suspension (MacPherson struts) and a torsion beam rear axle with trailing arms and coil springs.

Add an anti-roll bar into the mix and a lower centre of gravity than that of its predecessor -- not to mention a decent electro-mechanical power steering rack -- and the Beetle can be a fun car to drive. It motivates well with either transmission option, the direct injection 1.4-litre twincharged engine's 240Nm of torque always on tap, which improves drivability. Ask and ye shall have!

Output is rated at 118kW and 240Nm, enough pepper to accelerate both DSG and manual models from 0-100km/h in a respectable 8.3 seconds. Manual versions of the Beetle are thirstier, consuming an average 6.8L/100km compared to auto's 6.4L/100km (our figures were closer to 10.2 and 8.7L/100km respectively).

Flexibility is this engine's strong suite, though its reliability has been questioned in the past (having been recalled once before and rumoured to be on the chopping block due to its complexity and servicing difficulty). Nevertheless, I can report from our brief drive it was an eager performer and a massive improvement on the anaemic 75kW/148Nm 1.6-litre nat-atmo petrol engine of its predecessor.

The seven-speed DSG is the pick on the pair offering better response and economy. The six-speed manual is still pleasant companion, its slightly notchy shifts coupled to an easy clutch. 

The brakes are well suited to this application too, offering good stopping power should you need to pull up in a hurry, a far cry from the near-useless drum brakes in the 1962 Beetle.

PACKAGING

Frank Breuse, VW Beetle exterior design team member, said there were many challenges faced when creating the third update to a 75-year-old vehicle.

"When we started to work on this car, this is a tough job for a designer, because usually we do everything new, to improve everything and to create a different character. But here you are between the devil and deep blue sea. If you do everything new then you lose the heritage and identity of the original one, and so we have to find the right way between.

"What you see here is that the shape of the car is much closer to the original than the new vehicle," said Mr Breuse.

"I think we did a pretty good job and making the transition of this feeling into the 21st century. You see the direct connection but it's a different character. It's much more sporty," he said, calling the car a 'modern classic'.

Imitating the stylised exterior design, the interior of the Beetle is another talking point, particularly the dashboard inlays that are colour-matched to the car's exterior paint work. Talk about attention grabbing! Unique inner door grab handles and the instrument binnacle design fit in well without being overdone, and the secondary 'Beetle box' glovebox that is a tip of the hat to classic air-cooled Beetles is another highlight.

There are two cup holders up front and one in the rear, but rear passengers would only want to spend the briefest of time back there: head room is average while leg room is virtually non-existent.

Wider, lower and longer than its predecessor, the Beetle is now 149mm longer and 87mm wider, measuring 4278mm long and 1808mm wide. It's also 21mm lower with a 1477mm height. Interior room is decent for front occupants though the seating position for the driver is awkward, and despite the various adjustments, I never felt truly comfortable, my legs seeming too close to the floor and steering wheel.

On the plus side the touch-screen infotainment system is intuitive and looks great, and boot space has increased by 101 litres to 310, expanding to 905 litres with the split-fold rear bench seats flipped. And how's this for attention to detail -- owners can option to have the word 'Beetle' or 'Bug' emblazoned of their car's tailgates.

SAFETY

COMPETITORS

Realistically it's likely to appeal to MINI buyers or perhaps those looking at the Audi A1. And considering it drives like one, perhaps potential Golf buyers might also take a closer look.

ON THE ROAD

That engine and both transmission combinations are quiet and refined is a bonus, not to mention being at odds with the original 'Dak Dak' whose boxer engine was a constant companion. Call it progress if you like, but the reality is that you can have your cake (ample power) and eat it (decent fuel economy), while still holding a conversation.

The re-reborn Bug has a smooth, comfortable ride, its suspension ably sopping up errant crags in the road and making it a pleasant vehicle to get around in. By the same token, the car's chassis is balanced enough so that drivers who want push the envelope can, with the car's steering response a highlight. It tips into corners with surprising enthusiasm and punches out of them with just as much vigour. The only element of the Golf-derived chassis that lets it down is grip -- the tyres give up long before the suspension does.

Other quibbles include the driving position, which isn't terrible but neither is it great. Most Volkswagens are normally pretty slick in this department so this makes the Beetle’s ergonomics a bitter pill to swallow.

It's entirely likely, however, that the new Beetle will find favour not via its sporty engine or its balanced chassis, but its funky design. Though it doesn't have the nostalgic charm of the first generation Bug, the modern day Beetle has enough character to get people talking. The real test will be if it this third generation Bug is still cherished in 2062...

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