Is nostalgia alone a good enough reason for a car to exist? Volkswagen certainly seems to think so — at least for now.
So, too, do Canadian car buyers, as the VW Beetle continues to sell in greater volume than something like the Golf Sportwagon. You’d buy the latter for its practicality, but the former’s appeal is mostly down to its link to the past.
And it’s a pretty tenuous link. The original Beetle was air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive, simple and austere. Here I’ve got front-wheel-drive, a turbocharger, heated leather seats and satellite navigation.
So it’s not the same sorta Beetle at all. But does it still charm like the original?
Design:
The previous reincarnation of the Beetle was unabashedly cutesy, from its starry-eyed headlamps to the vase mounted next to the steering wheel — looks like the flower child has grown up a little.
VW tweaked the shape of this car a few years back, giving it just a hint of aggression and a little bit of Porsche 911, if you squint. And stand really far away. And cover one eye.
Whether or not this shape is a faithful homage to the clattery original, it looks great. The Beetle Turbo is fun but fierce-looking and mid-level cars like my Comfortline tester still retain a level of femininity not commonly seen in today’s market. No, no, no, the designers tell us, what the buying public wants is a car that looks like Hannibal Lecter fitted with LED headlights.
Nuts to that. The Beetle’s rounded form is a bit harder edged than it was before, but it’s still a happy looking car. It’s pretty, not pretentiously aggressive.
Environment:
VW really toned down the retro on the inside of their new Beetle, with just a few nods to the original to be found. The body-coloured panel crossing the dash immediately catches the eye, but aside from that, the rest of the car feels like a regular Golf with an extra tall roof.
For the most part, that’s a good thing. Compared to the previous-generation front-driver Beetle, this car is far more cohesive inside, and no longer has a dash-to-windshield distance big enough to host Oktoberfest. The rear seats are big enough — just — for an adult, and will accommodate a child seat.
The steering wheel rim is slightly thinner than the one in the Golf, perhaps a nod to the tiny steering wheels of the 1960s, but everything else is fairly conventional. Comfy seats too.
However, there are a few issues. Mostly, these are reheated complaints about the sixth-generation Golf, as the Beetle doesn’t have the VW’s latest updated platform. Thus, the infotainment screen is small and a tad fiddly to use.
Hooking up an iPod also requires one of VW’s proprietary cables, an irritant found throughout much of the VW/Audi range. Why not just a simple USB?
Performance:
The big news under the nose (not the tail) of this model year of Beetle is a new 1.8L four-cylinder turbocharged engine. With the old 2.5L engine gone, this means that every Beetle is a Turbo Beetle: you can have a thrifty turbo diesel, a GTI-like 2.0L turbo gasoline engine, or this one.
I have to say, it’s an absolute peach. Horsepower is rated at 170hp, with torque coming in early at 184lb/ft. That’s a godly amount of forced induction grunt, and its available well down in the rev range, giving the Beetle far more off the line scoot than previously.
The transmission is a conventional 6spd automatic, not one of VW’s quick dual-clutch systems. Not a bother — as soon as you get the Comfortline on the move, you find that this car isn’t about sporting intent much. It’s softer than a Golf, even an older one, and built to cruise. Get one with the 2.0L and a stick-shift if you want a little more zip, but this version’s the soft option.
That, like the exterior, isn’t really a problem. Rolling this doodlebug up the sea-to-sky, the only real complaint was the slight softness of the brakes, but the rest of the car was quite polished. Wind noise in particular was very well-managed, something you’d never say about a Beetle from the 1960s or 1970s. It’s quite comfortable and pleasant.
It isn’t, however, better than a Golf would be in any way. The seventh-generation Golf is a sharp-handling little car that puts a grin on your face, yet is also very comfortable. The Beetle has the grin plastered on its face already, but perhaps not one on its driver.
Mind you, step off the winding roads and back into the city, and the Beetle’s poise comes back a bit. It doesn’t have much character apart from its exterior shape, but so too does it have few flaws. Even the visibility isn’t bad, through the lack of a backup camera is regrettable.
Retro looks without the retro driving experience — not exhilarating perhaps, but they built millions of the old one, so just buy one if you want that authentic feel. You’re probably going to want to commute in this one though.
Features:
Added on to my mid-level Comfortline tester were two packages: the tech package bundles together Fender-branded premium audio (very good) satellite navigation, and a blind-spot detection system. The appearance package adds bi-xenon headlights, leather interior, and dual zone climate control.
All this stuff does drive the price up, with the out-the-door cost for this car at $30,740 plus taxes. For that kind of money, you might want to take a look at a GTI.
Fuel economy for the 1.8T is pretty good. It’s rated at 9.9L/100kms city and 7.2L/100kms on the highway. Premium fuel is not required, although if you’re obsessive over long-distance thrift, be sure to check out the TDI option. Real-world mileage was solidly in the high eights.
Green Light:
Retro styling; punchy turbo engine; good ergonomics; comfortable ride
Stop Sign:
Outperformed by Golf; previous-gen infotainment; no backup camera; no USB
The Checkered Flag:
Looks a bit like the original Beetle but drives nothing like it. That’s bad if you’re a purist, but great if you live in 2015.
