THE BEETLE IS BACK
No longer a car for mobilizing the masses, this time around it’s a niche market salute to the automaker’s heritage,
Some of us have memories of driving the original Volkswagen Beetle. It was cramped, slow, noisy, blessed with a placebo heater and handling that seesawed between recalcitrant and diabolical. But we loved ’em.
In production from 1938 to 2003, and with more than 21 million sold, the Bug is the most populous automobile the Earth has ever known.
The current Beetle redux that VW manufactures in Mexico is a thoroughly modern effort based on the current Jetta platform. No longer a car for mobilizing the masses, this front-engine front-driver with the instantly recognizable profile is a niche market salute to the automaker’s heritage.
And for 2015, Volkswagen is getting all retro on us with the limited-edition Beetle Classic. You’ll spot this car by its prominent rear spoiler and charming, 17-inch alloys that mimic the old chrome ring and hubcap look. Best of all, the Beetle Classic comes with a somewhat retro price.
Starting at $21,990, the Classic coupe with standard five-speed manual transmission is arguably the best value in the Beetle family, and unlike its legendary ancestor, this one has a working heater, along with a whole bunch of unexpected kit for the price.
But before we get into that, let’s get into the interior. One peek at those two-tone checked cloth seats with tan leatherette trim and you’ll be hooked, boated and flopping on the deck of nostalgia. Another pleasing retro touch is the dash panel, colour coded to the exterior, which here is Moonrock Silver Metallic — a hue specific to the Classic.
It’s all very capri pants and beehive hairdos in here, the latter not at risk of being compromised, thanks to the Beetle’s generous headroom.
Standard equipment in the 2015 Beetle Classic includes interior ambient lighting, cruise, heated front seats and washer nozzles, a very nice leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, A/C, Bluetooth, satellite radio and navigation. The audio sounds good too. No backup camera, though. Along with the automatic transmission, the only other available option is a panoramic sunroof ($1,400).
As with all Volkswagen products, the interior feels premium.
The materials are high quality, fit and finish is good, and the big gauges are clearly backlit.
The front seats are manually adjusted and feature lumbar support. They are a bit flat and lack lateral support, suggesting this model is all about the cruise and not the crazy. No complaints with the long-distance comfort, however.
Due to the Beetle’s tapered rear end, the hatch is a bit pinched. But hey, isn’t that why you’re buying this ovoid slice of whimsy?
As of late, at least here in North America, entry-point engines for Volkswagen cars have been antediluvian (albeit reli- able) boat anchors, well past their sell-by dates. Not anymore. The old 2.0L four and 2.5L five are history, replaced by this thoroughly modern 1.8L turbo direct-injected, four cylinder that makes 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s smooth, quiet, efficient and pulls with unbridled authority from low in the rev range.
In the world of compact economy cars, that’s somewhat of a revelation, when you consider the naturally aspirated fours in the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla are soft on torque and require revs and a firm right foot to get the power. Conversely, the Beetle surges forward with little fuss from any speed, helped along by this smooth-shifting, six-speed auto. Peter Bleakney is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. The vehicle tested was provided by the manufacturer. For more Toronto Star automotive coverage, go to thestar.com/autos. To reach Wheels Editor Norris McDonald: nmcdonald@thestar.ca.