Quirky Volkswagen Beetle sports modern design
Fender audio system one of the new features
This week, intern Nick Tragianis and National Post driving editor Jodi Lai test drive one of Volkswagen’s most iconic cars of all time: the Beetle.
NT: The Beetle used to be one of my favourites, but as the years went by, the initial appeal of its design wore off. That’s arguably the most notable improvement with VW’s latest punch buggy. It still retains the car’s iconic shape, but its evolution in design is more modern, thanks to the lower and wider stance it wears. It took a bit of getting used to, though.
JL: Whereas the previous-generation Beetle was a decidedly girlie car, the newest one’s manlier stance, sharper lines and more aggressive look speaks otherwise. I think this Beetle has a wider appeal to more people — with the Sportline’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, Fender sound system, aggressive-looking painted rims and a sharp-looking spoiler in the back.
NT: Its 2.0L, four-cylinder mill is identical to the one found in the Golf GTI. It sends 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a slick-shifting six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, also lifted from the GTI. In normal Drive mode, shifts are smooth and quick, but in Tiptronic mode, the driver can shift through the six gears using either the shift knob or the steering wheelmounted paddle shifters. There’s also a Sport mode, which holds the gears longer for more spirited driving without having to shift through gears, but I find shifts to be choppy and jerky.
JL: No one buys a Beetle to go BMW-chasing in their spare time, so I considered the very German performance a welcome bonus. The more likely reason someone would buy a Beetle is they need a quirky car with personality. Our new Beetle is bigger than its predecessor. The trunk is capable of swallowing a whole week of groceries, and sitting in the back seat is no longer cruel torture, unless you’re in the NBA. Another quirk about the Fender audio system, though, is that a nice subwoofer takes up some precious trunk real estate.
NT: Real estate is a hot commodity in today’s economy and in the Beetle’s trunk, but the saving grace is that the subwoofer is part of a superb 400-watt audio system made by Fender. It sounds great regardless of how you choose to listen to music, whether it’s a CD, MP3 player, iPod or satellite radio. Although adorned with hard plastics throughout, the design and layout of the dash is very unique and quirky. The whole interior is filled with little throwbacks and quirks reminiscent of the original punch buggy, like the thin, leather-wrapped steering wheel. Trim along the dashboard and doors is not a sea of black, but brushed silver, gloss black and faux carbon fibre.
JL: I tried really hard to love the Beetle. It’s fun to drive and is undeniably cool, but I found the interior annoyingly un-ergonomic. Because of its funky shape, the blind spots were also huge, which wasn’t helped by the tiny side mirrors and little rear-view mirror.