Beetle goes topless

Is it a case of third time lucky for Volkswagen’s latest generation Beetle convertible? Iain Dooley found out.

The Beetle reboot continues with Volkswagen taking the car to the next, and logical, step in its evolution: going roofless. Volkswagen has been here before; previous iterations of the “new” Beetle boasted a cabriolet variant. However, as you would expect, evolution has brought a number of welcome improvements. Like its tin-top cousin, this car is a little bigger than the one it replaces – it’s a fraction longer and wider. Carrying capacity is up, with occupants fore and aft benefiting from more room, plus boot space has increased to more respectable levels. The car’s cabin is roomy enough up front, with just enough space in the back for adults if the journey isn’t too long – this improvement is largely thanks to the Beetle’s enlarged dimensions. Of course, with the roof down headroom is considerably better for all occupants, and greatly helps access to the otherwise snug rear cabin. Volkswagen has decided to pitch the car higher up the premium ladder this time, and sat-nav, climate control, premium audio and leather all appear on the options list. The list of standard kit is good too, with the likes of air-con, DAB radio, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and parking sensors spread across the three trim levels. Most seasoned observers will bristle at the use of the word “sporty” in the context of something distinctly un-sporting like the Beetle, and while Volkswagen is keen to promote the Beetle as such it’s fair to say it’s a more willing participant than its older cousin. Urban motoring duties do much to highlight the car’s agility and willingness to change direction. It’s not a small car, yet this never proves a handicap around town and the slightly raised seating position helps boost forward visibility. Away from the city the Beetle acquits itself well to demands of faster roads and more challenging corners. It’s no Golf GTI but it’s good to know a brisk pace can be maintained. Realistically the drop-top Beetle prefers a more sedate pace, and although engine choice mirrors that of the tintop car, the low powered petrol and diesel engines better suit its relaxed gait. Not only will units such as the petrol 1.2 TSI and diesel 1.6 TDI motors be easy on your wallet but they also perform better than they deserve to in the real world. The Beetle Cabriolet isn’t a lightweight, yet those engines deliver enough thrust to cope with all of life’s challenges.