2017 VW Beetle Convertible carries Dune distinction
It has been a while since the beloved Beetle was the hot new darling of the cute car set. After all, this basic silhouette has been around for decades. So while the look of the Beetle is still unique, people are used to it.
In an effort to raise the Beetle’s visibility quotient once again, the 2017 Beetle Dune comes to market after drawing considerable acclaim on the 2014 auto show circuit. Happily, the Beetle Dune made it into production with its show car looks pretty much intact.
Perhaps best thought of as an aggressive take on the standard Volkswagen Beetle, the Dune has more air intakes up front, as well as black trim that starts at the lower section of the front bumper and extends completely around the car. It even serves as trim for the fender arches, side skirts (recalling the original Beetle’s running boards), and the rear fascia. Other distinctive exterior elements include a slightly elevated (0.4-inch) ride height, a 0.6-inchwider track, 18-inch wheels (offered in gold as an option), a honeycomb patterned front grille punctuated by a silver skid plate, a “Dune” graphics package, a rear spoiler, LED taillights, and a rear skid plate.
Inside, if the Dune is ordered in its signature Sandstorm Yellow, then the dash and upper door trims are also painted to match the exterior. All other colors get black trim.
VW’s sport seats are upholstered in black leather with grey cloth “V-Tex” seating surfaces and yellow piping. The instrumentation also gets yellow accents and the flat-bottomed steering wheel is emblazoned with the Dune logo. The armrest, handbrake, and shifter boot get yellow stitching as well.
Comfort and convenience features include a 6.3-inch touchscreen capable of responding to pinch and swipe motions found on most tablets. The system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to mirror the output of many of those smartphones’ features. Our fully loaded test model also featured dual-zone automatic climate control, the Fender audio system, keyless access with pushbutton start, a rearview camera, and rear proximity sensors.
Combined, these elements make for one nicely dressed Beetle. Driving around, it was pretty clear VW was successful in attracting attention to the Beetle once again. The tastefully adorned Dune garnered more than few appreciative looks as well as complimentary comments.
Power comes from Volkswagen’s 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The front-wheeldrive powertrain is tied together with a six-speed automatic transmission. Performance was reasonable, if not exactly enthralling. The slightly higher ride height introduced additional suppleness into the ride quality, without detracting significantly from handling. We averaged 26 miles per gallon overall in a mix of highway, around town, and twisty back roads.
All in all, the 2017 Volkswagen Dune Convertible is a nice addition to the Beetle lineup. You’ll get a distinctive look and a power-retractable top capable of folding or deploying in approximately 10 seconds at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour. Like every Beetle convertible we’ve ever driven though, the roof can cut into rearward visibility and trunk space. You only get 7.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to 15.4 in the coupe (which can be expanded to 30 with the rear seats folded).
Overall comfort is strong for front passengers, regardless of height. The rear seat is OK for short jaunts, if the folks up front are willing to slide their seats forward to share.
While offered in homage to the Beetle dune buggies of yore, the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune is decidedly streetoriented. However, it does add a masculine edge to the softly rounded contours of the Beetle, infusing the model with an extra touch of attitude. Pricing starts at $23,995.