Volkswagen Beetle Review: 2017 Model | Beetle | Car Buyers Guide

The Volkswagen Beetle has always been a bit of an icon. For eleven years, I have been test-driving cars and I've enjoyed that role very much. I've driven hundreds, if not thousands, of different cars, but until now, I have never actually driven a Beetle. I'm pretty positive that there will be a rake of purists out there who will say that I still haven't driven a real Volkswagen Beetle, and to them I'll say, "yes… I have". Because, the Beetle has moved on and changed with the times.

Volkswagen Ireland has added their R-Line 2.0 TDI Beetle to the press fleet and the first thing that catches the eye is its amazing Sandstorm Yellow colour. The Beetle always had a quirkiness to it that would throw you back to the days of Herbie. But the new body, with the R-Line kit and the new colour options, really adds a certain degree of muscle to the Bug.

The good news is that the Volkswagen Beetle is still an iconic car. It hasn’t held onto its stardom as well as MINI, but I must say that this car still turns heads. The bad news for many, and I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing, is that this Beetle is pretty-much a Beetle-shaped Golf. It sits on the exact same platform and some would see that as the car losing its personality. I don’t agree. The Volkswagen Golf is tried, tested and proven. Building a new platform for a car like the Beetle in my view would be to a certain degree, a waste of money. They don’t sell enough of them nowadays to turn it into a completely unique car.

The old Volkswagen Beetle was never famed for its amazing drive, and when you compare this car to the Golf, you immediately feel that it’s heavier. The Golf is a better drive, but that doesn’t mean the Beetle isn’t good. It feels sturdy on the road and the 2.0TDI engine offering 150bhp is a competent engine which proves to be more than enough. Where the Beetle suffers is on bumpy roads – it can feel a bit harsh on rougher terrains, but stick to the motorway and this is a real cruiser. The 6-speed DSG gearbox is easy to live with too. While on the motorway, you may notice a small bit of wind noise, but personally, I thought it was padded-enough.

The Beetle, as we all know, is not the first choice when it comes to looking for a family car. In saying that, I had no problems driving with my wife and two kids as passengers. The problem is that if my kids were older and taller, they might feel a little short of space. This is a 3-door vehicle and legroom to the back is not excellent – nor is head room. It’s quite an honest wee car though. My test model only had two-seats in the back – where other cars with the same rear space would try trick you with a teeny tiny middle seat. The boot looks surprisingly big, but the curved roof means that you won’t get the bulkier stuff in.

For all its negatives, though, I don’t think potential owners will really care. You don’t buy a car like this for practicality reasons. This is a style choice, and for some, this car oozes style from every angle. The exterior looks amazing and choosing the right colour pallet will make it look even nicer. The interior is made of good quality stuff that can be colour coded to the rest of the car. The instrument cluster above the centre of the dashboard looks nice too, and the masses of front space in this car will keep the owner and front passenger very pleased.

We were driving the new Beetle "R-Line", which means that owners get some very nice standard equipment - like 17" alloy wheels (18" are available with Volkswagen's 171 pack). Owners will also get black exterior mirrors, wheel arches and body sill lines. Inside you'll find a multi-function leather steering wheel, sports seats, a 6.5-inch touch screen infotainment system and cruise control. My test vehicle had the 171 pack, which included a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof - which I happily recommend. We also benefitted from a rear-view camera (which seemed to have a nice sepia effect!).

In terms of price, well… our test model with the 171 pack and the Sandstorm Yellow metallic finish comes in at €36,567, but if you don’t opt for those items, the price for this 2.0 litre R-Line starts from €34,575 (R-Line with 1.4 TSI engine starts from €30,135). The bog-standard Beetle (if there is such a thing), starts from €22,735 with a 1.2 TSI engine (reviews that we’ve read say that this suits the Beetle well). On paper, we’re told that the combined fuel economy is 4.8 l/100km. We weren’t trying too hard, but our own figure returned 7.3 l/100km.

All-in, this is not the most practical car in the world, but you'd have to be insane to think that that's why someone goes for the Beetle. In truth, I really liked this car. In fact, I liked it more than I thought I would. It's quirky and fun to drive. And it certainly grabs people's attention.

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