First Drive: Volkswagen Beetle

The original Volkswagen Beetle went out of production in 1979, two years before our Ed. was born. He tells us his first and only memory of the Beetle is of being carted off to pre-school in one; citing the smell of the vinyl seats and the noisy engine as some of the car’s stand-out characteristics. Yesterday he drove the new, 21st Century, Volkswagen Beetle and gives us his first impressions of the latest rendition of a legend.

The People’s Wagon, Flower Power, the Beetle, Herbie. All pretty vivid descriptors of a single vehicle that’s sold a staggering 21.5 million units since its launch in 1938. In 1998, fifty years later, the Beetle Mk2 was brought to life. The Beetle Mk2 didn’t quite capture the ethos of the original, even though it managed to sell in average numbers (2 600 units in South Africa). Rather lazily and perhaps as a result of its mediocre success, Volkswagen allowed the second generation Beetle’s design to mature into recent years, a little ungracefully it could be said, so there’s no denying it was in need of some freshening up. The new Beetle is based on the Golf 6 platform, so it promises retro charm with contemporary technology and has been redesigned to appeal just as much to one’s sensibilities as it does to one’s nostalgia.

The first design cue of the 2012 Beetle is the flattened and lower profile roof, as well as the flattened bonnet, which dips perfectly above and between those iconic Beetle headlamps. The windscreen is also more upright than before and harks back to that of the original. The sculpted running boards between the wheel arches is another retro rendition of the original Beetle. Overall, the new Beetle is bigger than its predecessor, 84 mm wider, 12 mm lower and 152 mm longer to be precise, but it looks a lot more capable and sure of itself.

Among all the retro styling cues, the new Beetle also incorporates Volkswagen’s latest family design traits, such as the wide front bumper and air inlet, the precisely drawn character line between the A- and C-pillars, as well as the styling of the rear lights. The new Beetle is likely to appeal to a wider audience than before, including more of the male market. As a result, expect to the see the over thirties mixing a few Instagrams of their new Beetle into their Facebook photo albums. Quite frankly, we’d encourage it, because baby photos are just so, “ja, well, no, fine”.

Considering the Beetle is based on the Golf, it’s somewhat refreshing to find the interior doesn’t take itself as seriously. Having driven a 1974 Beetle right before hopping into the 21st Century car, it’s clear that VW have managed to carry over some of the old world charm. The flat faced dashboard is a nod to the original Beetle, as is the dash-mounted cubby hole and grab handle mounted on the B-pillar. The headlight switch is also located towards the top of the dashboard like the original. On the other hand, while the Beetle does benefit from having controls and layout familiar to other VW models, the selection of hard plastics don’t impart quite the same quality you find in the Golf.

The driving position is comfortable and adjustable in all the right places, but rear visibility is limited thanks to the chunky C-pillars and narrow rear window. Rear legroom falls into the ‘okay’ bracket, while taller rear passengers will raise an eyebrow when it comes to headroom. Boot capacity is 310-litres, not far off that of the Golf’s 350, but is not very deep, meaning you’re limited to how tall an item can fit. Even still, the new Beetle offers more passenger space than before, along with a light and airy atmosphere. It also boasts typically good VW ergonomics, plenty of storage areas and modern conveniences you’d expect to find, such as: satellite controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, leather gear knob, gear-lever trim and handbrake grip, as well as an 8-speaker ‘Beetle design’ sound system.

The new Beetle features independent front suspension, similar to the Golf, but borrows the Jetta’s solid rear axle, instead of the company’s multi-link rear suspension. The suspension allows little body roll when pressing on, but the tail-end is on the hard side when traversing bumpier surfaces, a trait less pronounced when fitted with the cushier ride provided by the 17-inch wheels. The steering feels accurately weighted and, combined with the composed ride, affords a satisfying level of driving entertainment when the road or mood takes you.

Interestingly, the range-topping 2.0 TSI Sport (which is not currently planned for introduction to SA) uses the multi-link suspension setup at the rear. Perhaps an admission of the standard Beetle’s adequate suspension capabilities. Having said that, however, levels of cornering grip are still enough to allow for some fun, which is helped by the slightly wider front and rear tracks, together with a larger wheel and tyre combination than before. For this reason, Volkswagen’s claims of added sportiness are well warranted. There is a little more road and wind noise than expected, but the Beetle will still make for a refined and comfortable long distance companion, certainly more so than its Mini Cooper retro rival for example.

At launch, power comes from a selection of two petrol engines, both are 4-cylinder units and fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. The 1.2-litre TSI engine offers 77 kW and 175 Nm of torque, while the super- and turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI offers 118 kW and 240 Nm of torque. The 1.4 TSI would be our pick of the bunch. With ample power and torque from low down in the rev range, combined with enough gumption for more spirited driving, it’s likely to prove a worthy companion for a wide range of driving conditions. Backing up this sentiment is the claimed average fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100km (6-speed manual) and 153 g/km of CO2.

The 1.4 TSI Sport will also be available with a 7-speed DSG transmission from November. The proven dual-clutch transmission will bring the convenience of paddle shifters and reduced fuel consumption of 6.2 L/100km and CO2 emissions of 143 g/km.

Specification levels include ‘Design’ and ‘Sport’, with some of the highlights being Bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, optional panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation system with touch screen interface, a ‘Fender’ sound system and keyless access.

The Volkswagen Beetle is a safe as one would expect in terms of both active and passive safety. ESP electronic stabilisation programme is standard, as is an effective network of six airbags. The body construction features laser-welds, making for one of the best torsional rigidity values in the segment at 26 000 Nm per degree of twist.

Though it’s priced in a similar region as the more premium natured Golf, the polarising looks mean it’s unlikely to hold its value as well. Having said that, fuel consumption is impressive on both models and in reality, this is a car that is sold predominantly on its looks and legendary nostalgia. If you consider the Fiat 500 and Mini Copper are made in the same mold, then the Beetle may be the best of the bunch, as it achieves its goal with the fewest compromises.

All models feature a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan.

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