Instrumented Test
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Forced air for the driver and the engine.
Right or wrong, this review of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle convertible became a referendum on its dude-friendliness. But that’s partially VW’s fault, for insisting it had broadened the appeal of the Beetle when it introduced the latest coupe roughly two years ago. We agree that the new car is more aggressive, even if some might see it as spiking a 55-gallon drum of Hi-C with a shooter bottle of Absolut. But does the soft top of the recently introduced and redesigned cabrio negate the additional machismo? We armed ourselves with a sporty Turbo cabriolet to give the Bug its best shot.
A Turbo Review
As in the coupe, a gas five-cylinder and efficient diesel four-cylinder are also on the convertible’s order sheet—we’ve driven both—but the Turbo is the top dog. Its force-fed 2.0-liter four packs a respectable 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, and our test car routed that output through a six-speed manual. (A six-speed dual-clutch automatic is optional.) The Turbo also gets upsized brakes, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. A new R-Line package further amps up the curb appeal, although our test car lacked that option. The multilink rear suspension exclusive to the Turbo among Beetle coupes is standard on every cabrio.
Turbo specification boosts the functional and attractive interior with carbon-fiber-look dashboard trim and a dash-top pod that houses a stopwatch and gauges for oil temperature and boost pressure. A black or tan top is available, and the Beetle’s most-chic colors—Yellow Rush and Denim Blue, as well as Toffee Brown—are stricken from the Turbo’s option list, leaving Tornado Red, Black, Candy White, Reef Blue, Reflex Silver, and Platinum Gray. (If you can’t live without Denim Blue, it can for now be paired with the turbocharged four via the automatic-only 1960s special-edition convertible.)
Topless Turbo Sporty
This Bug is fun to drive, but it’s hardly hard core. The soft suspension provides a courteous and comfortable ride, and the electric steering is accurate and communicative enough. Power comes on smooth and strong—especially in the midrange—and we managed a brisk 6.7-second trip to 60 mph. The structure allows some quivers, but is generally only perturbed by really rough pavement, which elicits minor window rattling and cowl shake.
Top up, the cabrio maintains the coupe’s hunkered-down roofline, but not much of its rear visibility. Significant blind spots exist to either side of the back window, which resembles a gun slit at the end of a dark hallway. The three-layer top is a gem, and, with it closed, we recorded the same 72-decibel sound level at 70 mph as we did in the coupe. More impressive, the cabrio weighed just 81 pounds more than a Turbo coupe we recently tested.
No convertible review is complete without a little top-down action, so we went alfresco in freezing Michigan to gather impressions. Pressing and holding a button at the top of the windshield lowers the top in a quick 9.5 seconds, after which the Beetle is much easier to see out of. Driving around snowy Ann Arbor this way revealed the heater and seat warmers to be effective, and also a fair amount of wind buffeting at speed. Rolling the windows up or fitting the optional ($600) wind blocker mitigates the effect of the wind, but note that the blocker can’t be mixed with rear-seat passengers, as it mounts over the seats. But you can leave it in place with the top raised, a feat that is accomplished in 11 seconds. The top can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph.
Whether the weather cooperates or not, the Beetle is fun to drive and fun to look at. Your wallet might even have some fun. We recorded 23 mpg in spirited urban driving, and our basic Turbo rang in at $29,190 with only the wind blocker adding to the total. A five-cylinder 2.5 model starts at $25,790, and a loaded Turbo just crests $32,000. While most bystanders—judging by the several college-aged guys who pointed and snickered at our car—still seem to think the cabrio is a chick car, we think the cloth top nicely enhances the latest Beetle’s relaxed cool. So enjoy, ladies and self-confident gentlemen. And if you’re after maximum zip factor, be sure to spec the Turbo.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible
PRICE AS TESTED: $29,190 (base price: $28,590)
ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 cu in, 1984 cc
Power: 200 hp @ 5100 rpm
Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 100.0 in
Length: 168.4 in
Width: 71.2 in Height: 58.0 in
Curb weight: 3293 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.4 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 28.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 15.9 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 10.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.0 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 126 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 166 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.86 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 21/30 mpg
C/D observed: 23 mpg
*Stability-control-inhibited
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