Volkswagen Beetle Interior Review
changer. The placement of the speakers helps maintain high-quality stereo sound even while competing with wind buffeting. GLS convertibles get a Monsoon Sound System upgrade as standard. Three 12-volt power points are provided, in the front and rear seating areas and in the trunk.
OnStar doubles as a navigation system without having to program anything. Simply press the button and a human operator responds to provide directions and other assistance. OnStar always knows the location of your vehicle. The staff will notify the authorities of your location if your airbag goes off and you do not respond to their calls. Or you can press the emergency button and they'll send out the troops. They can unlock your doors if you lock the keys inside. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar can pinpoint its location and direct the authorities to apprehend and recover. They can perform all kinds of services. They can direct you to the nearest gas station or help find a good restaurant or motel, and make reservations for you. We recommend getting it.
Volkswagen Beetle Road Test
The Volkswagen New Beetle is fun to drive. It feels tight. Handling and brakes are excellent. Acceleration performance varies from lethargic to brisk, depending on the engine.
It rides well on bumpy pavement, smoother than a Mini Cooper and more refined than a PT Cruiser. The Beetle feels stable at high speeds and in high-speed sweeping turns. It leans in corners when driven hard, but its tires and suspension give it good grip and keep the chassis firmly in contact with the road. The steering is quick and accurate. Handling among the different Beetle models is quite similar in character as the suspension is tuned to provide the same driving characteristics.
Beetle is smooth and stable under hard braking. It can stop in a shorter distance than a PT Cruiser, according to published reports, but it doesn't stop as quickly as the Golf or Mini.
The 2.0-liter engine that comes on GL and GLS models is smooth, quiet, and refined. It delivers good, usable power when putting around town at low rpm. That means you don't have to do a lot of shifting. Put it in second or third gear and leave it there as you work your way around town and on rural roads. It's quite pleasant at 20 mph in third. You can even take off from a stop sign in second gear without lurching. It cruises well at high speeds. Torque from the 2.0-liter engine comes at relatively low revs and makes the car feel sprightly. It wouldn't be our first choice for drag racing, though. Developing just 115 horsepower, the 2.0-liter Beetle is among the slowest cars sold today. It takes about 10.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, according to Volkswagen. That's lethargic performance by anyone's stopwatch. Convertibles are even slower due to their added weight (0 to 60 in 11.4). It's clean performance, though, qualifying for as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) in all 50 states.
We prefer the manual gearbox, which shifts smoothly and adds enjoyment to driving the Beetle. However, the six-speed automatic with Porsche's Tiptronic system offers performance that's nearly as quick as a manual gearbox (0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds). It also allows semi-manual shifting.
Volkswagen builds some of the best small diesel engines in the world. The new 1.9 TDI-PD is rated at only 100 horsepower, but its 177 pound-feet of torque compares favorably with the 173 pound-feet of the defunct hot-rod Turbo S. Plus it can be ordered with the terrific DSG gearbox with Tiptronic, which makes the most out of the diesel engine's power. The new diesel is rated 46 mpg on the highway, compared to 44 for last year's 90-horsepower diesel, and 31 for the 2.0-liter gas engine. In our past experiences with VW diesels they have run brilliantly, on long trips and in everyday driving. They have none of the clatter of an old Mercedes-Benz diesel, but just a slightly rough texture that some people like because they say it reminds them a bit of the original Bug.
Driving enthusiasts will prefer the 1.8 T turbocharged gasoline engine. It lacks response at the bottom of the rpm range, but provides good acceleration performance once the revs are up. Step on the gas and the car begins to build momentum, then there's a whoosh of power. The GLS 1.8 T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds. We strongly recommend the manual gearbox with this engine. We have not been happy when pairing the 1.8 T with an automatic because the turbo seems to confuse the transmission causing a distinct lack of response in certain situations; this often happens when you most need a squirt of power, such as when jumping out of a slow, bumper-to-bumper lane into a fast lane.
Volkswagen Beetle Lineup
The 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle is available as a coupe or convertible. And it comes with an assortment of gasoline- and diesel-fueled four-cylinder engines. For 2005, the coupe is offered in GL ($16,570), GLS ($18,770), GLS 1.8T ($20,940), and GLS TDI-PD ($20,010). The Turbo S model is discontinued. The convertible is offered in GL ($21,290), GLS ($18,770), and GLS 1.8T ($20,940).
The standard engine in the GL and GLS coupes and convertibles is a 2.0-liter inline-4 rated at 115 horsepower. GLS 1.8T is powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated 150 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard on all models. For 2005, all models offer an optional six-speed automatic with Tiptronic.
For 2005, Volkswagen introduces a new diesel engine available only in the GLS TDI-PD coupe. The advanced 1.9-liter turbo-diesel uses high-pressure injection technology to produce 100 horsepower and run quieter than the current unit. Volkswagen anticipates a highway fuel economy rating of 46 mpg. A five-speed manual comes standard. An all-new six-speed automatic with the amazing twin-clutch DSG and Tiptronic is optional ($21,085).
All Beetles are well equipped. The base GL models come with air conditioning with an integrated pollen filter; a six-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo (10-speaker on convertibles) plus for 2005 standard MP3 Player connection and a 3-month subscription to either Sirius or XM satellite radio services; central locking with keyless remote; anti-theft system; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; tilt/telescoping steering column; clear-lens halogen projector headlamps with Daytime Running Lights; heated power exterior mirrors; cruise control; power windows; and 205/55 all-season tires on 16-inch steel wheels plus a full-size spare. Leatherette upholstery is available as a no-cost option on coupes, and is standard on the convertible. Options include CD changer prep, satellite radio service, OnStar telematics. Safety is enhanced with optional electronic stability control (ESP).
GLS adds front halogen fog lamps, 16-inch aluminum wheels with anti-theft wheel locks, power sunroof, eight-speaker AM/FM/cassette Monsoon audio system, pinch protection for the electric windows, the ability to open or close the sunroof using the driver's door keylock, and a center armrest with storage box. The option list includes leather-trimmed seating surfaces; heated front seats; a three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel; leather-wrapped shift knob and handbrake grip; heated windshield washer nozzles; satellite radio and Xenon HID headlamps.
GLS 1.8T and GLS TDI-PD models are virtually identical in standard equipment with a few exceptions. The 1.8T includes a speed-activated spoiler at the top of the rear window and an electronic locking differential (EDL) and ASR (anti-slip regulation). The TDI-PD gets Engine Braking Assist standard, while all models can be ordered with Electronic Stabilization Program (includes ASR and EDL) as an option. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels with 225/45 all-season tires are optional only on the 1.8T, and the 6-speed automatic with DSG and Tiptronic is available only with the TDI-PD.
The convertible is available with a manual or semi-automatic cloth-lined top that features three layers to ensure excellent insulation and appearance. Volkswagen's standard Automatic Rollover Supports deploy automatically behind the rear seats to provide added protection in the unlikely event of a rollover, whether the convertible top is up or down. The system works in conjunction with the New Beetle's active head restraints.
Safety equipment on all New Beetles includes driver and front passenger dual-stage frontal airbags, side-impact airbags mounted in the seatbacks, a safety-belt pretensioning and load-limiting system, and LATCH rear-seat tether anchorage points for securing a child safety seat. The side-impact airbags are designed to protect the driver's and front-seat passenger's head and thorax.