2015 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T Review (with video) - Once upon a time, Volkswagen iconic Beetle sold primarily on its low sticker price ,...
Once upon a time, Volkswagen iconic Beetle sold primarily on its low sticker price , reputation, durability and ease of maintenance. new VW Bug, however, sells retro style and a healthy dollop of nostalgia.
The Bug before us today is the second generation "New Beetle" first resurrection in Europe as a 1998 model based on VW Golf and A3 platform. It was later redesigned for 2012, sharing his bones with the MK5 Golf and Jetta.
Redraw retro is always tricky. This explains why the original Bug has hardly changed over the years and why other retro flashbacks like the PT Cruiser and Chevy HHR transformed into one-hit wonders. If you do not change enough, consumers will not see a reason for Herbie trade in a new time capsule. Change too much and you end up with a caricature. Anyway you cut, retro has a cost.
Exterior
The original "New Beetle" shaken cutesy bubble-good looks, headlights screaming for aftermarket eyelashes, taillights begging to be fed and flower-vase built into the dashboard. second take on the retro VW-bug is deliberately more masculine, or so I told myself. Bulges conventional wings and retro-inspired wheels are still there, but this bug is longer, wider and lower than ever. Doing this semi-circular profile as the last gen model was tricky because it is nearly half a foot longer, so they do not even try. Instead, the engineers penned a bend where the windshield meets the roof to a roof line up more traditional front. The changes are Herbie look like a bug that was stepped on some or stretched in the middle -. Choose
The 2015 model is still instantly recognizable as a bug, but I think I actually lack the overall style of the new bug "of cutsey". The new front bumper seems particularly out of place because it exaggerates the front overhang and crisp folds jibe with oval lights and sparkling wings. The design struck me as a paradox: It is as conservative as we expect from Volkswagen, but slightly discordant with the rest of their product range. For a manufacturer known for an elegant, sober and monolithic, the Beetle seems almost cartoonish. Almost. VW has a solution, though: the drop-top Beetle. By removing the cover, the Beetle lost the "crushed" look and somehow wins rear headroom as well.
Interior
The interior borrows parts of the corporate box and wraps in a retro style. We get a lot of painted plastic trim and two glove boxes as a nod to the past. If you have recently taken new VW Golf for a spin, you should know that the Beetle is related to the 2015 Jetta, not 2015 Golf and Audi A3. This means you will find many hard plastics inside, and the cabin is not "discount Audi" feel found in the hot hatch VW. Is it a problem? Not necessarily. The Golf has a particularly pleasant interior to its base price and the Beetle is merely middle class. Of course, the Beetle is a bizarre product to classify as his only real competition comes from the retro Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper.
Even on our 1.8T tester charge ($ 27,805), VW has decided not to take the Jetta power seats or automatic climate control. Although I find the front seats comfortable for my body shape, range of motion is limited compared to other compacts. rear seats Bug became a bit more spacious in this generation, but should always be considered as seats "emergency" because of the limited room for legs. Headroom is tight at the back, but suitable for people under 6 feet tall. Compared to internal competition, you will find about 4 inches for the rear legs in the Golf 3-door and nearly 8 inches in the Jetta sedan. If this surprises you, you may be surprised to hear that the Fiat 500 actually gives you more rear legroom than the VW, although the load space is undeniably more limited.
Once upon a time, you could not get the ball into your Beetle and we have come full circle in your choice of fabric or V-Tex leatherette - VW-speak for pleather. Of course, the Beetle is all about retro style is most apparent in the classic garnish, which is well equipped to negotiate a price, and is covered with plaid fabric and brown pleather.
Infotainment
not, our tester did not come with a CB radio, but is something retro on long infotainment systems VW's record. Base models get an AM / FM radio, single CD player, Bluetooth and VW MDI interface for integration iDevice / USB. In a strange twist, the new Beetle classic garnish and upscale trim is touchscreen navigation of VW head unit while the two intermediate models does not.
The 5-inch touch screen is shared with the Jetta and at this point is far from a spring chicken. Compared to the latest offerings from the competition, the VW navigation system is slow, less polished, less intuitive and the screen is small. Although the Golf 2015 uses a newer system, the one you really need to wait for 2016 is the system "MIB II" with its larger screen and very modern software - but it should be on other VW models before Beetle. on the other hand, the Fender audio system 9 speakers is optional totally groovy.
Training
I never really mind the odd-ball VW 2.5L five-cylinder used to turn on the hood of the Beetle, but there is no denying the new turbo 1.8L is a huge improvement. it is also found under the hood of the Golf, Jetta and Passat, the 1.8L engine cranks a respectable 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. Make the 1.8T even more attractive, the 184 lb-ft comes at just 1,500 RPM. traditional models only come with an automatic six-speed Aisin-sourced while other toppings start with a five-speed manual. Choosing to slushbox give you the best fuel economy of gasoline at an EPA rated 25 MPG city and 33 highway.
Also shared with the Jetta 2.0L turbo diesel refreshed Beetle, good for 0 horsepower and 238 lb -ft of torque. Although it is a bit slower than the 1.8L turbo gasoline, acceleration is aided by a manual six-speed and six-speed dual-clutch automated manual option (DSG) transmission.
If none of these drivetrains float your boat, you can still get the Beetle R-Line with the 2.0L turbo engine of the latest generation of the GTI with 210 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of twist. All these ponies are routed to the front wheels by the same six-speed DSG TDI model as a manual or six-speed twisted slightly.
player
on the road, the differences between the Jetta, Golf and Beetle are easily visible. The Beetle is noisier, more softly sprung and slightly slower than the new Golf hatchback. Comparisons with the Jetta more closely related are still a bit more appropriate than the Golf. When driven hard, the Beetle has the predictable dynamics with lots of roll and protest tires. At just under 3000 pounds, the Beetle is not a heavy car for the 21st century, but neither is it too light. A similarly equipped Jetta is a lighter hair despite being longer and the new VW Golf weighs about 100 pounds less. To put this in perspective, the Fiat 500, which could be considered the only real competitor in this price range, is nearly 500 pounds lighter. (Fiat is, of course, much smaller.) Handling improves top model 1.8T with wider 235 / 45R18 all around, but you will need to intensify the R-Line before the suspension changes respond the soft springs our tester wore.
Acceleration in the 1.8T model is excellent for a car in the range $ 20-26K with 60 passes in 7.5 seconds, notably faster than the old model 2.5L five-cylinder. Although I wish VW had this engine paired to their six-speed manual, five-speed base is well suited to the engine. Shifter feel is excellent, gearshift travel is moderate and the clutch had a linear commitment, we've come to expect from the Germans. The low end torque of the turbo engine makes hill climbing a breeze and if you get the manual there is less change speed of a motor comparable naturally aspirated. Steering feel is average for the compact segment with a moderate steering effort.
The 2.0L R-Line model I briefly sampled a local retailer seemed underpowered compared to the modern culture of direct injected 2.0L turbo on the market, but it is notably faster than the Fiat 500 Abarth. In addition, the six-speed DSG is an active partner in your favorite twisty road. The downside to the R-Line is that it is not the same engine as you get in the current GTI. The new 2.0L turbo GTI has considerably more torque, a bit more power and everything comes to a boil earlier than the old engine. This means that the R-Line is not the hybrid Beetle GTI-you can hope for. There is also a little rough around the edges with a sound-absorbing material less noise in the Beetle.
After a week with the Beetle, which happened to be shortly after I turn in a 2015 GTI and 2015 e-Golf, there is no sugar coating means it: The Jetta and Golf are better options unless you value style over practicality, efficiency and performance. The Beetle is undeniably more car for your dollar, then you will find at the Fiat dealership, with more space for luggage and a snazzier stereo. The problem is the new Golf is sitting right next to the Beetle in the field. Golf is more efficient, more spacious, has a larger trunk, handles better, it is a bit faster and has an interior much more upscale. For about the same price.
Now, there is a twist here, which is the VW Beetle Convertible. At $ 25.595, the Beetle convertible is more beautiful than the hard top Beetle and is one of the drop-top best in the United States. VW also offers a 2.0L convertible R-Line and convertible diesel with a six-speed manual . If you are planning a Beetle and want the style, there is nothing wrong with the hardtop - go. If you're on the fence, take my advice and get either the Golf or drop a few more bills and get the Beetle convertible.
Volkswagen has provided the vehicle, insurance and a tank of gas for this review.
Specifications as tested
0-30: 2.6 seconds
0-60 : 7.5 seconds
1/4 Mile: 15.6 seconds @ 92 mph
average fuel economy: 28.2 mpg
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