OVERSTEER ROAD TEST: Volkswagen Beetle
The second incarnation of the new version of a car originally conceived by a genocidal maniac and “designed” by a bloke who actually nicked the design off a another company is finally here. That’s right – the original Nazi fun-wagon is back! We take a Beetle for a blast!
While it seems odd that the original anti-car has become something of a highly-specced, highly-customisable cafe cruiser, it is far preferable to being what it once was – a car that patchy-bearded sandal-wearers clung to with the grim determination of blind zealotry bought about by the misguided idea that because it only had twelve moving parts it was somehow better for the planet.
The “New” Beetle of 1997 roundly disabused the hippies of that particular notion and also became something so stupidly cute that teenage Japanese girls would squeal at the sight of it. It was something of a shame that none of the utilitarian charm made it through to the new version, but then it did shake the hippies and was something of an over-styled, big-eyed cartoon kitten of a middle finger to dear old Uncle Adolf as well. So that was kinda cool.
But now we have what would seem to be a more logical modernisation of the original Beetle. And for the first time in the history of the humpy little semi-retard of the car world, it is actually badged as a “Beetle” too!
Outside
It is clearly a Beetle from the outside. In fact, it could literally be nothing else on the planet. But this time ‘round the cutesy cartoon styling has been ditched for what would seem to be a more logical evolution of the original Beetle’s styling. And I’ll be damned if it doesn’t work too…
Looking simultaneously more masculine and yet still somehow cute, the new car is a more mature interpretation of the classic Beetle shape. With a wider, lower stance, the new version of the modern Beetle looks like a real car, rather than a cartoon caricature of one.
As mentioned earlier, the style now looks like a logical evolution of the original and this is most obvious in the details – apart from the familiarity of the overall shape, there is actually very little that is consciously retro about the Beetle.
Among other things, the squared-off bumpers, distinctly modern head and taillights and big wheels all set the Beetle up as an unquestionably modern interpretation of an older car, rather than a homage to it.
Inside
The modern interpretation theme continues through the interior as well, with only the body colored dash and door inserts hinting at the space metal of the original. Other than that, it is all modern in here.
Volkswagen NZ decided on the “single well-specced model” approach to the Beetle in this country and, as such, the car comes packed with a decent amount of kit as standard.
The premium stereo creates a decent amount of noise and the quality levels are typically high. Well-built and made largely of quality materials (except for the hard plastic of the centre console, right where your left leg leans against it…) the interior of the Beetle is impressive and comfortable.
There are a couple of niggles though; the seats are a little too wide and, as a result, unsupportive and the seatbelt is particularly annoying, being placed almost perfectly out of reach behind the driver’s right shoulder.
Under the bonnet
Because, like the last model, the Beetle is based on the Golf platform, the engine is located in the opposite end of the car from the original. In other words, in the front.
The engine in question is Volkswagen’s brilliant 1.4-litre TSI turbo and supercharged engine. Producing 118kW of power and 240Nm of torque, the engine is brilliantly well-suited to the slick 7-speed dual clutch DSG transmission that it is hooked up to.
The two combine to propel the Beetle along at a more-than respectable rate, with it scampering up to the legal open-road speed limit from a standing start in 8.3 seconds.
Volkswagen claim a combined average fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km for the Beetle, and in our week with it we easily saw high 6s without even trying. Note; “without trying” actually means “driving it like we stole it”…
On the road
Being based on a Golf means there are no surprises when it comes to handling – it feels like a Golf… Except for one thing; where the Golf – and to a lesser extent the Polo – could sometimes feel slightly unsettled around the rear end (but never unpredictable) when going hard into a corner, the Beetle seems to have rid this particular platform of that characteristic quirk.
Not that this was ever a bad thing, it was more like a puppy happily wagging its tail when it was having fun more than anything else, but it does give you more instant confidence in the Beetle during enthusiastic driving. Which is something the Beetle responds to very well indeed.
The ride errs slightly towards the firm, but is never uncomfortable of intrusive, while the engine is a relaxed companion during cruising or around town, yet is capable of being roused into something far more interesting during a damn good thrash.
The steering is sharp and slightly distant, although it is nicely weighted.
Getting into a nice rhythm on a winding back road is easy to do in the Beetle, with the DSG transmission always seemingly in the right gear at the right time and the engine always on the boil. The nose tucks in nicely when requested and the tail, as mentioned earlier, follows around sweetly without the previously characteristic Golf wobble if you push it up towards its limit.
Verdict
While the Beetle will simply never be the most masculine car on the road, the removal of the worst of its cartoonish excess and soft cuteness has improved its visual appeal vastly. Putting it on a far newer platform has made it a car actually worth driving again too.
As simple and easy to drive as a Golf, its slight lack of practicality against the Golf is more than made up for by the happy character and hugely distinctive looks.
During my week with the white Beetle you see here, I had more people approach me about the car than anything I have ever tested previously. And, yes, that includes Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins…
People like the Beetle. It is as simple as that, and going off our week with it, you can now like it for more than just its cute looks.
Volkswagen Beetle Specifications
Price: $46,500
Body type: 3-door hatch
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Engine Type: Inline four-cylinder petrol
Engine Capacity: 1390cc
Max power: 118kW @ 5800rpm
Max torque: 240Nm @ 1500rpm
Fuel Consumption: 6.2L/100km
C02 emission: 143g/km
0 to 100kph: 8.3 seconds
Front suspension: MacPherson strut
Rear suspension: Torsion beam
ABS Brakes: Yes
Air Bags: 6
ESP: Yes
Air Conditioning: Dual zone climate
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
Satellite Navigation: No
Electric seats: No
Burglar Alarm: Yes
Panic Button: No
Wheel type: 18-inch alloy
