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Volkswagen Beetle hatchback (1999-2010)

“If you love classic motoring style, cars don’t come much more recognisable or characterful than VW’s Bug.”

Carbuyer Rating

1.5 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.3 out of 5

Read owner reviews

Pros

  • Classic icon revisited
  • Airy, light-filled cabin
  • More characterful than most rivals

Cons

  • Rounded bodywork makes it hard to judge car's position
  • Curved roof and three doors limit practicality
  • Dated Golf chassis

The rounded Volkswagen Beetle hatchback is essentially a cuddly Golf – albeit one that uses an outdated chassis from a few generations ago. The cool, classic vibe extends to the cabin, with a distinctive body coloured dashboard and big, round dials, while a fun colour palette and funky accessories enhance the youthful, trendy image. Good road manners and a comfortable drive, plus ample performance from a choice of petrol and diesel engines, add substance to the style.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Engines, drive & performance

Engines are good, but chassis is dated

The 1.4, 1.6, 1.8T and 2.0-litre petrol engines plus a 1.9 diesel give the Volkswagen Beetle a good spread of performance, while the Golf chassis ensures a comfortable drive. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard fit, although the largest petrol model can also be had with a six-speed automatic. Those dated underpinnings mean the car has been left far behind dynamically by rivals, though.

Interior & comfort

The cabin is a relaxing place to spend time

A decent driving position and comfortable seats make the Beetle a nice place in which to spend time, whether high-speed cruising on a motorway or sitting in city traffic. Even better, the power-assisted steering wheel is both height and reach adjustable. To relax you even more, there’s a standard-fit dash-mounted vase in which you can place a flower to match your mood!

Practicality & boot space

You have to sacrifice versatility to live with those looks

Three-door cars are never as practical as five-doors – but if you rarely carry rear passengers, the Beetle's sacrifice in the name of style is worth making. When you do have adults in the back, they may well get neck ache, as the sloping roof cuts headroom. The rounded silhouette means the boot isn’t very big, either, at 209 litres with the seats in place and 769 litres with them folded.

Reliability & safety

Long-running model's problems should all be ironed out by now

Volkswagen is renowned for its solid build quality, and the Beetle has been around so long that there should be no major problems. Minor irritations in older examples include a sticking fuel filler cap, squeaking front seats and a few electrical issues.

Price, value for money & options

Older Beetle is pricier than newer MINI

What price style? The Volkswagen Beetle costs more than comparable versions of its retro-styled three-door rival, the MINI. As with its competitor, though, you’ll be buying into a legend, which means the Bug comes complete with a dedicated owner community – and such enthusiasts help provide camaraderie and ownership pleasure that money can’t buy.

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Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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