Volkswagen Beetle hatchback (2011-2019) - Interior & comfort

To a degree, the Beetle’s interior is standard Volkswagen fare with some retro flourishes. You get high-quality plastics, clear dashboard dials and easy-to-use controls. Wind and road noise are well supressed and, while the Beetle isn’t unduly uncomfortable over poor road surfaces, it’s not quite as smooth as the old Golf on which it’s based.

Volkswagen Beetle dashboard

The full-length body-coloured metal-effect dashboard lifts the overall interior ambiance and you can order it in contrasting colours at extra cost, should you wish. The vertical glovebox lid also harks back to the original Beetle’s design and it’s supplemented by a second, more usable glovebox underneath.

Equipment

All Beetles come with an infotainment touchscreen that’s easy to use, while the confortable seats mean those in the front are well served on long journeys, even if the tight rear seats dent overall comfort levels.

Volkswagen actually asks slightly less money for the entry-level Beetle than it does for the cheapest Golf although if you go for this option, you won’t get alloy wheels. Still, all cars come with air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and remote central locking.

Upgrading to Design trim is generally advised. For a shade over £2,000, this gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, an alarm, a leather multifunction steering wheel and front foglights. Choosing Design trim also means you get a choice of engine as the unnamed, entry-level Beetle trim is only available with the 1.2-litre petrol.

The Beetle Dune looks suitably funky and chunky but it – and the sporty R-Line model – are expensive, at about £2,000 and £4,000 more than Design – even if the 148bhp diesel engine becomes available with these trims.

Options

Adding sat nav costs around £650 with Design trim, while a panoramic sunroof comes is about £1,000. The all-round parking sensors we recommend are £375, though the Dune and R-Line get these as standard.