VW Beetle is a convertible you don’t have to feel bad about driving
There’s something inherently self-centered about owning a convertible. Admit it, when you drive one with the top down, you want the world to look at you, soaking up the sun’s rays and having a good time, while the rest of us can only can get solar enjoyment through our windshield.
But what if you could own a convertible that’s also socially responsible? As in, it gets great fuel economy while you indulge in your narcissistic behavior? Presenting the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible that gets 40 mpg highway and 30 mpg city for a combined 34 mpg from its 2.0-liter, turbo-diesel engine. That’s compared to the 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for a combined 27 mpg for the 1.8-liter, four cylinder gas engine version.
If you’re feeling really spirited, you can get a six-speed manual transmission. In addition to being more fun to drive, it’s also more fuel-efficient at 31 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. It used to be common that manuals were more fuel-efficient than automatics but that’s not the case with new cars. This Beetle is a rare exception. (You’ll also save $1,100 because of the lower cost of the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic).
According to EPA figures, with the Beetle convertible turbo-diesel, you will save $2,500 over the course of five years compared to the average new car. The gasoline version will cost you $750 more than the average car. That $3,250 difference helps offset the MSRP difference of $29,675 for the turbo-diesel versus $25,595 for the gas model.
Story continues after gallery
New sports cars cheap enough to justify
[bdc-gallery id=”1417186″]
The new EA288 TDI Clean Diesel engine makes 150 horsepower, which is up 10 horsepower from the previous engine. It has 236 lb.-ft. of torque, which is just fantastic for such a little car. People look at this car and think cute. They forget it’s quick, too. The fun comes from its abundance of torque, which provides lots of kick when accelerating or passing on the highway.
That same 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine, inside a 2015 VW Golf with a six-speed manual, just set a world record for fuel economy with Guinness record holder Wayne Gerdes piloting it. Over the course of 8,233.5 miles while traversing all 48 states, the car achieved incredible fuel efficiency of 81.17 mpg. That’s better than the hybrid record, which is 74.34 mpg. Wayne and his co-driver were able to see the entire continental United States using just $294.98 worth of fuel.
SIMPLE CONTROLS: Kudos to VW for its simple HVAC controls that don’t require an engineering degree to operate.
Of course, their journey would have been a lot more fun behind the wheel of the VW Beetle Convertible. This is by far one of the most comfortable convertibles I’ve ever driven. Sure, it’s a tight fit in the back for anybody over 5 feet tall, and the trunk can only fit a weekend’s worth of soft-sided luggage, but I’ll be darned if I didn’t look for any excuse to drive it.
Plus the model loaned to me by Volkswagen featured the optional Fender sound system as part of the sound and navigation package. It sounds like a cliché, but the nine-speaker, 400-watt system just rocks. It was the highlight of a Fourth of July parade where it pounded out patriotic tunes along the Connecticut shoreline while ferrying a veteran’s wife. CNET calls it the best sounding automotive audio system, and it’s the perfect complement to the top-down experience (even if you never use it in a parade).
An important aspect of convertible ownership is the roof operation. The VW Beetle convertible is seamless in its ease. Two electric motors raise it (in 11 seconds) and close it (in 9.5 seconds). The top can be raised and lowered at speeds of up to 31 mph.
The Beetle convertible also has all the standard safety features one would expect, including additional items unique to droptops such as the Automatic Rollover Support System. Two rollover bars are concealed behind the rear bench seat-back, activated by the computer that deploys the airbags in the case of a crash. Along with the fixed A-pillars, they help to provide effective protection for the occupants of all four seats within milliseconds.
Is this Beetle convertible perfect? Not entirely, the navigation screen is small. I found the audio system a little quirky to operate. In a perfect world, the convertible would be a hard top because it’s bound to age better. But all those are minor annoyances.
Volkswagen has succeeded in creating a convertible that is fun to drive, is good looking, and, with the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel, is socially responsible with its fuel economy. It’s the perfect mix of guilty living (nobody truly needs a convertible) combined with guilt-free driving.
2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
THE BASICS
Price, base (with destination): $33,045. Fuel economy: 30 city/40 highway/34 combined. Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbo-diesel convertible.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 150 @ 3,500 rpm. Torque: 236 @ 1,750 rpm. Overall length: 168.4 in. Wheelbase: 100 in. Height: 58 in. Width: 71.2 in. Curb weight: 3,435 lbs.
THE GOOD
It’s a head turner that feeds your ego, while providing great fuel economy and performance wrapped in a cute package.
THE BAD
The audio system, while powerful, can be a bit quirky to operate. The navigation system screen could also be a tad larger. The passenger compartment is really best suited for two adults and two pre-teen children.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The iconic Volkswagen Beetle convertible continues to be fun to drive and, with its new turbo-diesel engine, it’s socially responsible, too.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com