Volkswagen Beetle (2012 – 2019) Review

We’d already seen one attempt at a reinvented Volkswagen Beetle in 1998, but this 2012 model was much better all round. Based on the Volkswagen Golf, it has a good spread of engines, funky looks inside and out and drives well. The interior is cramped in the back, but few will bother about that in this retro rival to the MINI and ever-popular Fiat 500. Read on for our full Volkswagen Beetle review.

Icon is a word that’s bandied around too frequently when it comes to car designs, but the Volkswagen Beetle is one model that’s worthy of the tag.

First seen in 1938, the original air-cooled model sold more than 21.5 million cars up to 2003.

Replacing an icon is never easy, though. The name was brought back in 1998 with the Volkswagen ‘New Beetle’ but, while it sold more than a million, it never caught the public's imagination in the same way.

It did, however, have the distinction of being the first compact retro model, coming several years before the MINI and Fiat 500.

For 2012, the German company regrouped and tried again with this coupe-like Volkswagen Beetle based on the Volkswagen Golf Mk6.

It’s certainly far less twee – there is no vase on the dashboard for starters – while the interior harks back to the original model too, with a flat dashboard and the recognisable flip-up glovebox built into it.

Practicality is much improved with a boot that is almost 50 per cent bigger and more interior room, although you wouldn’t call either generous compared to most normal hatchbacks.

Overall quality and refinement is a massive step forward from the previous model and on the road it’s far more together with sharper handling, a hugely improved ride and better steering.

It gets a good range of engines including Volkswagen’s excellent TSI units – a 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre and the top 2.0-litre with 200PS – plus there’s an impressively frugal diesel in the shape of a 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Technology that averages a claimed 65.7mpg.

It’s an incredibly likeable used car with plenty of charm and character – much more so than the previous ‘New’ Volkswagen Beetle.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's Volkswagen Beetle review.

The 2.0-litre TSI version of the Volkswagen Beetle has a lightweight strut-type suspension set-up at the front along with semi-independent rear suspension, and also includes the XDS electronic differential system from the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

This also features on the 1.4 TSI and acts like a differential by braking the inside wheel in a corner, meaning you don’t have to turn the steering wheel as much.

It works very well, making cornering more precise and accurate, and although the car could do with more feel through the steering, it’s still fun and enjoyable to drive.

The ride is quite firm, but that’s preferable to being too soft and wallowy. It’s helped by a longer wheelbase and wider track than its predecessor.

It’s still comfortable, though, and deals well with rough road surfaces. Along with the standard suspension, there was sports suspension as an option, which is stiffer and 15mm lower.

The top model also got a rear spoiler, but in truth the car looks sleeker without it.

Refinement on the Volkswagen Beetle is very impressive and it feels well put together, quiet and relaxed on the move.

There’s a little wind noise around the top of the windscreen pillars at motorway speeds, but it’s not intrusive.

The exterior styling of the Volkswagen Beetle may be very different, but the engine line-up was made up of the usual suspects from this era.

From launch in early 2012, there were two engines – a 1.2-litre TSI with 105PS fitted with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, along with a 1.4 TSI with 160PS and a standard manual gearbox.

Later in 2012, the 1.2 TSI became available with a manual gearbox, while the top 2.0 TSI was also introduced.

At the same time, a diesel version arrived in the shape of a 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Technology. It came with a standard six-speed manual plus there was the option of a DSG automatic version. A 2.0 TDI arrived later on.

There was no performance version as such, but the 2.0 TSI is shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI and provides more than enough poke with 200PS in reserve.

It sounds good, too, thanks to a modified exhaust which gives it a nice deep resonance on start-up and when you accelerate.

It certainly doesn’t hang about, with a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds when fitted with the six-speed DSG gearbox. It’s surprisingly economical, too, given its power, and averages a claimed 36.7mpg.

On the move, it pulls very strongly in gear and if you choose the DSG gearbox, you’ll find it responds well when you ask it to accelerate, with quick kickdown and rapid upshifts.

A five-star rating from Euro NCAP was good news for this Volkswagen Beetle in 2012.

It comes with four airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes, ESP and Isofix child seat mounts in the rear seats.

However, there’s no tech like lane keep assist or automatic emergency braking.

No figures were quoted for an unbraked or braked trailer for any models of this generation of Volkswagen Beetle.

There’s a far more vertical windscreen than on the first ‘New’ Volkswagen Beetle, so from behind the wheel this one has a similar feel to a MINI.

The driving position is pretty much spot on – not too high that you’re perched on top of it, but high enough to provide decent all-round visibility.

The emphasis seems to be on keeping things simple and uncluttered. So the main instrument cluster has just three dials – dominated by the speedo like the classic Volkswagen Beetle, plus a rev counter and a (strangely large) fuel gauge.

As an option you could have extra dials – like the turbo boost pressure – on the top.

The steering wheel is unique to the Volkswagen Beetle, too, and looks good, although we’d question why it needs a flat bottom – a feature that’s usually the preserve of performance models.

It feels very spacious in the front, helped by the fact the seats slide a long way back (although this means zero rear legroom).

This model is also wider than its predecessor, which definitely has benefits for elbow room.

It’s a three-door only, but getting to the back seats isn’t too much of a strain – you’re not likely to stick the grandparents there, but for kids it’s a doddle – as the front seats fold and slide, while the doors open wide.

There’s decent room in the back and a surprising amount of headroom, although legroom is a little tight if you’ve got a reasonably tall adult in the front.

It’s also worth noting that there are only two seats in the back.

The good news is that the boot is far more usable than on the previous ‘New’ Volkswagen Beetle. It has a capacity of 310 litres compared with just 209 litres in the old one, meaning it’s about the same as a Skoda Fabia of the time.

Plus, the tailgate has a usefully wide opening, so it no longer feels like a design that’s been led by style rather practicality.

You can fold down the back seats, too, which increases the boot area to 905 litres.

It’s good to see that this Volkswagen Beetle got a bespoke interior, so it’s far more than just a Volkswagen Golf in a posh frock.

As with the exterior, the unique design harks back to the original Volkswagen Beetle with a vertical dash that comes in the same colour as the outside.

It’s a nice touch that works really well on the brighter colours. Alternatively, some models have a carbon fibre effect trim.

There’s a split level glovebox with a conventional lower bit while the top section is integrated into the dash with an upward folding lid, an instantly recognisable bit of design from the classic air-cooled model.

Compared to the first reboot, this second generation has a far more special feel to it inside.

The quality of the materials is good, although some of the plastics lower down are borderline scratchy, but refinement is impressive and the layout neat and distinctive. 

The 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen provided with the Volkswagen Beetle will be familiar to anyone who has spent time in the firm’s models of this period.

It comes with DAB radio, Bluetooth and there’s a USB port to connect and charge a mobile phone.

It’s a simple set-up to use, if not as sophisticated as we’re used to nowadays, but it’s clear and there are shortcut buttons on either side for the most commonly used functions.

There are also separate rotary dials for the stereo volume and tuning, and physical buttons for the ventilation.

Thanks to its enduring appeal, and the classic status of the original air-cooled model, this generation of Volkswagen Beetle holds on to its value very well.

As a result, you will pay £10,000 for an eight-year-old example with 50,000 miles showing.

This gets you a very tidy 1.2 TSI version in Design spec, probably with some desirable extras into the bargain.

A five-year-old car with 20,000 miles in R-Line spec can fetch £20,000.

If you want to keep fuel costs low in this Volkswagen Beetle, the engine to choose is the 1.6 TDI diesel that delivers combined economy of up to 65.7mpg coupled to emissions of 113g/km.

For cars registered prior to 1 April 2017, that means road tax costs just £35 per year versus the flat rate of £180 for cars registered after that date.

A 2.0-litre turbodiesel model delivers faster performance and fuel economy which is claimed to be in the high 50s for most versions.

Emissions are a little higher, however, but won’t cost you more in road tax.

A 1.2 TSI offers low 50s fuel economy, while the 1.4 TSI is in the mid-40s, and both are similar to their Volkswagen Golf hatch counterparts for emissions.

Stick with the more affordable engines and trims and the Volkswagen Beetle sits in an insurance bracket as low as group 10. However, fancier versions climb as high as group 26.

Servicing a Volkswagen Beetle will cost the same as a Volkswagen Golf, so it won’t be a strain on the budget for routine maintenance.

All Volkswagen Beetle models come with manual air-conditioning, a five-inch colour touchscreen and DAB radio.

The Volkswagen Beetle Design adds a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, 17-inch alloy wheels and trim inserts in body colour.

The Volkswagen Beetle Sport has 18-inch Twister alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control, sports instruments, front and rear parking sensors and sports suspension.

If you go for the Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Black or Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Silver versions you get 19-inch Tornado alloy wheels, rear diffuser, chrome exhausts and gloss black or silver exterior trim based on which version you choose.

The Volkswagen Beetle Dune has suspension raised by 10mm, 18-inch Mythos Alloy Wheels, silver mirrors and a rear diffuser.