SE 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
R-Line 2dr Hatchback (2.0L Turbo 4cyl 6AM)
2dr Convertible PZEV (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
Classic 2dr Convertible (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Hatchback PZEV (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Classic 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
R-Line 2dr Hatchback (2.0L Turbo 4cyl 6AM)
Classic 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
Dune 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Classic 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
S 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Don’t want to go far?
Find all cars near me?Classic 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Convertible PZEV (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
SE 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
Classic 2dr Convertible (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
S 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Dune 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
2dr Convertible PZEV (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Overall Rating
The 2015 Beetle is that old Beetle with a lot of enhancements. It maintains that retro look, and if you place it next to its predecessors, you can notice the similarity in design.
The 2015 Beetle is that old Beetle with a lot of enhancements. It maintains that retro look, and if you place it next to its predecessors, you can notice the similarity in design. The Beetle comes across as a really good car with a decent engine. It has lost a little cuteness over the update to attract the male buyers, prominent in the newer design of the roofline and the windshield.
Since the regular Beetle has only one trim on offer, you can go ahead with that and get the optional packages as they are pretty useful. We recommend the Sunroof, Sound & Navigation package as it brings out the most of the Beetle. Otherwise, you can opt for the TDI, which has better fuel economy as well as offers more features. Irrespective of what trim you choose, we recommend the optional packages.
Dune 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Classic 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl 6A)
2dr Hatchback PZEV (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2dr Hatchback (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
SE 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
The 2015 Beetle is that old Beetle with a lot of enhancements. It maintains that retro look, and if you place it next to its predecessors, you can notice the similarity in design.
The 2015 Beetle is that old Beetle with a lot of enhancements. It maintains that retro look, and if you place it next to its predecessors, you can notice the similarity in design. The Beetle comes across as a really good car with a decent engine. It has lost a little cuteness over the update to attract the male buyers, prominent in the newer design of the roofline and the windshield.
There are 4 main trims available: 1.8T, 1.8T classic w/PZEV, 2L TDI, and 2.0T R-Line. The car gets 2 engine options, and the trims are accordingly named. The price starts from $20,195 for the base 1.8T classic w/PZEV variant and goes up to $29,895 for the top-of-the-line trim. In this review, we will only be reviewing the 1.8T trim which is available at a price of $20,695. Standard features on all the trims include 17-inch alloy wheels, heated windshield-washer nozzles, heated mirrors, automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated and height-adjustable front seats, and leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery.
Trim |
1.8T |
---|---|
MSRP (1.8L I-4) |
$20,695 |
Key Features |
Keyless ignition |
|
Electric Power Steering |
|
Front door pockets |
|
Interior Air Filtration |
|
Turn signal in mirrors |
The Sunroof package adds a panoramic sunroof, a rear-view camera, keyless ignition, satellite radio, and a touchscreen audio interface. The more feature-rich Sunroof, Sound & Navigation package adds all the above plus 18-inch wheels, a navigation system, and a nine-speaker Fender audio system.
We Recommend
Since the regular Beetle has only one trim on offer, you can go ahead with that and get the optional packages as they are pretty useful. We recommend the Sunroof, Sound & Navigation package as it brings out the most of the Beetle. Otherwise, you can opt for the TDI, which has better fuel economy as well as offers more features. Irrespective of what trim you choose, we recommend the optional packages.
The Beetle has 2 engines on offer, a 1.8L I-4 which makes 170 hp @4800 rpm and 184 lb.-ft @1500 rpm, and a 2.0L I-4 which makes 150 hp@3500 rpm and 236@1750 rpm.
Also, there are 3 transmissions on offer, a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual, and a 6-speed automatic. We recommend the 6-speed manual transmission. The Beetle is a front-wheel drive car. The car touches the 60 mph mark in 8.9 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds.
Model |
Volkswagen Beetle |
Mini Cooper |
Fiat 500 |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$20,695 |
$22,000 |
$16,845 |
Engine |
1.8 L I-4 |
1.6 L I-4 |
1.4 L I-4 |
Drivetrain |
Front-wheel drive |
Front-wheel drive |
Front-wheel drive |
Transmission |
5-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
5-speed manual |
Power (HP) |
170 |
121 |
101 |
Torque (lb.-ft) |
184 |
118 |
98 |
0-60 MPH (s) |
8.9 |
6.1 |
10.5 |
Quarter mile (s) |
16.1 |
N/A |
N/A |
Top Speed (mph) |
115 |
149 |
120 |
The Cooper is the clear winner here, with its 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds. The Fiat 500 is the slowest taking more than 10 seconds to reach the 60-mph mark. The car in concern is a capable performer and manages some quick times too, at 8.9 seconds. When it comes to the top speed of the cars in the competition, Mini Cooper stands way ahead of its rivals with 149 mph, followed by Fiat and Volkswagen.
The Beetle’s fuel economy is good, but lower than the competition. With figures of 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, it’s good for tours and city runs. A little more would be better. However, these mileage numbers are supported by a 14.5 gallon fuel tank, which is among the best in this segment.
Model |
Volkswagen Beetle |
Mini Cooper |
Fiat 500 |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
24 |
29 |
31 |
MPG (highway) |
33 |
37 |
40 |
MPG (combined) |
27 |
32 |
34 |
Fuel capacity (gallons) |
14.5 |
10.6 |
10.5 |
Range (city/highway) |
348/478.5 |
307.4/392.2 |
325.5/420 |
The Beetle however tops the comparison in terms of range, with a massive 478.5 miles on the highway. The Fiat 500 would have surpassed the Beetle if it had a bigger tank capacity. In the mpg battle, it’s the 500 that tops with its city mileage of 31 mpg and highway mileage of 40 mpg. When comparing the combined mileage, Fiat has the upper hand with 34 mpg combined, followed by Mini and Volkswagen with 32 and 27 mpg, respectively.
While making a retro car, it is always important to draw inspiration from the original and maintain the retro interior feel of the car. The Beetle takes a lot of inspiration from its older versions, but still maintains the modern features available.
The interior of the car is extremely classy, and the build quality is top-notch. The car has a lot of storage space on offer. The dash is well laid out and easy to comprehend. The cabin space is excellent in the front row, but the receding roofline makes it difficult for tall passengers to sit comfortably in the rear. The hatchback comes with a cargo capacity of 7.1 cubic feet.
Model |
Volkswagen Beetle |
Mini Cooper |
Fiat 500 |
---|---|---|---|
Seating capacity |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.3/55.3/41.3 |
38.4/50.3/41.7 |
38.9/49.4/40.7 |
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
37.6/41.3/31.4 |
N/A |
35.6/46.4/31.7 |
Trunk space (Cubic ft) |
7.1 |
8.7 |
9.5 |
The Beetle’s front row is very roomy and comfortable to be in. Only the Mini Cooper is a 2-seater in this comparison and lacks rear seats. The Fiat 500’s second row is the most comfortable as it has a lot of space on offer compared to the Beetle. When considering cargo capacity, the Fiat’s 9.5 cubic feet trunk stands out. However, the Beetle suffers because of its tiny 7.1 cu-ft of trunk space. Some standout interior features on the Beetle include:
The Beetle’s infotainment system has got a decent upgrade compared to last year, with a lot of features on offer, like Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, an iPod interface, and an auxiliary audio jack. Also, standard on the car is VW's Car-Net telematics system. Some standout infotainment features include:
The 2015 Volkswagen Beetle’s styling has always been a people’s favorite. The retro mix is as well integrated as on a Mini Cooper.
You cannot turn away from its charm, which attracts both men and women (or at least, tries to). It has got beautiful lines, which are simple, straightforward, and yet merge with the arches so well that it is a constant reminder of what a timeless beauty this car is.
Model |
Volkswagen Beetle |
Mini Cooper |
Fiat 500 |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3435 |
2557 |
2366 |
Length (in) |
168.4 |
146.8 |
139.6 |
Width (in) |
62.1 |
57.4 |
55.4 |
Height (in) |
58 |
54.3 |
59.8 |
Ground clearance (in) |
5.6 |
5.7 |
4.1 |
Wheelbase (in) |
100 |
97.1 |
90.6 |
The Fiat is the lightest car in this comparison with a curb weight of 2,366 lbs. The broad proportions of the Beetle make it a car that you cannot miss. Although, the weight of the car eats into its performance. Even though the wheelbase is tight on paper, the Beetle is a good handler and drives well. When comparing the ground clearance, Fiat stands tallest to the ground at 4.1 inches. Some noteworthy exterior features of the Beetle are:
The Beetle scored an excellent 5-star rating in the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA. As standard, it comes equipped with features like brake assist, traction control, and ABS. The Volkswagen Car-Net system provides crash notification, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle location, remote door unlocking, and geo-fencing (which allows parents to set boundaries for teenage drivers). Some standout safety specifications include:
The 2015 Volkswagen Beetle is a timeless machine and is worthy of being in everyone's garage. The Beetle is a fashion statement; one of the few cars that blends the retro sense with modern technology well. It also offers a balance between control and performance no matter what you do with the car. We definitely recommend picking up a Beetle if you are a couple or for small drives around the city.