Used 2018 Volkswagen Beetle for sale 

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle is a two-door, four-passenger car that comes as a hatchback as well as a convertible. There are four trim levels available: S, Coast, SE, and Dune. All models are mechanically the same, except for the Dune model, which comes with a slightly raised suspension for more ground clearance. All Beetles come with a 2-liter turbo-four engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic and Sport mode. FWD is standard.

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle uses a 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, making 174hp and 184lb-ft of torque while paired to a six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission with Sport mode. The transmission directs all the power to the front wheels only. You can manually control the transmission if you choose.

Beetle's 2-liter I-4 generates more power than similarly priced rivals. The Fiat 500X makes 160hp and 184 lb-ft of torque (same torque as the Beetle), and the least powerful on the block is the Mini Cooper that makes 134hp and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. The two rivals on the table come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard whereas Beetle brings automatic as standard. 

Acceleration

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle receives a new 2-liter turbo engine, which is quicker than its 1.8-liter predecessor. Beetle does the 0-60 sprint in 7.4 seconds and the standing quarter miles in 15.7 seconds. It will continue to its top speed of 127 mph. 

The Beetle and the Cooper tie in the 0 - 60 mph with a time of 7.4 seconds. The Fiat 500X comes in at 8 seconds. At the quarter-mile, however, the Mini Cooper does it in 14.2 seconds, followed by the Beetle with a time of 15.7 seconds. The Fiat comes last with a time of 16.6 seconds.

Handling and Steering

For a car this size, the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle has a slightly heavier steering effort than you'd expect. This makes the Beetle feel a little more controllable at higher speeds. And while a smaller steering wheel is appreciated, Beetle's thin-rimmed steering does feel a bit frail.

Handling the Beetle is not truly as engaging as you'd expect from Volkswagen's other cars like Golf or Golf GTI. The Dune trim raises the Beetle a bit higher than the others, but around tight corners, there is a noticeable body roll.

Braking

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle has able brakes with 11.3-inch vented front rotor and 10.7-inch rear brake rotors. The brakes are good enough to bring the car to a stop from 60mph to 0 in 115 feet. The brakes also have the feature of ABS, brake assist, and hill hold control as standard.

The Mini Cooper is the lightest among the competitors, yet it takes the largest distance of 117 feet. Fiat takes a foot less and comes to a halt in 116 feet, and Beetle takes a foot less than Fiat, setting a distance of 115 feet. 

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle replaced its 1.8-liter engine with a 2-liter turbo I-4 for better fuel economy and performance. The 2.0-liter engine offers 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and a combined range of 29 mpg. It comes with a 14.5-gallon fuel tank, allowing it to have a range of 377 miles in the city, 479 miles on the highway, and a combined 420 miles. 

In terms of combined range, the Volkswagen Beetle gives the most - 420 miles. Then comes the Mini Cooper giving a range of 371 miles and then comes the Fiat 500X which gives a range of 368 miles. In the fuel-economy, Mini takes the lead by offering the best in class combined mileage of 32 mg.

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle has a modern cabin with just enough retro design to keep the nostalgia running. It is not the most upscale cabin you'll see, though. There is not much to complain about in the front seats, which are roomy and comfy for people of all heights, but the sloping roofline makes things a bit cramped in the rear seats. 

The front seats of the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle are spacious and comfortable, although the seat bottoms are not long enough to provide good thigh support to taller passengers. The cloth upholstery is available on the base trim but you will find leatherette and faux leather upholstery as you go higher up in the trims. Lumbar support isn't common in this class, so it's a happy surprise that the Beetle provides it.

The Beetle and Mini Cooper are 4-seaters, while the Fiat 500X can accommodate 5. Although Cooper has more passenger volume, it provides a similar head, shoulder, and legroom to the Beetle. The Fiat 500X provides better legroom in the back row as compared to the other two.

Infotainment

The standard infotainment system in the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle consists of a 5-inch touchscreen whereas the Coast and higher trims will get a 6.3-inch touchscreen. The system is user-friendly, and the physical controls are straightforward, although the markings on them could be a bit hard to read for some passengers. The sound quality is excellent for the optional Fender Volkswagen system. This system may not be as high-tech as provided by some of the rivals, but it goes well with the Beetle's old-simpler-times persona. There is Bluetooth connectivity available, however, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is not. Few key features include-

• Bluetooth Connectivity
• 5” Touchscreen (Base Trim)
• 6.3” Touchscreen (Coast and above Trims)
• USB Port
• Smartphone Interface
• Voice Recognition System
• Fender Volkswagen system

Cargo

The coupe models of the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle have a decent amount of cargo space for this class offering 15.4 cu.ft. of space. The second row does fold down in the 50/50 configuration to offer 29.9 cu.ft. of space. Inside the cabin, there are plenty of spaces for small items, including two glove-boxes.

The Mini Cooper provides a laughable 8.7 cubic feet of space with the second row up. But after folding the seats, it provides 38 cubic feet of space, which is much better than what Beetle provides. Fiat 500X provides the most cargo space with the second row folded and trails Beetle by just 1.3 cubic feet with the second row up.

The exterior design of the Beetle needs no description. It is one of the most recognizable shapes on the road ever since it was first designed. Beetle's arching roof, low front, rear overhangs, curvy fenders, and the big oval headlights are just as memorable as any Italian speedster. No matter how old school the design may be, it still grabs your attention.

In the rear, you'll find a spoiler that adds a sporty dimension to this classic. If you want to further go down memory lane, check out the retro design of the Coast trim's wheels. The top Dune trim is slightly wider and rides a little higher than the rest, which gives it a little off-road look.

In terms of dimensions, the Volkswagen Beetle is of similar dimensions to the Fiat 500 in terms of length, but narrower than the 500X. The Beetle is longer than the Mini Cooper, and the rest of the dimensions are the same. In terms of curb weight, the Beetle is the heaviest of the above cars.

The NHTSA has not yet completed testing of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the tests completed, it has scored 4-stars out of a possible 5-stars. The IIHS has awarded the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle with “good” in all tests except for one “marginal” in the small overlap front. However, Volkswagen has fitted a lot of safety features in the car, some of them are:

• Electronic Stability Control
• ABS and driveline traction control
• side-impact beams
• Low tire pressure warning system
• Multiple airbag systems
• rearview camera
• seat belt pretensioners

Volkswagen Beetle vs Mini Cooper 2-door Hardtop

The Mini Cooper is just as iconic as the Beetle. It offers the style and memorable design of the Beetle in a much better package. It also provides numerous performance and tech upgrades that are not present in the Beetle. One advantage the Beetle has over the Cooper is cargo space. With the second row up, Cooper's cargo space is nowhere near Beetle's. While the Beetle is only available as a hatchback, the Cooper is available in 2-door and 4-door in more body styles.

Volkswagen Beetle vs Fiat 500X

If you want the Beetle's retro design but don't want to spend as much, and won't mind a smaller body, Fiat 500X is the car for you. It may be cheaper and smaller than the Beetle, but it offers one of the most intuitive infotainment systems in the market. The Fiat 500 is athletic and easy to maneuver. The Fiat 500X also has an advantage in cargo storage. While the Beetle has more space with all seats up, the 500X has a 10 cubic feet lead on the Beetle with the rear seats folded. In the back row, passengers enjoy more headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the 500X.

The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle has a lot to offer. With its powerful engine and retro style, there is no denying you would get a lot of attention driving this bug around the town. For a subcompact car that costs as much as the Beetle, you'd expect it to have more to offer. The Beetle gets full marks in terms of style and power, but many rivals offer much more at a more agreeable price. Still, the Beetle was and will remain one of the most memorable cars on the road.