- hatchback 32,675
- 4,618 below average
- 9,995 great
- Chicago, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- 4,618 below average hatchback 32,675 gasoline blue
2013 volkswagen beetle review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Convertible joins sleek, new lineup. introductionthe volkswagen beetle was completely redesigned for 2012. For 2013, beetle convertible joins the lineup. as with the coupe, the 2013 beetle convertible is longer, lower and wider than the new beetle, which is what we called the old one that was phased out after the 2010 model year. It feels like a capsule inside than it did before. front legroom is plentiful, but the beetle coupe's rear seat has just 31. 4 inches of legroom, which is 1. 9 inches less than the subcompact toyota yaris, on a wheelbase that's 1. 1 inches longer. Still, two adult passengers will fit back there; they just sit rather upright. the rear hatch area of the beetle coupe is spacious at 15. 4 cubic feet. With the rear seat folded, the coupe has nearly 30 cubic feet of cargo space, and the high-swinging hatchback enables giant things to fit inside, making the coupe handy for hauling. The beetle convertible has a trunk with only 7. 1 cubic feet of space. the beetle seats and trim are neat but not fancy. The bucket seats are simple and comfortable, with excellent bolstering. instrumentation is so clean it's memorable for its rarity. In the center of the big clear speedometer there's a multi-function digital display, accessed with a flick of the driver's right thumb, scrolling a small wheel on the steering wheel. It makes for safe driving. the 2. 5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, with an iron block and dual overhead cams, carries on, delivering 170 horsepower. Torque is 177 pound-feet at 4250 rpm. Acceleration with the 2. 5-liter engine is adequate, and 75 mph on the freeway is smooth and mostly effortless. a 5-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a 6-speed automatic transmission optional. The automatic did not wow us. The automatic has manual shift capability, but it's done with side-to-side movements using the lever. It's better than nothing, but it's not racy. The manual gearbox is satisfying and gives the car pep when accelerating. We recommend the manual. a 2. 0-liter turbo model is also available that comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automated manual that vw calls a dsg for direct shift gearbox. The turbo also has sportier suspension tuning. The 2. 0-liter turbocharged engine makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque at a low 1700 rpm, and it gets about the same fuel mileage as the 2. 5-liter engine although on more expensive premium gasoline. It's hot, with acceleration not far behind a mini cooper s. also available is the tdi turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine, which delivers jaw-dropping torque and fuel mileage on the far side of 40 mpg. The 2. 0-liter turbodiesel delivers 236 pound-feet of torque. The tdi engine has been used successfully for some time in the golf and jetta models and is well-proven. It's clean and runs quietly. coupe or convertible, the beetle chassis is rigid and the body solid, with subframes front and rear, supporting the suspensions. Vw did a lot of work to make the convertible impressively rigid. the base coupe uses a torsion beam rear suspension, but the beetle turbo and all convertibles use a more sophisticated multi-link, for a higher threshold of cornering. The freeway ride in the base coupe doesn't suffer for the torsion beam. It's comfortable and consistent. Potholes don't hurt, but rough pavement can make the rear end of the coupe want to dance. The other models are more composed over rough pavement. lineupthe 2013 beetle model lineup includes 2. 5l, turbo and tdi models in coupe and convertible body styles with additional models defined by extra equipment. Special edition 1950s, '60s and '70s models are also available in the convertible lineup. The base engine is a 170-horsepower 2. 5-liter 5-cylinder. Turbos get a 200-horsepower 2. 0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Tdis are powered by a 2. 0-liter turbocharged diesel engine that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. the beetle 2. 5l coupe 19,795) comes with v-tex leatherette (vinyl) upholstery, air conditioning, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable front seats with driver's side lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, split folding rear seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, am/fm/cd/mp3 player, auxiliary input jack, ipod interface, bluetooth cell phone link, theft-deterrent system, and p215/55hr17 tires on alloy wheels. The beetle 2. 5l convertible 24,995) adds an interior air filter, satellite radio, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, rear spoiler, and a power convertible top. the beetle coupe is offered with three additional 2. 5l models. They start with the 2. 5l sunroof 22,295), which adds a sunroof, a center console, keyless access and starting, satellite radio, and steering wheel audio controls. The 2. 5l fender edition 24,440) gets the sunroof equipment, plus a fender sound system, bi-xenon headlights, and p235/45r18 tires. The '50s edition 26,095) comes with tan leather upholstery, a center console, black paint, and unique alloy wheels inspired by steel wheels from the 1950s. The 2. 5l technology model 26,695) adds a center console, keyless access and starting, satellite and hd radio, and steering wheel audio controls. The 2. 5l sound/navigation 28,495) gets that equipment, plus a navigation system, the fender sound system and p235/45r18 tires. The '70s edition model 28,595) comes with the sound/navigation equipment, plus toffee brown paint, tan upholstery, and chrome disc-style wheels. the turbo coupe 23,395) and convertible 27,795) add to the 2. 5l model fog lights, sport-tuned suspension, and p235/45hr18 tires. The coupe also gets cloth upholstery, a center console, and a rear spoiler. The turbo coupe is offered in sunroof/sound, fender edition and sunroof/sound/navigation models that mirror the equipment on similar 2. 5l models. The turbo convertible also gets a '60s edition model 32,395) with the navigation system, leather upholstery, 6-speed automated-manual transmission, center console, keyless access and starting, fender sound system, satellite and hd radio, and steering-wheel audio controls. the tdi coupe 23,295) and convertible 27,895) add to the 2. 5l steering-wheel audio controls, center console, keyless access and starting, and satellite radio. The convertible also gets hd radio. Like the other models, the tdi is offered with additional equipment. The coupe comes as the tdi sunroof and tdi sunroof/sound/navigation models, while the convertible adds only the tdi sound/navigation model. safety equipment on the coupe includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, antilock disc brakes, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, a tire-pressure monitor, and volkswagen's advanced intelligent crash response system that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights under some crash situations. The convertible also adds automatic pop-up roll bars. It's not quite as cute and feminine, but it is just as identifiable as it's ever been. The coupe's coefficient of drag is 0. 37, a good number that still lags behind some competitors, and reveals the legacy of a round bug. The beetle convertible comes in at a close 0. 38 cd. The 2012 honda civic, by comparison, slips in under 0. 32. (a lower number is better.) looking head-on at the beetle, it's wide and chubby enough that the lines are actually horizontal. A narrow black mouth under the bumper spans the face like a pinched grin, under perky headlamps like eyes, and a hood seam that seems to define a wide nose, having one chrome nostril with vw in it. at profile, the good-looking roofline is like a stylish tight arc, reminiscent of the 2005 concept car called the ragster, which had the look of a chopped-top hot rod. the wheel cutouts are perfect semi-circles dropping down toward the pavement. In contrast to the smooth curves of sheet metal everywhere else, the fender flares have squared edges, offering contrasting definition to the shape. the beetle coupe might be called a hatchback. The rear gate is massive. Vw had to make no compromises to the car's shape for the utility of cargo loading. When the hatch is closed, it flows invisibly into the car's roundness. the convertible, on the other hand, has a trunk that sits below the hold for the convertible soft top. The top opens in just 9. 5 seconds and closing in 11 at speeds up to 31 mph. It's like the old bug, in a welcome way. volkswagen does gauges well, and the beetle's are super clean. There's a big speedometer in the center, insanely optimistic at 160 mph, with organic white numbers and red needles. A small tach sits to the left of the speedo, balanced on the right by a big analog fuel gauge. The tdi has an additional instrument pod with oil temperature and turbo boost gauges, plus a.
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