Volkswagen Beetle

The interior design and feel of the Volkswagen Beetle is something to be delightful with, except a few bits here and there. The seats are plush and comfortable and quite spacious too, unlike what the size suggests.

The top model gets V-Tex leatherette seats, while the front ones are heated as well. The multi-function steering wheel is wrapped in premium leather too. The infotainment system has a touch display and Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect. Some of the worthy additions in the cabin are for the convenience of the driver, like a blind-spot and rear parking camera.

The Volkswagen Beetle looks like a cute little car but is decently big on the wheelbase to be of the compact car standards. It portrays a very well-rounded appeal all across, including the dip in the front hood, the wheel arches, and rear tailgate. Even the roofline is sloping to match the slant angle of the front and rear windscreen.

The top-of-the-line model runs on 17-inch alloy wheels with a 10-spoke design. The front section is beefed up with a set of high-intensity Bi-xenon headlights and LED DRLs. Moreover, you can even opt for LED taillights and license plates with the Premium Package

When it comes to the ride quality of the Volkswagen Beetle, the company hasn’t made any compromises. The plush seats, relaxed yet support suspension and the smooth engine combine to offer a joy ride. However, the only place where you could be left complaining is the legroom and headroom for the rear seat, especially when there is a tall occupant inside.

But if you get to the front row or the driver’s seat, you will love how the Beetle drives. It is fast, nimble, agile and easy to manoeuvre in any kind of traffic, thanks to the small dimensions.

The Volkswagen Beetle might look like a chubby car from the outside, but the mechanism under the hood is roaring. It holds a 2.0-litre turbocharged gas engine with an in-line 4-cylinder layout that churns out 175 hp at 5,000 rpm. The maximum torque delivered to the wheels is 184 lb-ft (250 Nm), which kicks in at just 1,500 rpm. The car is very fast off the line and can maintain the pace quite well.

As for the transmission, a 6-speed manual gearbox is standard in all the available models. The box is smooth on the shifts and does not give jolts even when there is crawling traffic ahead.

The Volkswagen Beetle is given disc brakes for the wheels, which also happen to get full-fledged safety kit. The brakes are well managed by Anti-lock Braking System, Hydraulic Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution. Also, there are other active sensors donning in the car, including Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Differential Lock and Engine Brake Assist.

There are airbags all across the interior of the car, including the curtain, side thorax, front and driver’s console. The compact car also happens to have the automatic locking feature, that locks the doors at 8 mp

The Volkswagen Beetle has been around for decades and its evolution has been staggering. The cute-looking car isn’t that sober when you consider how well it can pack a punch with its fire-breathing engine.

However, when you look at the whole compact car scene on a whole, the Beetle does pose as the costlier model and might pinch your pocket heavy.