Review: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Likes:

Ergonomics amount to a fun, casual experience, and comfortable drive
User-friendly control panel that has lots of features without too many buttons
Zippy on flat/downhill surfaces
Can be driven by a male… mostly

Dislikes:

Styling identity crisis – “more masculine” doesn’t mean “masculine”
Zippines felt on flat surfaces loses to a little gravity
Bluetooth works fine for streaming music but phone call features are almost worthless
[Electrical system concerns – rear window issues on a nearly-new bug]

The 2013 Beetle Convertible is to automobiles what the beach cruiser is to the world of bicycles. It’s comfortable and casual with a generally fun vibe. It’s also a ride that, while socially acceptable for a guy, won’t make anyone think more highly of your masculinity.

As a vehicle that knows it’s not a sports car or a practical coupe, the Beetle lives up to what it should be. A car that is easy drive, comfortable ride in, and has a good set of features. The sum of which make the Beetle a solid contender in a small class of niche automobiles that would include the likes of the Fiat 500 or MINI Cooper.

Driving Impressions

The Beetle acted about like we expected. The 2.5L engine produces 170 horsepower, which is enough to feel peppy on flat surfaces but won’t take your breath away in a 0-60. We really would have preferred the Beetle Turbo’s 210 ponies for a quick spin on mountain roads where the 2.5L felt weak.

The one-word summary of drive “feel” would be smooth. Accelerating was quick without being jerky, steering was responsive but not jarring, and braking was simultaneously fast without whiplashing you. Weight was distributed evenly enough and low enough to feel comfortable on corners but mind the drift on sharper turns.

Vehicle Description and Trim

We drove the Beetle 2.5L Convertible, 70’s edition, which includes the sound and navigation options and, of course, an Instagram-filter style retro brown paint job. This model has a sticker price of $28,595 and includes the full array of bells-and-whistles you can get on the 2013 Beetle. That means you get the Fender sound system, keyless entry with push-button start, satellite radio, the RNS 315 nav-system, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The options available felt like a comfortable level of what you’d expect from a just-under-30k vehicle. We were mildly surprised at heated seats which come standard, but felt out of place for an otherwise midrange car. However, once we drove after sunset with the top down they were a welcome addition.

Interior Comfort and Ergonomics

Ergonomics were a tale of two interiors on the Beetle. We appreciated a number of features where the bug shines, but a few flaws make us wary of the long-term investment in buying one.

We’ll start with the good. Driving the Beetle was just short of plopping down in your favorite recliner – that is, it’s a good sit. Controls were easy to reach and intuitive to use. The convertible top would fold up/fold down quickly and didn’t stop operating the second you started moving(an annoyance of many convertible models), which is great for stoplight roof changes. The steering wheel, though a little plastic-feeling, had a refined matte finish that feels good in your hands. And even little details like a flush, rounded window sill to rest your left arm on made for a refinded driving experience.

Unfortunately we also found a few quirks and some outright flaws in the vehicle’s design. First, the quirks: the seat reclining lever requires “pumping” – you have to pull the lever up 3-4 inches to recline an inch (and push it down to move back up an inch). That means it takes much longer than it should to get to a fully reclined position.

The Beetle would occasionally emit a beep when going over speed bumps or train tracks. We assume this was some kind of warning, but there was no text displayed on the instrument console or center display panel to let you know why the car was mad at you.

Beyond quirks, there were some outright flaws we noticed in the Beetle’s design. While it worked well for streaming Pandora, we had severe issues with placing calls using the Bluetooth system. The system itself was simple to use and paired easily with an iPhone, but in attempting to speak with another party the system was just unusable. With the top up and on the move, our phone conversation was mostly “What? I seriously can’t make out what you’re saying.” And when the top goes down, just forget about using that feature. Even when at a complete stop, the other end of the line picked up way too much ambient noise for a phone call to be practical.

Can we go for a ride? Can we, can we?

One issue we encountered was a rear right window that got stuck in the rolled-down position. This is most likely a fluke, but it did make us a little wary of the electrical systems in the Beetle. Eventually, we got the window working again by lifting both rear window power switches simultaneously. Weird.

What Others are Saying About the Car?

We generally agree with what our neighbors are saying around the web. The Truth About Cars has a quality post and video review, including a deeper insight into trunk concerns:

Edmunds makes some great observations on how VW has managed to “beef up” the 2013 models while keeping them true to their playful roots.

While we got to drive the 2.5L model, Autoblog reviewed the diesel-powered TDI with a focus on the extra MPGs you can expect from North America’s only diesel convertible. We think the TDI could be a good option, especially if you’re willing to take fewer horsepower (140 vs. the 2.5L’s 170) in exchange for a 41 MPG rating.

Modern Nostalgia

If you’re looking for a Beetle, you know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s not a sports car. It’s not a mass-market commuter. It really lives in a niche of vehicles whose premium offering is nostalgia, and in the same class as the MINI Cooper or the Fiat 500. If you want something fun with a twist down memory lane, and in those dimensions the 2013 Beetle Convertible delivers.

2013 VW Beetle 2.5 Convertible