1998 Volkswagen New Beetle Review

Volkswagen's New Beetle should fly well.
This solid coupe's fetching retro appearance will go a long way toward selling it, and it generally is fun to drive.

The new model starts at $15,200 and goes on sale later this month. It shares the old Beetle's silhouette, but is wider, taller, faster, safer and about 700 pounds heavier than the old Beetle--dropped here in 1979.

The old Beetle looked cute, but the heftiness of the new Mexican-made model makes it look like a much more serious car. Curiously, the New Beetle's initial styling was done by young J. Mays, who is Ford Motor's new styling chief.

The old and new models drive as if from different planets. The old Beetle was slow, noisy and cramped, while the New Beetle is fairly quick and quiet with plenty of room--at least up front.

Rear seats fold flat to enlarge the modest cargo area, although the shape of the hatchback's opening makes it awkward to load things. Owners must be careful because the underside of the folded seat is susceptible to damage from cargo.

The New Beetle actually looks like a customized version of the old Beetle. That's partly because its plastic bumpers are integrated with the body and are the same color as the fenders; it looks as if clunky chrome bumpers were removed to streamline the styling.

Even the nifty steering wheel, which has brushed aluminum spokes, resembles a custom item. But the interior is reminiscent of the old model, with a large speedometer, dashboard bud vase and hefty grab straps on inside door pillars.

The old Beetle didn't have a tachometer. The New Beetle has what looks like the world's smallest tachometer and fuel gauge, and all gauges are illuminated at night by funky indigo blue lighting.

The old Beetle had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and rear-wheel drive. The new one has just the opposite setup: a water-cooled engine up front and front-wheel drive. It's based on Volkswagen's latest Golf model--a top seller in Europe that won't be here until 1999.

The New Beetle has rather vague, slow steering, which is surprising for a German car. Handling is good, thanks to a firm suspension and front/rear stabilizer bars. And the ride is decent despite a fairly short 98.9-inch wheelbase because the all-independent suspension is supple.

But some bumps jolt occupants, and the ride in the backseat isn't as good as it is up front because rear occupants sit much closer to the rear wheels.

Disc brakes stop the car quickly and surely, although they're controlled by a sensitive pedal that takes getting used to.

The $15,200 model has a 2-liter, 115-horsepower four-cylinder overhead-camshaft gasoline engine and a $16,475 model is powered by a 1.9-liter, turbocharged diesel four-cylinder with 90 horsepower.

Coming this fall is a hot rod 150-horsepower gas-engine New Beetle, which will cost about $18,000. Four-wheel-drive and convertible models are expected within the next three or four years to keep interest high.

Unlike the old Beetle, the new one is well-equipped. Standard are power steering with a tilt and telescopic wheel, air conditioning, reclining front seats with manual height adjustment, AM/FM stereo with rather dismal sound quality, rear defroster, lighted vanity mirrors and beverage holders.

About those holders: they're not very deep and are tucked under the center of the dashboard, virtually ensuring spills.

Also standard are an alarm system, remote trunk and fuel-filler releases and a central door locking system with a remote control. There even are front- and side-impact air bags.

Options include a $690 power glass sunroof, $700 leather interior, $300 anti-lock brakes, $470 Convenience Package with power windows and cruise conrol, $410 Sport Package with alloy wheels and fog lights, $150 Cold Weather Package with heated seats, $295 CD player and a $69 ashtray.

Most buyers are expected to get the gasoline engine, but Volkswagen diesel models have a loyal following in this country. The diesel has excellent low-end punch and provides an impressive, estimated 41 m.p.g. in the city and 48 on highways, compared to 23 and 29 for the gasoline motor.

The gas model is very quiet at idle and hums contentedly at highway speeds. It does 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 11.5 seconds and provides better performance than the diesel at higher speeds. Acceleration is quick off the line and during merges. Top speed with the faster gas-engine model is 113 m.p.h.--without a tailwind.

Performance-oriented gearing allows decent vehicle-passing times on highways without downshifting out of fifth. But that gearing also causes the gas motor to spin at a busy 3,100 to 3,500 r.p.m. at typical highway speeds--much faster than with other small cars. The engine never loafs at higher speeds.

The best performance is with the standard five-speed manual transmission, but the $875 four-speed automatic shifts well and doesn't stifle performance too much. New Beetle owners in congested areas are best off with the automatic, although the car is more fun with the manual.

Nearly all old Beetles had a manual transmission, and some 60 percent of New Beetle buyers are expected to get a manual. It's a short-throw unit, but is notchy when rushed and works with a light, long-throw clutch. The shift gate should be better defined, because it's easy when in a hurry to miss the first gear slot and partly enter nearby reverse gear territory--and thus get an unpleasant ``grunch'' sound.

It almost seems as if you're in an old General Motors minivan when in the front seats--as if you're driving from the backseat. That's because the dashboard top is extremely long, the windshield sits far forward and there are thick front pillars, which sometimes obstruct visibility.

The interior looks inviting, despite cheap-looking plastic inner door panels and door tops that are matte-finished plastic done in body color.

It's roomy up front in the quiet interior, where large bucket seats provide good support. Sound system and climate controls are easily reached, but are too small for a driver to work quickly and safely when under way. And the manually adjustable driver's seat should be offered with power controls.

Dashboard controls work smoothly. But controls for the power windows are flush on the door, causing an unnatural twist of a hand to operate. And the tiny sun visors are useless for blocking sun from the side. The outside rearview mirrors also should be larger, especially since thick rear roof pillars obstruct visibility from the driver's seat.

The glovebox has a big door, but--surprise!--a small shelf. And the handbrake occupies the area where many cars have a center console with a storage area.

Long doors and flip-forward seats make it easy to enter the backseat area. But the hard rear seat has insufficient head room for tall adults because of the sloping roofline. And rear windows don't roll down.

Many former Beetle owners have been waiting a long time for the New Beetle. Well, it's finally here and is it's no disappointment.