Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen, struck PR gold by re-commissioning the iconic Beetle here stateside in the late 1990s, building on a design resonating with a wide swath of age ranges and demographics.
The dome-shaped three-door hatchback streamed into consciousness worldwide after World War II as an affordable transport thriving with a 'back to basics' mantra. Impassioned designer Ferdinand Porsche debuted the iconic design in Germany in the late 1930s as attainable transportation for the working class. Nothing fancy, just get from point A to point B while delivering decent fuel economy and miles of personality. Great designs never fade out of style.
The "New Beetle" arrived prior to the new millennia after a 20 year Beetle absence in the U.S. with the engine compartment now tucked up front while incorporating front-wheel drive. During its first half century, rear-engine and rear drive ruled the road. A next-generation New Beetle platform arrived during the 2012 model year incorporating a longer hood, wider stance and lower roof profile.
Over the years, VW has introduced retro trims, themed concepts adding a new wave of variety to the trusty Beetle. For 2016, the 'Dune' variant joins the fray.
'Dune' conjours up an assortment of mind-wandering visuals. While a rolling sand hill is probably top of most minds, the 1984 David Lynch-directed Sci-Fi thriller of the same name dances around inside my head. Even after three decades, the many pre-computer-generated-animation special effects hold up well.
Anyway, Dune's altered front and rear facias, unique side molding, a raised height (0.4 inches) and wider track create rugged, macho exterior in a model with sales normally skewed towards the softer sex. Three exterior colors unique to Dune include: Sandstorm Yellow Metallic (highly recommended), Pure White and Deep Black Pearl. Dune comes as a hard top and later this summer with a power-operated soft-top opportunity. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels eminate a continuing 'Y" theme. Hard to miss: dark "Dune" decaling highlighting door bottoms.
All 2016 Beetles, including Dune, receive an updated in-dash center touchscreen interface. Dune's 6.3-inch color screen now connects, communicates and interacts more effectively with Smartphones and their downloadable applications. Connect up with a USB cable, and smartphone home screens pair up with the in-dash infotainment system. Dune editions feature a satellite radio subscription and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
Beetle shuns away from trendy wrap-around headlight housing, opting instead for bold, round oval-ish eyeball design inspiring the well-deserved 'Bug' nickname. Front and rear fenders exude bold, flared curves like flexing muscles. Combined with the Sandstone hue, this Beetle gives new meaning to the catch phrase 'Golden Arches." A narrow spoiler-type appendage butts out from the rear window's bottom frame.
Another inspired incorporation of the round/dome theme into mechanics: the hatch latch. The stacked, worldly recognizable V atop W circular logo performs double duty. In addition to obvious PR highlights, the disc-like design lifts up from the bottom like a flat pancake, unlocking the top-hinged hatch. Facing, "C-shaped" light emitting diode (LED) tail light housings flank the lower hatch door, replacing circular shapes retired in 2011. The 14.5 gallon tank accepts regular, 87-octane fuel.
Don't expect performance-type handling in this entry-skewed vehicle, but Beetle remains a pleasant, dependable and easy vehicle to drive. Coupe pricing checks in a bit higher than many two-door compact rivals, but Beetle soft-top convertibles remain a bargain by comparison.
Starting price for a Beetle Dune edition: $23,995. Our Sandstone Yellow Metallic tester's bottom line ended at $25,065 after a $250 exterior paint cost and $820 destination charge. A conventional VW Beetle hard top starts a shade under $20,000.
All 'Dune' variants feature VW's turbocharged 1.8-liter, 16-valve four cylinder standard, delivering 182 horses and teamed with a standard six-speed automatic transmission.
For the remaining 2016 model year, conventional Beetles include a new-for-2016 value-drive S trim. The 1.8 turbocharged four cylinder now powers all trims: S, SE and SEL. A four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbodiesel was to be optional in SE and SEL (as it was from 2012 through 2015), but VW finds itself in a self-induced PR quagmire with regards to this 2.0-liter diesel and emission test tinkering. For the foreseeable future, these diesels fall under a stop-sale order at VW dealerships.
Conventional 2016 Beetles also offer a sporty R-line option. Think of R-Line as Volkswagen's up-market sub brand with sporty seats, tweaked suspensions and available manual transmission. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pumping 210 horses also differentiates Beetle's R-Line.
Ease of simplicity best describes the welcome and intuitive interior layout thanks to a user friendly, rather old-school design. Three circular, easy-to-grab dials monitor fan speed, temperature and direction with a few push buttons above for summoning air condition, rear-window defroster and optional heated seats. Towards the bottom of center column; an open dish region containing USB ports to portable electronics.
Highlighting interior artistry: sandstone stitching that graces the leather-wrapped manual-tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, transmission shifter, pull-type mechanical parking brake handle and all four bucket seats. The identical Sandstone exterior hue shows up as top-side door framing, and center dash insert facing; contrasting sharply against primary black coloring.
Heavy side doors benefit from extra-large, sturdy grab bars. Small chrome pull handles reside high atop doors within proximity to side-view power mirrors. Adjustments for these mirrors and power locks reside adjacent to the handles. Dual in-line beverage holders rest between Dune's cloth/leatherette bucket seats. A narrow arm rest lifts up and back if prodded.
The rather deep-set instrument panel inside airy half-circle framing includes a three-clover like design with large circular speedometer flanked by smaller, attached three-quarter dials with right-side fuel gauge and left-side temperature gauge. Along the bottom of the speedometer circle is a digital message window with push controls summoned at 3 o'clock on the steering wheel face. Shot-gun guests enjoy the convenience of not one, but two glove boxes, including a fashionable top tier and its top-side hinged door opening up to a rather shallow grove.
Unlike too-many compact rivals, Beetle Dune smartly markets itself as a four seater. Two adults fit comfortably in back. The arched roof provides ample front headroom while rear passengers six-feet one-inch and shorter will find enough clearance. Manually maneuvering front buckets slide fore and aft when seated with the aid of a large, easily grabable sub-cushion pull ring. Seatbacks tilt forward once a top-mounted tab engages, allowing the entire unit to slide forward when contorting into the back. Row two 50/50 split seatbacks fold down, gaining extra cargo-carrying capacity. A temporary spare is found under the cargo floor.
2016 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
Price as tested: $25,065
Engine: 1.8-liter turbo four cylinder
Horsepower: 170
Fuel estimates: 25 mpg city/ 34 mpg highway
Length: 168.4 inches
Wheelbase: 100.0 inches
Height: 58.5 inches
Width: 71.2 inches
Curb weight: 3,093 pounds
Drivetrain warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles
Assembly: Puebla, Mexico
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