Beetle opens up

The Beetle reboot continues with Volkswagen taking the car to the next, and logical, step in its evolution: going roofless. Of course Volkswagen has been here before; previous iterations of the ‘new’ Beetle boasted a cabriolet variant. However, as you would expect, evolution has brought a number of welcome improvements.

Like its tin-top cousin, this car is a little bigger than the one it replaces — it’s a fraction longer and wider. Carrying capacity is up, with occupants fore and aft benefiting from more room, plus boot space has increased to more respectable levels.

The car’s cabin is roomy enough up front, with just enough space in the back for adults if the journey isn’t too long — this improvement is largely thanks to the Beetle’s enlarged dimensions. Of course, with the roof down headroom is considerably better for all occupants, and greatly helps access to the otherwise snug rear part of the cabin.

Volkswagen has decided to pitch the car higher up the premium ladder this time, and satnav, climate control, premium audio and leather all appear on the options list. The list of standard kit is good too, with features such as air conditioning, DAB radio, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and parking sensors spread across the three trim levels.

Most seasoned observers will bristle at the use of the word ‘sporty’ in the context of something distinctly un-sporting like the Beetle, and while Volkswagen is keen to promote the Beetle as such, it’s fair to say it’s a more willing participant than its older cousin.

Urban motoring duties do much to highlight the car’s agility and willingness to change direction. It’s not a small car, yet this never proves a handicap around town and the slightly raised seating position helps boost forward visibility.

Although a sport suspension option exists, in standard guise the car copes well with the usual array of urban surface imperfections. Furthermore, the lack of a proper roof appears not to have spoilt the experience — only the roughest of roads will prompt the odd shake from the cabin.

Away from the city the Beetle acquits itself well to demands of faster roads and more challenging corners. It’s no Golf GTI, but it’s good to know that a brisk pace can be maintained. Realistically the drop-top Beetle prefers a more sedate pace, and although engine choice mirrors that of the tin-top car, the low-powered petrol engines better suit its relaxed gait.

Not only will the petrol 1.2 TSI be easy on your wallet, it also performs better than it really deserves to in the real world. The Beetle Cabriolet isn’t a lightweight car, yet the engine delivers enough thrust to cope with all of life’s challenges despite its modest output. Factor in a slick, optional, direct shift DSG auto gearbox if you want to make the driving experience even more effortless.

First-hand experience of this third generation modern day Beetle Cabriolet reveals that it’s a more engaging and rewarding experience than before and a genuine head-turner — various styling cues offer a more clearly defined link with the car that started it all.

The good news continues with a car capable of cosseting you when on the move, while helping to make the ownership experience a pleasant one thanks largely to the practical nature of its power folding roof. With all this progress is it now a question of third time lucky for Volkswagen’s latest generation Beetle convertible? It’s certainly shaping up to be the case.