Overview & Reviews

The Volkswagen New Beetle was the cute car that started the retro-futurist design craze. It was a modernized version of the legendary VW Beetle and struck a chord with consumers who had grown tired of standard conservative car designs and had fond memories of the "Bugs" from their youth.

But that was 1998. As more than a decade passed without a major redesign, the New Beetle started to seem like a retro version of itself. With sales dropping steadily, VW decided to discontinue the New Beetle after the 2010 model year. A redesigned model, just called the Beetle, debuted a year later.

Shopping for a used New Beetle is pretty straightforward. It didn't change much, so you can shop mostly on price and mileage, though paying attention to engine availability through the years will likely be useful.

Most Recent Volkswagen New Beetle
The first-generation Volkswagen New Beetle was produced from 1998-2010. It was initially only offered as a two-door hatchback, and the convertible showed up for 2003.

Although the New Beetle was based on the Golf platform from the late 1990s, it had less interior space than today's Golf (and the '90s Golf for that matter) as well as most other compact hatchbacks. The front seats were roomy, but the same couldn't be said of the back. Trunk space was tight in the hatchback and even tighter in the convertible. The convertible came with a power-folding top as standard.

Models up to 2005 used the GL, GLS and GLX designations to reflect the various trim levels, as well as a standard 115-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual was standard on the Volkswagen New Beetle, with a four-speed automatic usually optional. A 100-hp 1.9-liter turbodiesel was also offered (the TDI trim) until the end of 2006, when it failed to meet new emissions regulations.

Until the last few years of its lengthy life, turbocharged gasoline engines were a big part of the New Beetle's trim lineup. Sold from 1999-2005, the New Beetle 1.8T was powered by a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, which put out 150 hp. From 2002-'04, VW included the Turbo S trim in the coupe lineup. It was equipped with a retuned 180-hp version of the 1.8T turbo engine and a six-speed manual transmission. For 2006 and thereafter, the only gasoline-powered engine available was a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produced 150 hp and was coupled to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

As the years wore on, Volkswagen added a few features like satellite radio, but changes to the equipment level were light, as the car was pretty well-equipped with items such as air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and in later years, heated seats.

Volkswagen released several special-edition models, though, including limited-edition colors and trim packages. For 2002, VW added a Sport edition, which essentially was a 1.8T with a five-speed manual, 17-inch wheels and a leather interior.

In reviews, we found that the Volkswagen New Beetle excelled at what it was built for -- cruising and being seen in. It was a good choice for young singles or retired folks who only rarely needed a backseat, but other hatchbacks were far more practical. The original base engine was pokey and unrefined, so finding one of the turbocharged units would be a wise idea. The subsequent five-cylinder offered just as much power as the previous turbocharged engines and was more efficient, but wasn't as energetic and sapped some fun out of the Beetle. Those interested in the convertible should be aware that rearview visibility is poor with the top up or down.

User Reviews:

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  My dream car is a lemon :( - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Andrea - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted a bug, and made it a goal to purchase one. I bought this car brand new off the lot with 4 miles on it. After 4 months of bliss, this car became a nightmare. I have had prolems with the oil light, check engine light, airbag light, coolant light, and the malfunction indicator light. It has had the following items replaced: a seatbelt, the faulty window brackets that all the beetles had, the instrument cluster (2 times), all 4 cylinder coils, a piece to the trunk latch system, and last but not least, that car is getting a whole new engine put in it now!!! I am very very very disappointed and have lost faith in Volkswagon. :(

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  My dream car is a lemon :( - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By andrea - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I always wanted a bug, and made it a goal to purchase one. I bought this car brand new off the lot with 4 miles on it. After 4 months of bliss, this car became a nightmare. I have had prolems with the oil light, check engine light, airbag light, coolant light, and the malfunction indicator light. It has had the following items replaced: a seatbelt, the faulty window brackets that all the beetles had, the instrument cluster (2 times), all 4 cylinder coils, a piece to the trunk latch system, and last but not least, that car is getting a whole new engine put in it now!!! I am very very very disappointed and have lost faith in Volkswagon. :(

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  They aint like they use to be! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Waterford - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Interior upholstry impossible to clean. Interior door handles peel - very poor quality of rubber coating. They dont make them like they use to.

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  Punch Buggy, MellowYellow - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By NancyB - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I love my VW! It is stylish, fun, comfortable and cute. It has enough room for two adults and two small kids, as long as luggage is not a priority but it isnt a car for a long trip for other than two. The back seat is too upright but there is plenty of room in the front. The fit and finish is excellent and the top is tight and dry. Overall, it is the most fun car I have even owned.

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  Beetle - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By alicat715@aol.com - July 11 - 5:16 am

  I thought this would be a fun, cool car and I hate it!! I cant wait to get out of my lease. Its cute...and thats about it. Every perk about the car is cosmetic. It looks nice. Thats about the only thing I like about it. The cup holders are small...only can use one. The engine is small--NO power. I had an 8 yr old ask me, "Bugs are slow, huh?" b/c there is no power. I should have got the turbo engine...I might have been a little more satisfied.

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  2000 beetle - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By jmass - July 6 - 10:43 pm

  Aesthetically fun car and very fun to drive. Durable exterior. Some pieces of interior are not very well-made, cup holder not well-engineered, sensors on dash not always reliable. Recent vehicle emission recall was issued.

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  Fun car....but there are issues - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kris - July 3 - 8:50 am

  I bought my 06 after a ton of research. I really love my car, its fun to drive and i get pretty good gas mileage. Ive had a TON of issues with my dealership, so dont go to Fladebo in Irvine CA. Also, my car kept overheating and my temp light kept flashing red. It took 4 days for the dealership to fix it and the entire coolant system had to be replaced (thankfully it was covered by my warranty). My top gets stuck sometimes too, and wont go all the way down. Surprisingly good trunk and passenger space. My husband is 62" and has lots of leg room. The car drives pretty well, but it can be really bumpy. By far one of the best convertibles for under 25K.

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  not for short trips - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Marla - June 20 - 3:40 pm

  I purchased a diesel specifically so I could run it on biodiesel made from used cooking oil. I was in touch with a good source for an unlimited supply of bio and not sending money overseas to people who dont like America so I was happy until...I had a $2,000 bill to clean the engine due to it being "carboned up". It basically stopped running because it was clogged up with carbon. My driving needs and style are mainly to blame since I take short trips, many not on the highway so the engine doesnt get to warm up and clean out. If I were still commuting 100 miles per day this would be a perfect vehicle but not for the driving Im doing now. It got 40 MPG and smelled great running bio.

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  Electrical Faults - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By mark wheeler - June 20 - 2:53 am

  My 2000 Volkswagen Beetle is fun to drive, but has had multiple electrical problems. The gas cap release failed at 250 miles followed by the drivers window motor at 12 months, 6 days and 7,500 miles, followed by the battery at 23 months, the speaker wiring at three years and the radio at four years. The dealer tried to make me cover the window motor because I was six days out of warranty but I shamed him into doing it gratis. I plan on replacing the VW with a more reliable Japanese car.

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  Its worth the few flaws!! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By kassidyheath - June 10 - 12:01 pm

  I bought this car last year with 100,000 miles on it, and throughout the additional 16,000 miles ive driven, the problems have been minor, few, and far between. I felt confident buying it with so many miles already on it because Volkswagen engines seem to be bulletproof. Initially when idling, the engine would have a tendency to overheat in the Florida summers but having a mechanic for a father and adjusting the cooling system there havent been any problems since. The transmission is a little rough during acceleration and deceleration, but its 14 years old. I rear ended a pickup once pretty hard and the truck suffered a lot worse than the Beetle! Very safe, love this car.