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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  Love my BHAPPY car! - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By PattiP - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My second New Beetle. This 2003 Aquarius color convert has none of the electical quirks of my first 98. Ive had it now for 9 months and have been nothing but happy with it...in New England weather. Added weight of the top makes it even more stable for slippery driving. Love that top down!

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  drove it, bought it, love it. - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By poppy doing - July 21 - 2:00 am

  im 48, retired, and this is the least expensive car ive ever purchased since getting out of school. i still have and love my v-8 landcruiser, but i drive the beetle as much as possible --- more fun for the buck than any vehicle! i thought it might just be the 6-speed that was so much fun, so i considered trading for a 350z or an rx8 --- drove both ---no way! beetle is more comfortable, roomy, smooth, and makes me feel smart for saving so much money. its clearly not the best performer you can buy, but unless you have a need to race everyone on the road, its satisfying. this is a great car and an unbelievable value.

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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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  Customer VW 1998 tdi beetle - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By John F McCourt 3rd - July 21 - 2:00 am

  The car has been one of the better vehicles that Ive owned and operated and have put on a lot of mileage. The fuel efficiency is very good and the beetle has been very reliable.

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  Love the bug - 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Neus - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Initially had some problems with the top. The problem has since been fixed and works perfectly now. A little bit of trouble at first in getting the boot on without a lot of elbow grease and sweat. Now its easy. Theres not a lot of storage space in the car since I used up the arm rest with the CD player but the trade off for the wonderful sound system is worth it. The back seat is great for groceries but forget passengers for anything more than a short ride. Riders sit low at a 90 degree angle with not a lot of leg room. I bought the wind screen so that uses up the back seat anyway but its a worthwhile purchase.

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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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  I bought a stink bug - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By J. Lewis - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car with 22000 miles on it, it now has 52000. I have replaced both headlights twice, both power window switches, both power window motors, and both window regulators. The cooling fan has quit, two speakers dont work, the interior handles have peeled off, and if youre not a midget you will bump your head on the rattle infested roof.

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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.