2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo

At first glance, this new Beetle not call it the New Beetle looks like a GTI carries an inflated jacket, pack, because it's the same 200-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and six-speed dual-clutch transmission automatically does. Democracy and wheels, rear spoiler, copper, and "Turbo" badge press the picture of a car, eager to prove it for serious. But a few things to keep him back.

No. 1 is dynamic. While the Beetle Turbo swaps the low-income rear torsion of the plebs siblings for a multi-link setup and our car is the sportiest melody was present, a no-cost option, it still feels uncoordinated in the hard disk. There is more than first understeer in a GTI. And broken pavement brings brief impressions that could come back to, but also as a mild oscillatory wobble, qualities, dragging brakes increased. The Beetle rides smoothly and comfortably, yes, but it is too soft to deliver the planted feel of the GTI. There are pronounced acceleration squat, too. A softer and more likely to squat IER "comfort" suspension should be available as you read this.

No. 2 is the DSG gearbox and elsewhere, but here saddled with a wider spread between the ratios and efficiency-at-all-costs upshift programming. The Beetle 'box deliberately hunt at higher speeds and displacements are unclear, even in Sport mode. We longed for the manual. Combine the DSG's behavior with a rotten gas pedal, and the best way for the 2.0-liter crackin 'to get just mat the gas from one source.

But such a launch is working: the beetle squirts to 60 mph in a quick 6.3 seconds, equipped DSG GTI 0.2 behind a three-door and 0.5 seconds quicker than the Jetta GLI. The GTI weighs 41 pounds less than the Beetle, GLI 78 more. And the beetle has other virtues, including its well-fixed seats, well maintained and spacious interior and the evil cartoon style that is robust enough in the sequence? It may, super cute New Beetle.

Our car with a sunroof, navigation, improved audio and the DSG gearbox was fitted, was the bottom line is $ 29,865 and a GTI with similar equipment costs about the same. But the GTI is a better value, just because it can be used as an outlet for fantasies circuit and a comfortable serve daily driver. ? This maximum stability trimmed the beetle is really only for the latter it is a good car, but it is not serious.