2012 Volkswagen Beetle Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Volkswagen Beetle overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Beetle, and includes VW Beetle safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The four-passenger 2012 Volkswagen Beetle represents the third generation of the iconic VW Bug that first hit U.S. shores in 1949. Today’s model is considerably different from the original with its front-engine, front-wheel-drive design. Turbocharged, turbo-diesel and traditional gasoline-powered versions are available, competing with models like the Mini Cooper, the Honda Civic Coupe and the Volvo C30.

It’s hard to believe that a car could be on the market for the better part of sixty years and only be significantly redesigned twice, but, until now, that has indeed been the case for the Volkswagen Beetle (or New Beetle if you’re talking about the 1998-2011 generation). At that rate, one could assume that the next round of significant changes would arrive sometime in the next twenty or thirty years.

As it turns out, we won’t have to wait that long. For 2012, Volkswagen introduces the third iteration of the Beetle with a modern interpretation of the car’s iconic styling. With that comes a level of comfort, convenience and drivability that the original couldn’t have dreamed of and the New Beetle didn’t quite deliver.

Specifically, the 2012 VW Beetle is larger than its predecessor in many respects; it has a lower and wider stance that, coupled with the relatively flat roofline, gives the car a more hunkered-down appearance; it’s available with a selection of different engines, transmissions, and chassis components; and the list of features includes must-have amenities like Bluetooth connectivity, a booming Fender audio system, and an expansive moonroof.

Volkswagen is offering the 2012 Beetle in a variety of trims, some powered by a standard five-cylinder engine and others by a turbocharged four-banger shared with the GTI and Jetta GLI. A clean-diesel TDI variant will be added to the lineup later in the year, though no details were available when this review was written.

If you’re a fan of the redesigned Beetle’s styling and would be perfectly content with an entry-level model, the Beetle is for you. That’s a bit confusing, as the 2012 Beetle’s base trim level is called the Beetle, which would make it the Beetle Beetle. Perhaps they’ll be the new delivery vehicles for Little Caesars Pizza. Drivers would probably be quite happy with that, since even this basic model comes equipped with that five-cylinder engine, as well as air conditioning, cloth seats, a sound system with a CD player and auxiliary input jack, a leather-wrapped adjustable steering wheel, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, and 17-inch alloy wheels. That’s a good bit of loot, however, if you’re interested in an automatic transmission, you’re out of luck – this trim is only available with a five-speed manual.

Next in line is the 2.5, accented by body-color exterior trim, leatherette upholstery and carpeted floor mats. The list of amenities goes on to include heated front seats and windshield wiper nozzles, a multi-function trip computer that provides digital displays of stats like speed and average fuel economy, interior mood lighting built into the door panels and speakers, Bluetooth hands-free calling capability, and a cable hookup for your iPod. Drivers are treated to a height-adjustable seat with manual lumbar and, if they choose to pay a bit more, a Tiptronic six-speed automatic transmission.

All of the 2.5’s standard features are also on the 2.5 With Sunroof variant. In addition to a panoramic tilt-and-slide glass panel sunroof, this Beetle moves up the content ladder with a push-button ignition system, dual gloveboxes, an adjustable center armrest up front, and a touch-screen audio system with satellite radio, a six-disc CD changer, and secondary controls located on the steering wheel.

The King of the five-cylinder-powered Bugs is the 2.5 with Sunroof, Sound and Navi. Either Volkswagen ran into a character-limit issue, or Navi is the hip way of saying navigation, as in a five-inch touch-screen system integrated with the sound system. That, by the way, isn’t your run-of-the-mill car stereo. Fender, the famous maker of guitars and other instruments, worked with Panasonic to develop a 400-watt audio package that’s capable of drowning out the incessant nagging of a passenger, the sound of police sirens coming from behind, and more. A set of 18-inch alloy wheels are also standard.

That covers the Beetle’s 2.5 trims, but we’re not done. Volkswagen also offers three turbocharged variants: Turbo, Turbo with Sunroof and Sound, and Turbo with Sunroof, Sound and Navi.

The base Turbo starts off where the entry-level Beetle stops by adding Bluetooth, iPod compatibility, interior mood lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, carpeted floor mats, the multi-function trip computer, as well as heated washer nozzles and front seats. Items not found on the 2.5-liter models include a rear spoiler, fog lights, a trio of dash-top gauges, aluminum foot pedals, and larger front brake rotors. A sport-tuned suspension is available, as is Volkswagen’s acclaimed six-speed DSG automated manual transmission. A Beetle Turbo with Sunroof and Sound adds the Fender audio system to the list of standard features, while paddle shifters enter the mix as an option for DSG-equipped models.

Finally, we have the 2012 Beetle Turbo with Sunroof, Sound and Navi. Content matches the non-turbo version with the exception of leather upholstery and available upgrades including HID headlights (with LED daytime running lights) and 19-inch alloys.

For those not familiar with the modern-day Beetle, you should know that, unlike the original, the engine and powered wheels are at the front of the car. The base version and all of the 2.5 trims are motivated by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder mill that puts out 170 horses and 177 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission will be available late in the model year, meaning the first examples to arrive in showrooms will be equipped with a six-speed automatic that does its part to earn EPA ratings of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Option #2 is the more powerful – and more efficient – 2.0-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine. Output measures 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, which is collectively delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or VW’s six-speed DSG automated manual gearbox. Again, the stick-shift will be made available later in the year. Fuel economy for DSG-equipped Turbo models should average 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Apologies if you’ve tired of reading “later in the model year,” but we need to use that phrase one more time. A Beetle TDI variant, fitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine that delivers 140 horses and 236 pound-feet of torque, is slated to make its debut in the 2012 calendar year. Six-speed manual and DSG transmissions will be available, and fuel economy is expected to reach 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Oh, how far the Beetle, or Bug, has come. Back in its early days, automotive safety was such that car shoppers snapped up cars that, in this case, amounted to little more than a steel shell and an engine, which was located at the rear of the vehicle.

Fast forward to 2012 and you’ll find a Volkswagen Beetle that boasts all of the energy-absorbing crumple zones, cross beams, and related software that’s common to every new mainstream model. In addition, VW has fitted its retro two-door with four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, stability control, front-side and side-curtain airbags, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist. That’s a list of key ingredients necessary for strong crash-test scores, but, at the time this review was written, results hadn’t been published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Likewise, we’ll have to wait for reliability data to be gathered and published by Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates. If a new Beetle owner does have an issue, they’ll be covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

We’ve never been fans of the coarse, unrefined feel of Volkswagen’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, and wrapping it in a shiny 2012 Beetle package doesn’t change that perspective. Granted, output is all the daily commuter needs, the throttle is easy to modulate, and planting the gas pedal against the floorboard allows for sufficiently comfortable passes on wide-open back roads. But the same can be said of countless four-cylinder engines, many of which don’t sound or feel so strained as they work. Over the course of hundreds of miles of primarily highway driving, we averaged about 25 mpg.

That’s not terribly impressive, and falls well short of the predicted 29 mpg, though our trip was made quicker courtesy of a heavy right foot. Also factoring into the equation was our use of the six-speed automatic transmission. Place the shift knob into Drive, and the Beetle moves along with smooth gear changes and slightly delayed downshifts. However, the transmission also has a Sport setting, which delivers noticeably improved throttle response and allows the engine to operate at higher rpm for longer periods of time. Needless to say, we opted for Sport quite often, and our fuel economy suffered as a result.

In terms of handling, the 2012 Beetle (not including Turbo variants) responds better than expected. No, you can’t feel Bugatti blood running through its veins (Bugatti is owned by Volkswagen), but this VW can enter a corner at a decent clip while managing to maintain its composure. Body roll is kept to a minimum and the steering responds well to input, albeit without blistering speed.

Inside the new Beetle is an attractive cabin with primary controls that are easy to master and have been thoughtfully placed. Interestingly, the new shape of the roof would appear to have reduced head room, but the 2012 model actually provides more than its predecessor. Thanks to the heated leatherette seats, center armrest and adjustable steering wheel in our test car, driver comfort was never an issue.

Had we been forced to travel in the back seat, this story would’ve taken a decidedly negative turn. Head, shoulder and leg room were tight for our five-foot-eight-inch-tall editor, but credit is due for the fold-and-slide feature that moves the front seats forward for easy access.

Aside from differences in the areas of styling and features, the 2.5-liter and Turbo Beetles are distinguished by powertrains and chassis components. The boosted 2.0-liter powering Turbo models is a hoot, provided you don’t mind a bit of initial lag. Get past that and you’ll be introduced to strong and steady pulling power, with a level of smooth refinement completely absent from the Beetle’s five-cylinder offering. That being said, 200 horsepower isn’t a particularly noteworthy number in the world of sporty cars, a fact made quite clear as we found ourselves searching for extra top-end grunt on more than one occasion. Still, this is an entertaining engine that loves to play, and with EPA ratings reaching 30 mpg, it allows drivers to have a sliver of cake and eat it, too.

Since Beetle Turbos equipped with manual transmissions weren’t available at the Volkswagen-sponsored press event we attended, our seat time was limited to models featuring the six-speed DSG. This is possibly the best dual-clutch gearbox available to the masses, and proves to be quite versatile with a Sport mode and paddle shifters ideally located within fingers’ reach on the rear side of the steering wheel. Gear changes aren’t quite as quick as one might expect, though they’re likely faster than your average driver can shift from second to third with a manual tranny.

Complementing the powertrain is the only fully independent suspension system available on a 2012 Beetle. VW’s XDS limited-slip front differential is also included. Together, these components allow for spirited romping along winding roads and improved front-wheel traction when throttling out of a tight corner. Road feel and steering response aren’t what you’d call track ready, though they’re provided at levels well suited for a commuter car that will occasionally be directed to a twisty stretch of pavement.

After 14 years without any major changes, the New Beetle had grown old. It was a long wait, but the redesigned 2012 Beetle promises to breathe some fresh air into the lungs of an automotive icon. The styling is reminiscent but modern and less Barbie-like, the interior is more comfortable and spacious (not for you rear-seat passengers…sorry), the ride and handling characteristics are spot-on for a daily commuter, and the variety of trims and powertrains offer something for a broad swath of car shoppers. Of course, not everyone wants a cute little hatch, but for those who do, the 2012 Beetle is worthy of consideration.

By Thom Blackett