Used Volkswagen Beetle for sale: everything you need to know
There may be no more famous name, nor more recognisable shape in the automotive world than the Volkswagen Beetle. Conceived in the 1940s the classic Beetle ran until the early 2000s in some countries, but in the meantime VW reprised the model with the New Beetle in the 1990s, and in 2011, an all-new model arrived, once again called simply the Beetle.
It’s effectively a contemporary Volkswagen Golf underneath, with all the benefits that entails, just in a more distinctive, albeit slightly less practical body. Most Beetle buyers won’t mind losing a bit of boot space and rear seat space, as these cars are all about the style - and the Golf bits just mean it’s easy to run and to drive. The Beetle went off sale in 2018 but it remains a popular and now very affordable used car.
Should you buy a Volkswagen Beetle?
Handsome though they are, a lot of modern Volkswagens look a bit samey. You couldn’t say this about the Beetle sold between 2011 and 2018 though, and if there’s one reason you might consider the car above a more practical Polo or Golf or small SUV, it’s because of the way it looks.
As a bonus, straightforward Golf underpinnings mean that in most respects, the Beetle is just like its more sensible siblings both to drive, and to fuel, insure, and service. You get the same range of petrol and diesel engines as the Golf from the same era and the ride and handling is pretty similar too - in other words, the Beetle is easy to drive, has well-weighted steering, and is relatively smooth over most road surfaces, though models on larger wheels can jostle you around a bit.
The style angle is played up with the Beetle’s various trim levels, from a Design model that has some fabulously retro alloy wheel designs and a body-colour dashboard, to the Beetle Dune, with its raised suspension and earthy colour palette. All get a three-door body that restricts rear seat space and boot size, so it’s more supermini-sized inside, but front seat space is good and the dashboard layout is a little more interesting than VW’s other models of the time.
When new, the most obvious alternative to the Beetle was the MINI hatchback, though the Beetle’s a bit larger than that, and larger than other stylish 2010s-era superminis like the Citroen DS3 and Vauxhall Adam too, so despite its restricted cabin space it’s no less practical than these. The MINI is sportier to drive, but chances are you’ll be sold on the style of one more than the other. One other car to consider is the Volkswagen Scirocco, a sleek coupe sold at a similar time to the Beetle - it too is better to drive but surprisingly practical too.
What’s the best used Volkswagen Beetle model to buy?
There’s quite some differentiation in terms of style across the Beetle range, so whether you go for retro-styled Design trim, sporty R-Line or the earlier Sport models, or the off-road inspired Dune is very much a matter of personal preference - especially when each trim line also has a few colours and alloy wheel designs only available on those models. The choice of engines is a little more straightforward: the 1.2 TSI is a sweet little unit that feels brisk enough and revs smoothly, while returning decent fuel economy. The diesels are even more fuel efficient but a bit more grumbly at lower speeds, and while the 2.0 TSI isn’t really a proper hot hatchback, the extra performance can certainly be fun.
Used Volkswagen Beetle fuel economy and performance
- Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI: The 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder in the Beetle makes 105PS and has either manual or dual-clutch automatic options. 0-62mph comes up in 10.9 seconds, while VW claimed up to 51.4mpg economy.
- Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI: The slightly larger 1.4 TSI gets a healthy power boost to 140PS, and the 0-62mph time falls to a brisk 8.7 seconds as a result. Economy is quoted at 49.6mpg with the standard six-speed manual gearbox.
- Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TSI: The most powerful engine offered in the Beetle came in first 200PS then 210PS and 220PS forms and was effectively taken from the Golf GTI. The 220PS variant could cover 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, with 43mpg economy.
- Volkswagen Beetle 1.6 TDI 105: Offered earlier in the Beetle’s time on sale the 1.6 TDI developed 105PS and with a manual gearbox, could get from 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds. Economy was an impressive 65mpg, though like all Beetles, measured on the older NEDC standard.
- Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TDI 110: The lower-powered of the two 2-litre TDI diesels arrived in 2015 with 110PS and either a five-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 0-62mph came up in 11 seconds, and economy was the same 65mpg as the 1.6 TDI.
- Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TDI 150: With 150PS the 2-litre diesel gets from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, with quoted economy of up to 62.8mpg. Six-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch auto gearboxes were offered.
What used Volkswagen Beetle trim levels are available?
- The Volkswagen Beetle is where the range kicks off, and while it’s obviously not as well-equipped as the models above it in the range, it still had a decent level of standard kit, including air conditioning.
- The Volkswagen Beetle Design is most easily differentiated by its retro-styled alloy wheels, but also got front fog lights and body-colour elements on the dashboard and door trims.
- The Volkswagen Beetle R-Line replaced the earlier Sport model and came with 18-inch alloy wheels, a small rear spoiler, gloss black detailing, climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and a little dial pod on top of the dash for extra gauges.
- The Volkswagen Beetle Dune takes some inspiration from classic ‘Baja Bugs’, with raised ride height, chunky alloy wheels, and plastic cladding for the body. Inside it has the same equipment found on the R-Line, and Dune-branded detailing.
Used Volkswagen Beetle dimensions and boot size
The Volkswagen Beetle’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4288mm
- Width: 1825mm
- Height: 1488mm
- Ground clearance: 136mm
The Volkswagen Beetle’s boot space is:
- 310 litres
- 905 litres with rear seats folded
Used Volkswagen Beetle road tax
Some of the later Beetles were registered after the tax changes in April 2017, and for these you’ll pay a single flat rate of £190 each year in VED. For models registered prior to this 2017 date, instead you’re looking at CO2-based taxation, making some of the diesels the cheapest to tax - a CO2 output of 113g/km means the 1.6 TDI will set you back only £115 per year. At the other end of the scale, the 2.0 TSI’s 169g/km bumps your tax bill to £305.
How much is it to insure a Volkswagen Beetle?
Depending on the model you choose, Beetle insurance ranges from groups 10 to 27. An earlier 1.2 TSI in standard trim is right at the bottom of that scale, a 2.0 TDI in R-Line trim somewhere in the middle in group 20, and a later 220PS 2.0 TSI in Sport trim at the top, in group 27. The Beetle Dune is somewhere in the middle too, in groups 15-21.
