2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L 70's Edition Convertible review notes

 The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L 70's Edition Convertible is loud and a little slow.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: The Beetle is one of those cars that I would never buy, but I'm glad Volkswagen is making it. Sort of like the Nissan Cube. It's not for me.

Styling aside, it's pretty noisy with the convertible top letting in a lot of road and wind noise, which was made more painful by the fact that I had to listen to my phone through the phone speakers because there's no USB port. I suppose that's how they did it in the '70s. So where the heck is my eight-track!?

Peak power is hard to find. You have to really rev it up to get any speed going. It's a slug off the line, or more aptly, a really slow beetle.

So the styling isn't for me, and it's not exactly fun to drive, but if you're a fan of the Beetle, and would like a quirky special edition, this one is better than some. But really you should wait for the GSR.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I liked this Beetle convertible, but I wasn't pleasantly surprised enough to recommend it to anyone. My problems with the car weren't really with its performance, but rather, its relevance.

With its 18-inch wheels and pronounced fenders, the new Beetle is almost cartoonish in proportion. The looks do grow on you, though, and the brown-and-tan color combo worked well. Reaction from friends and family was mixed.

The car wasn't fast -- and it could only barely be called quick -- but I would have guessed its I5 put out substantially more than the rated 170 hp.

The brakes did feel a bit too retro. They stopped the car, sure, but they had that all-or-nothing sensation that recalls the four-corner drums of yore.

Beyond that, the lack of a USB port was a minor surprise given the price tag and the numerous delete plates found on the center console. Rear seat usability wasn't tested over the weekend but I can't imagine four dudes fitting in the car comfortably.

So overall, I didn't hate the car. But here's what I don't get. The Beetle became popular with a certain generation because of its utilitarian simplicity and affordability. This car isn't bad, but it isn't particularly utilitarian -- and at $29,390, it certainly isn't inexpensive. Before these things hit the used-car lots, the only people I can see buying them are aging Boomers led to the car by nostalgia rather than the practicality that put them in an old Beetle decades ago.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L 70's Edition Convertible

Base Price: $29,390

As-Tested Price: $29,390

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter I5; FWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 170 hp @ 5,700 rpm, 177 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,206 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 21/27/23 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 22.3 mpg

Options: None

Jake Lingeman - Jake Lingeman is Associate Editor at Autoweek, reporting on cars, car tech and the world at large. See more by this author»

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