WASHINGTON — The Beetle has been redesigned, and looks more sporty than the
previous edition. Add the R-Line trim level for 2014, and it turns the Beetle
into a sportier machine as well.
The 2014 Beetle R-Line is a surprisingly fun-to-drive coupe with good power
and solid fuel economy, some retro styling cues but more modern looks, and an
improved interior with plenty of room.
The base Beetle — which is $26,915 — comes with a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder
engine; my R-Line test vehicle was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo engine.
I know a smaller engine sounds like a letdown, but rest assured the smaller
engine packs a decent punch with 210 hp; that’s 40 more ponies than the bigger
base engine. Having the more powerful engine is usually bad for fuel economy,
but the Beetle R-Line does pretty well, with a rating of 24 mpg city and 30
mpg on the highway.
I managed 27.2 mpg over 175 miles in an even mix of city and highway driving.
Just know, though, that premium fuel is recommended for the R-line.
Driving the Beetle R-Line was a good bit of fun, what with that punchy engine,
and the suspension is tuned for better handling. Combined with the larger 18-
inch wheels, it can turn. The sporty handling is not harsh or annoying; it’s a
nice compromise between sporty and soft and it would be comfortable on twisty
roads and over a long road trip.
I noticed a bit more noise in the cabin than some other non-sporty compacts.
It could just be those bigger wheels with more aggressive tires. It made for a
fun city car with plenty of power, especially to get out of the way, and it
was a snap to merge in with the traffic. The Beetle R-Line has a choice of
transmission as well: a slick 6-speed manual, or the DSG automatic, which can
be a little lazy on light acceleration sometimes.
The Beetle looks more modern both inside and out. The roof looks like it was
chopped and pushed down compared to the previous Beetle. I like the new look –
– more sporty, but without alienating owners of the last Beetle, and maybe
helping it appeal to potential new buyers.
There is a big makeover on the inside, too. But you can still see the Beetle’s
influence, and they did a good job including modern touches that buyers are
looking for, including soft-touch material. The heated front seats were
comfortable, and once you climb through the door, the back seats had plenty of
headroom and space for two adults.
The Beetle R-line has Bluetooth, which I couldn’t figure out how to make work.
For $26,915, I wish they had included a rear-view camera, as it’s a little
more difficult to see behind you than in some other cars. The Beetle received
an overall score of five stars from the government’s five-star safety ratings
system.
The entry price might be higher than some of its competition, but with
scheduled maintenance for the first two years included, the Volkswagen Beetle
R-Line is an improved Bug ready for a little fun.
Editor’s note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press
Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the
purpose of this review. Follow @WTOP on
Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
