On the Road Again: Test Driving the 2012 Turbo Volkswagen Beetle

Let’s play the word game. I say “Volkswagen Beetle” you say the first word that comes to your mind.  Did you say, “orange” or “’70′s” or “hippy” or “grunge” or “convertible” or “loud” or “high school/college” or all of the above? Me too. But the 2012 Turbo Beetle I drove yesterday is NOT your mama’s or grandmama’s VW.  That’s not to say that the German company doesn’t have a bent toward keeping tradition, after all, this is only the third time it has changed body style on this iconic economy car, which was originally designed in the 1930′s. But this hatchback is a sleeker, hipper (not hippier), cooler, even more masculine version of its lineage.

At first blush, you will notice this model has a flatter top presenting a slicker look.  The Turbo 2-door hatchback has a spoiler, cool wheels, even little chrome details which seem to say, “Hi, look at me! I’m speedy and masculine”.  Inside, there is carbon fiber on the dashboard along with gauges and a thicker steering wheel with a flat bottom, sticking to the more manly theme.  Mine didn’t have a sunroof, and we hear that the new convertibles are slated to be out in January 2013, an obviously odd time for convertibles, but you never know what the weather will be like these days.

So aesthetically, it was pleasing, even cute. I thought, hey, I’d drive this little guy around, all though I may not be age appropriate for the Beetle.

Now to the test drive. Since I’m used to being behind the wheel of an SUV, I felt like a giant in this car at first.  And really low down. But I started to get used to it as I maneuvered down the Dulles Toll Road. I thought the pep was slow to get up and go and you know how you can feel like you are going 30 mph when you are really going 70 55 mph? Not so with this guy, you feel every mile and you feel like you are working to get there.  The other challenge I had was sight. I never felt like I had a clear good line of sight behind me, particularly on my left.  The seats are comfortable, simple, but fine for not hugely long drives. The back seat is fine for your laptop case/handbag, but I doubt you’d put humans in it unless they were really small and in a baby seat.  Good thing the 2012 Beetle is a safe car, if it were to flip (God forbid) the frame would hold the roof up from caving, unlike with some other small city cars.

I think the 2012 Turbo Beetle is fine for city driving weekend trips for sure. And for all its new found masculine glory, sorry, to me, it’s still cute.

MSRP at Lindsay Volkswagen @ $25,500. Call or visit for your own test drive. There are a few out there now!

22455 Cedar Green Road Sterling, VA 20166 | Sales 888-789-1340

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