Her and His Reviews
March 2012
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| MSRP: $29,865 | MSRP: $29,865 but it starts at $19,765 |
| Performance | |
| The Beetle has a 2.5 liter, 170 horsepower engine. Comfortable and agile handling. It snowed 1.5" early on a Saturday morning and the car did not budge one iota with me attempting to get the car out of my driveway - which has a slight and whopping grade of about 4 - 5%. | 2.5 liter, 170 horsepower I-5. The Beetle was a blast to drive wherever we were, and acceleration, handling and cornering were all quite noteworthy. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 22 city/30 highway | 22/30, but I think those figures were conservative. Ours was more like 24, and we had plenty of gasoline left over after some pretty grueling driving. |
| The Car | |
| Well, gusty is in and so VW took some of the 'femininity' out of the styling - in and out. On the outside, designers made it wider and a more aggressive stance. On the inside they took away the flower power holder. No more flowers. Krishna! It's been a chic car for years - let's see how the numbers and breakdown of buyers increases and shifts for VW. More interior space as well as larger seats in the back. Split rear seats for expanded cargo space. | Based upon VW's venerable and delightful Golf, the new 2012 Beetle has been given a heavy dose of muscle power, via wider stance, bigger fenders, a more masculine feel, and plenty of heritage cues dating back to the first VW Beetle. Everybody-male or female--loved it. |
| Safety | |
| It tested well in front crash tests and for rollover risk. The "Intelligent Crash Response" system automatically shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard lights in the case of an accident. Front side and side curtain airbags, traction & stability control, and ABS. | You get ABS, front side and side curtain airbags, traction & stability control, and a crash response system that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and activates the hazard lights in case of a severe collision |
| Technology | |
| Great mix of tech is packed in this model. NAV, rear view camera, etc. | The usual stuff: full power accessories, climate control, six speed automatic, nice NAV and audio setup, 2.0 liter turbo charged version putting out 200 horsepower is available. But it's the little stuff I loved: dual glove boxes, elastic straps across door pockets that allow you to put in more stuff, split rear seats, and the best entry and accessibility that I've seen yet on a two door sedan. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The overall look remains iconic Beetle. No worries, ladies - it still remains sassy. | The Beetle still has it after all these years. It looks a lot more robust, and quite a bit more contemporary, but is still a Beetle. |
