2016 Volkswagen Beetle 1.4L TSI 7AT (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After five years on the market, Volkswagen refreshed the Beetle, gave it a more aggressive stance, and introduced the Dune version, which made the car look more adventurous.

While the first generation of the Beetle was produced between 1939 and 2003 in over 20 million units, its successors didn’t enjoy the same results. The 1998 New Beetle has been sold in just over one million units until 2011 when the automaker replaced it with the Beetle. However, things didn’t go as expected by Volkswagen with the third sequel of this nameplate. With less than 100,000 units produced yearly after 2014, the car couldn’t be considered a triumph. As a result, the car manufacturer tried to gain back customers and introduced a refreshed version of the model in the summer of 2016. Despite that, sales continued to drop, and in 2019, the automaker pulled the plug on the model and didn’t make a successor for it.

The fresh face of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle looked more masculine. It had a more aggressive stance, featuring a redesigned bumper. It showed a broader, A-shaped air intake in the middle flanked by a pair of side scoops with oblique inner slats. The automaker added shiny or matte black trims, depending on the grade, that further emphasized the car’s width. Moreover, on the upper side of the bumper, above the license plate, the Dune version featured an additional air intake.

From its profile, the black trims surrounded the vehicle with gloss black trims above the side sills for the R-Line and Denim grades and matte ones for the Dune version. Volkswagen offered the 2017 Beetle with standard 16-inch alloy wheels and options for up to 18 inches in size. Furthermore, the Dune grade came with a higher ground clearance emphasized by black extensions on the wheel arches. At the back, the automaker added a spoiler that integrated the third braking lamp under the rear window. This version also sported a black diffuser under the rear bumper. The Dune and the Pinkbeetle grades received standard LED taillights, while the 1.8T version had those on the options list.

Inside, the automaker made some aesthetic and functional changes. All cars received painted dashboard and door panels, plus a glovebox cover resembling the original Beetle. In addition, the lower spoke of the steering wheel could be optioned with the same shade as the car’s exterior. Furthermore, the center console matched the car’s trim. Atop the dashboard, the automaker offered an option for an additional instrument cluster that resembled the one installed in the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle RSi. A significant upgrade was for the MMI infotainment system, which had a standard 5-inch color display with an option for a 6.3-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, screen mirroring was also available.

Under the hood, the car manufacturer introduced Euro 6 engines across the range for the European market, including several turbodiesel units. For U.S. customers, Volkswagen used only the 1.8- and 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline powerplants with direct fuel injection (TSI). Five- or six-speed manual transmissions were standard across the range, while a fresh seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox was available.