The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle is no longer the head-turner it once was, but the New Beetle... 
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The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle is no longer the head-turner it once was, but the New Beetle Convertible remains one of the better choices for two who want to cruise in comfort.
While the New Beetle's exterior hasn't been changed much over the years—and that's a good thing—the interior design feels a little plasticky, gimmicky, and outdated by 2010 standards. And the long expanse of instrument panel between the driver and windshield serves as a reminder that the New Beetle was designed from the outside in. Unfortunately, Volkswagen has let the New Beetle's great powertrains—namely, the TDI clean-diesel and turbocharged gasoline engines—fade away in recent years, leaving only a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder that neither performs well nor impresses for fuel economy. The convertible is noticeably heavier, so performance suffers a bit.
You’ll be hard-pressed to fit any adult back there as the contour of the seat is different than in the New Beetle coupe. The 2010 New Beetle Convertible retains the coupe’s distinctive roofline but in addition to the reduced backseat space sacrifices quite a bit of cargo space (5 cubic feet versus 12 for the coupe). The three-layer fabric top lowers in 13 seconds.
For more on the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible, please see our 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle review, which includes related news, specs, and images.
