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SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Not yet rated (see above)
NHTSA
Not yet rated (see above)
IIHS
The cut-down side window opening, however, means that outward visibility isn't as good as before.
Automobile
Because the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is a brand-new model, it has not yet been fully tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2013 Beetle Coupe has scored five-star side-crash and four-star rollover ratings from the NHTSA, however, and the 2012 model scored four stars overall. In IIHS testing, the 2013 Beetle rates a top mark of Good in moderate overlap frontal offset crashes and in roof-strength measures; a complete IIHS rating isn't yet available due to lack of side- and rear-impact data.
All Beetles offer the requisite standard front, side and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes and stability control; and active head rests. Fairly large rearview mirrors mean it's not difficult to get a good view of the driving environment from the driver's seat, though there is slightly less rearward visibility than in the New Beetle.
Hands-free talking reduces distraction behind the wheel, and Bluetooth is standard or available on all models of the 2013 Beetle.
Some of the more high-tech safety equipment Volkswagen does not yet fit to the Beetle includes: parking sensors, rearview camera, and blind-spot monitors--options we've come to expect on vehicles in the $30,000 price range, and more and more, the $20,000 price range.
Conclusion
The 2013 Beetle Convertible hasn't yet been rated, but strong 2012 scores for the Coupe, plus VW's strong safety reputation, weigh against unavailable features like rearview cameras and parking sensors.
