
It's very difficult to peg the Beetle's competition, given its halo-car status and its automotive ancestry.
If you're shopping Beetle, you should also be shopping the MINI Cooper, a tidy little hatchback filled with more fun and better fuel economy than the Beetle manages, though with much less interior space and a much higher pricetag.
The Ford Mustang is closer on price, but its performance is significantly better than the Beetle--and so is its highway fuel economy, at least on V-6 versions.
Fashionistas and those into ritual scarification will look at the Nissan Juke with more understanding than we can muster, but they may be turned off by its stiff ride and poor gas mileage.
All would be reasonable options, but there's just one car that should really fear the Beetle: it's VW AG's own Audi TT, which bears a striking resemblance to the Beetle, though its more sophisticated running gear is priced far above the VW.
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Quick Specs | |||
It's a tale of two Bugs: base Beetles are boring, but 2012 VW Beetle Turbos have us seeking out the nearest exit ramp. |
The 2012 Audi TT gets a burst of testosterone and sports-car cred with a bold new TT RS model; otherwise it's a surprisingly well-rounded (and economical) performer. |
The 2012 Ford Mustang doles out all the tire-smoking pony-car thrills, but it's also grown to become quite a sophisticated car. |
If you're looking for style with a dash of sport and a handful of practicality, the MINI Cooper Coupe is a great choice. |
MSRP From | |||
$18,495 | $38,300 | $22,310 | $19,500 |
Gas Mileage | |||
21 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy |
Engine | |||
Gas I5 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas I4 |
EPA Class | |||
Subcompact car | Subcompact Cars | Compact | Minicompact |
Style Name | |||
2-Door Coupe Automatic Entry PZEV *Ltd Avail* | 2-Door Coupe S tronic quattro 2.0T Premium Plus | 2-Door Coupe V6 | 2-Door Coupe |
Drivetrain | |||
Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | |||
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Passenger Doors | |||
2 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | |||
Coupe | Coupe | 2 Door Coupe | Coupe |
Transmission | |||
Automatic | Automatic w/Manual Shift | Manual | Manual |
Detailed Spec Comparison | |||
2012 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2012 Audi TT | 2012 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2012 Ford Mustang | 2012 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2012 MINI Cooper |