Pinning down the Beetle's genre-crossing nature to a handful of competitors is tough.
The closest alternative is certainly the MINI Cooper, which can be had in an even wider array of body variants, including wagon and coupe forms, but with a similar fun, image-centric design and even sportier handling.
The MINI is considerably smaller and more expensive, however.
On a different, but similar, tack, there's the Ford Mustang.
Also image-aware but with markedly more sporty performance, the Mustang checks many of the same boxes, while still being competitive on gas mileage, at least in V-6 form.
Nissan's funky-looking Juke might even make the list for some Beetle shoppers, but its stiff ride and poor gas mileage might cut it out of contention.
Finally, there's the Audi TT, which actually shares a bit of the Beetle's look, but in a more sophisticated package--at a similarly more sophisticated price.
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 2013 Volkswagen BeetleBrowse Used Listings |  2013 Audi TTBrowse Used Listings |  2013 Ford MustangBrowse Used Listings |  2013 Nissan JukeBrowse Used Listings |  2013 MINI CooperBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2013 Beetle Turbo and TDI rightfully stir some excitement, especially with new convertible variants offered, but the base model's still a bit boring. |
The 2013 Audi TT RS is the star on track, but all TT models offer fun and efficiency, plus a welcome dash of style. |
Don't let the brash sound and classic looks fool you; the Ford Mustang offers some of the best performance-car bang for the buck--delivered with surprising sophistication. |
The 2013 Nissan Juke is road candy, from its zippy powertrain to its wacky looks--but tight space and low real-world gas mileage leave an aftertaste. |
The 2013 MINI Cooper models are small-car standouts in style and driving fun, and with several body styles and three different levels of performance you can pick your level of potency and practicality. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $19,995 | $38,650 | $22,200 | $18,990 | $19,700 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 21 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 26 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas I5 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas Turbocharged I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Subcompact car | Subcompact Cars | Compact | Small Station Wagon | Minicompact |
| Style Name | ||||
| 2-Door Manual 2.5L PZEV | 2-Door Coupe S tronic quattro 2.0T Prestige | 2-Door Coupe V6 | 5-Door Wagon CVT S FWD | 2-Door Coupe |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Coupe | Coupe | Coupe | Crossover | Hatchback |
| Transmission | ||||
| Manual | Automatic w/Manual Shift | Manual | Continuously Variable Ratio | Manual |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2013 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2013 Audi TT | 2013 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2013 Ford Mustang | 2013 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2013 Nissan Juke | 2013 Volkswagen Beetle vs. 2013 MINI Cooper | |
