The Beetle is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that, like the car, is kind of retro... but not in a nice way.
Like Beetle engines of old, the five-cylinder is harsher sounding than most and while its performance is adequate -- but nothing more -- it's especially sluggish when the temperature is cold.
There's nothing inherently wrong with the idea of a five-cylinder engine. I've driven others that were just fine.This one just seems particularly nasty.
For now, if you must have a Beetle, I'd advise taking the diesel TDI version that will be available soon. It will be more fuel efficient, although the added cost of diesel fuel will eat up most of the savings. But, fuel savings or not, it'll be better than the base engine. (For high rollers, there's also a high-performance Turbo Beetle with the same engine as the VW GTI.)
This three-door coupe asks buyers to sacrifice for a sporty look that's not backed up by performance.
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