The curved, dimpled door handles look ultra-modern. The steering wheel feels good and features brushed aluminum spokes. The little bud vase keeps a small flower looking fresh or holds a plastic daisy. The console looks like it may show dirt and wear over the long haul when ordered in the light colors. The glove box looks impressive and has a small shelf at the top for the owner's manual, but its massive door belies the tiny, awkwardly shaped space within.

A big speedometer and tiny tachometer are set in a circular gauge panel that glows a rich deep blue at night. This indigo lighting complements the red lighting used for stereo and heating/air conditioning controls to minimize glare at night. It also looks neat. Sleek radio and heater controls are within easy reach on the protruding center dash, but can be difficult to decipher and awkward to operate at speed. Below are controls for the (optional) adjustable seat heaters and the electronic stability control system.

The power top, like the rest of the car, is nicely finished. The soft cloth lining looks and feels good. It seems to filter noise well. The convertible is quiet at speed, and it comes with a glass rear window and electric defroster. On the down side, the map light in the convertible is mounted on the rear-view mirror, where it is awkward to reach, and it's easy to knock the mirror askew when trying to press the switch.

The GL convertible comes with a manually folded top, but the top on GLS models is power-operated. Twist a lever, press a button, and it opens in just 13 seconds. Press a big power window switch and all windows lower at once. Within seconds, you're in a better mood. Turn on the seat heaters if it's chilly. Pressing the button raises the top in the same 13 seconds, though it takes a little practice to get it latched without a momentary struggle. Rearward vision is compromised with the top down, blocking sightlines down low. You'll be looking at windshields rather than grilles. Raising the driver's seat improves the view somewhat.

An optional wind blocker fits into the rear-seat area and effectively turns the convertible into a two-seater. It's a nicely designed piece and easy to remove, but reinstalling it is a challenge and you can scratch the interior if you're not careful. Also, you'll need to store it at home when not using it because, once removed, it won't fit in the trunk. We didn't drive the Beetle enough at high speeds with the top down to be sold on the need for the wind blocker (it was winter), but it certainly isn't needed at low speeds. Our recommendation is to wait on the wind blocker and purchase it later if you find you rarely have back-seat passengers and would like to reduce wind turbulence at speed.

Convertibles boast a new six-speaker sound system with MP3 format capability, satellite radio prep, control capability for a CD changer. The placement of the speakers helps maintain high-quality stereo sound even while competing with wind buffeting. GLS convertibles get a Monsoon Sound System upgrade as standard. Three 12-volt power points are provided, in the front and rear seating areas and in the trunk.

OnStar doubles as a navigation system without having to program anything. Simply press the button and a human operator responds to provide directions and other assistance. OnStar always knows the location of your vehicle. The staff will notify the authorities of your location if your airbag goes off and you do not respond to their calls. Or you can press the emergency button and they'll send out the troops. They can unlock your doors if you lock the keys inside. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar can pinpoint its location and direct the authorities to apprehend and recover. They can perform all kinds of services. They can direct you to the nearest gas station or help find a good restaurant or motel, and make reservations for you. We recommend getting it.

Driving Impressions

The Volkswagen New Beetle is fun to drive. It feels tight. Handling and brakes are excellent. Acceleration performance varies from lethargic to brisk, depending on the engine.

It rides well on bumpy pavement, smoother than a Mini Cooper and more refined than a PT Cruiser. The Beetle feels stable at high speeds and in high-speed sweeping turns. It leans in corners when driven hard, but its tires and suspension give it good grip and keep the chassis firmly in contact with the road. The steering is quick and accurate. Handling among the different Beetle models is quite similar in character as the suspension is tuned to provide the same driving characteristics.

Beetle is smooth and stable under hard braking. It can stop in a shorter distance than a PT Cruiser, according to published reports, but it doesn't stop as quickly as the Golf or Mini.

The 2.0-liter engine that comes on GL and GLS models is smooth, quiet, and refined. It delivers good, usable power when putting around town at low rpm. That means you don't have to do a lot of shifting. Put it in second or third gear and leave it there as you work your way around town and on rural roads. It's quite pleasant at 20 mph in third. You can even take off from a stop sign in second gear without lurching. It cruises well at high speeds. Torque from the 2.0-liter engine comes at relatively low revs and makes the car feel sprightly. It wouldn't be our first choice for drag racing, though. Developing just 115 horsepower, the 2.0-liter Beetle is among the slowest cars sold today. It takes about 10.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, according to Volkswagen. That's lethargic performance by anyone's stopwatch. Convertibles are even slower due to their added weight (0 to 60 in 11.4). It's clean performance, though, qualifying for as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) in all 50 states.