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By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you’ve been shopping for a fun, affordable convertible that won’t be mistaken for a weekend rental, the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible deserves a test drive. It possesses a great safety record, has loads of head room with the top up and displays an impressive list of standard features.
Though the New Beetle Convertible does have a rear seat, it’s not very big. The long dash places the driver in the middle of the car, a driving position that takes some time to get used to. The car’s long-term repair history is a bit spotty, as well.
A commemorative limited edition model will be offered, painted Aquarius Blue over Campanella White with a white soft top and white leather interior. Total production is limited to 1,500 cars and each will bear a specially numbered plaque.
Iconic convertibles seem to be making a comeback, and there is no ragtop more iconic than the VW Beetle. The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible makes a great looking drop-top and offers the power, safety and comfort that was, obviously, not part of the first-generation Bug. The engine is up front, as are the drive wheels, but with the top retracted the feel from behind the wheel is very much just like old times. Stereotypes aside, the New Beetle convertible is one of the few practical drop tops that can be enjoyed by anyone with a modest budget and a love of fresh air. A word of warning: if you want one you’d better move quick, because VW has announced this will be the final year for the New Beetle Convertible and its replacement is uncertain.
Used 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle pricing starts at $5,980 for the New Beetle Hatchback 2D, which had a starting MSRP of $19,440 when new. The range-topping 2010 New Beetle Final Edition Convertible 2D starts at $8,108 today, originally priced from $28,140.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$19,440 | $5,980 | |||
$21,450 | $6,929 | |||
$21,450 | $7,589 | |||
$27,140 | $6,058 | |||
$28,140 | $8,108 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
Anytime a car’s roof is cut away it loses a primary source of rigidity. A convertible manufacturer compensates for this loss by adding bracing to the car’s underside and engine compartment, sometimes with results that are less than completely satisfactory. This is not the case with the New Beetle; its body is amazingly stiff, with no detectible flex – even in hard cornering. The ride is somewhat on the soft side, which fits the character of the car to a tee. You’ll find the steering and braking response to be first-rate, right in line with other fine-handling VW cars. The 2.5-liter engine delivers acceptable acceleration and good fuel economy, but the loss of the five-speed manual transmission steals some of the fun from the drive.
After nearly ten years on the market, the New Beetle Convertible still offers one of the nicest interiors in its class. The seats are some of the most comfortable we’ve experienced, with excellent back, side and thigh support for both driver and passenger. The New Beetle Convertible’s trademark domed shape cuts rear-seat headroom, with the result being an interior that can comfortably accommodate two small persons in the rear seat and two NBA-size adults up front. The New Beetle Convertible is really a year-round car. Its insulated top latches securely to the windshield post via a clever one-handed latching mechanism. Once in place, you’ll be amazed at how hushed the interior becomes, even at highway speeds.
The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible mimics what is probably the best-known car in the world: The original Beetle. When down, the New Beetle Convertible’s top rests high upon the rear deck, leaving room for a small trunk. Considering the price, the New Beetle is remarkably detailed and its distinctive shape seems to be a contributing factor to its excellent crash test results and low accident repair cost analyses.
Blue Instrument Lighting
Attractive Cornflower Blue lighting in the instrument cluster is easy on the eyes both night and day.
Standard Power Soft-Top
The semi-automatic power soft-top can be quickly closed with the push of a button, and then locks into place with a single turn of the center-mounted latching mechanism.
The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible includes a 150-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine, six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), electronic stabilization program, air conditioning, rear defroster, illuminated remote keyless entry, key-operated open/close feature for power windows, semi-automatic power top, dual heated power mirrors with built-in turn signals, heated front seats, front side-impact airbags, Active Roll Support pop-up roll-over protection, Premium AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD player and auxiliary audio input jack, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, cruise control, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power locks and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Options are limited to a trunk-mounted six-disc CD changer, a top boot cover and 17-inch wheels.
The 2.5-liter 20-valve five-cylinder engine provides the kind of low-end torque needed to move the New Beetle quickly, but it’s no rocket engine. Also, fuel economy and smoothness are not as good as similar-size engines from Honda and Nissan.
2.5-liter in-line 5
150 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
170 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 (automatic)
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Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
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Curb Weight | 2884 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 81.0 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 38.2 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 39.4 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 4 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 4.6 inches | ||
Overall Length | 161.1 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 52.8 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 12.0 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 35.8 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 98.8 inches | ||
Payload Capacity | 772 lbs. | ||
Width with mirrors | 67.9 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 2 doors | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 20 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 28 mpg | ||
Combined | 23 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Manual | ||
5 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 150 @ 5000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 170 @ 3750 rpm | ||
Engine | 5-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 8.4 seconds | ||
Top Speed | 126 mph |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 12 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle | Used 2010 Pontiac G3 | Used 2015 Ford Focus | Used 2014 FIAT 500L | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $6,606 | $6,201 | $6,251 | $6,078 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | N/A | 4.3 | 3.2 | |
Consumer Rating | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 4.5 | |
Fuel Economy | City 20/Hwy 28/Comb 23 MPG | City 27/Hwy 35/Comb 30 MPG | City 26/Hwy 38/Comb 30 MPG | City 24/Hwy 33/Comb 27 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Flexible Fuel | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | N/A | 5.0 | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
Horsepower | 150 @ 5000 RPM | 108 @ 6400 RPM | 160 @ 6500 RPM | 160 @ 5500 RPM | |
Engine | 5-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 1.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, Flex Fuel, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |