Used Volkswagen Beetle for sale: everything you need to know

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the best-known and best-loved cars in the world. The original lasted for decades and is now a cult car. Then it was reborn in the 1990s and VW later launched a Mk2 'New Beetle’, based on the Volkswagen Golf.

The second-generation model was roomier and more sophisticated, with a latest-generation Volkswagen platform. Its extended roofline looked cool, but some of the charm of the original ‘New Volkswagen Beetle’ had been traded for extra features and more modernity. Launched in 2011, it remained on sale until 2019. 

The VW Beetle may have disappeared from the company's new car line-up, but because it was such a popular model, there are still plenty of Volkswagen Beetles to choose from as used cars.

Rivals to the Volkswagen Beetle aren't that obvious but if you like the retro look, we'd say the MINI hatchback qualifies while if you want something stylish, the DS 3 fits the bill. You could also look at something like the Vauxhall Adam. Take a look at a VW Beetle for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.

Should you buy a Volkswagen Beetle? 

The Volkswagen Beetle is a charismatic modern Volkswagen. Because it’s only been out of production for a few years, it still feels current to drive, with sweet turbocharged engines and calm refinement. 

It even gets touchscreen infotainment that connects to your smartphone via an app, so you can remotely access the status of your VW Beetle. Other luxuries on higher-spec models include climate control air-con, parking sensors and automatic wipers. 

The Volkswagen Beetle isn’t the most practical of cars. It’s a three-door for starters, and the hatchback boot only has a 310-litre capacity with the seats up. That’s broadly the same size as the Volkswagen Polo. Practicality comes second to style, but the VW Beetle’s loyal fans wouldn’t have it any other way. 

There’s a decent amount of model choice, from the purity of the base car, to the style-oriented Design, sporty R-Line and even an SUV-inspired Dune – the latter boasting rugged good looks and a raised ride height. 

This final Beetle generation is easily the most refined and contemporary, and it still feels fresh today – despite its retro styling. 

It’s impressive what good value for money the VW Beetle represents now, and those modern engines will prove good on fuel and take you into even the strictest low-emission zones for years to come. And so broad is the array of colours, trims and specs out there, even going through the classifieds to buy a used Volkswagen Beetle should prove enjoyable.

A Volkswagen Beetle not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What's the best used Volkswagen Beetle model to buy?

Powered by much the same choice of engines as the contemporary Golf, the Beetle can be had with anything from a 105PS 1.2-litre petrol, to a 2.0-litre petrol with over double that output borrowed from the GTI. The Beetle’s no tearaway though, it at its best when it’s unhurried, which means the smaller, less powerful engines are just fine. 

If you’re doing mostly city driving then that 105PS 1.2 will do fine, though if you’re doing lots of motorway mile commutes, then the leggy ease and economy of the turbodiesels make more sense. There’s the choice of a Convertible or the hatchback, too. The Convertible loses some of the practicality of the hatchback to accommodate its folding fabric roof. As to trim, Design is the one that comes with the body coloured dash as standard, so that’s what we’d recommend. 

What used Volkswagen Beetle trim levels are available?

Instead of just a single grade, Volkswagen offered several different takes on the VW Beetle design, including the novel, crossover-inspired VW Beetle Dune. 

• The Volkswagen Beetle is the top choice if you like your VW Beetles pure and simple. That it was also the most affordable option when new should mean it’s a good used buy, too. 
• The Volkswagen Beetle Design has snazzy extras including bold alloy wheels, front fog lights and more upmarket trim inside. We also like the body-colour panels for the dashboard and doors. 
• The Volkswagen Beetle R-Line combines a sporty appearance – it has 18-inch alloys, rear spoiler and gloss black detailing – with extra equipment such as climate control, all-round parking sensors and cool sports dials. 
• The Volkswagen Beetle Dune has a raised ride height, chunky alloys and a rugged-looking body kit. It has the same luxurious features as the R-Line, plus extras such as auto lights and wipers, plus lots of Dune-branded design details. 

Used Volkswagen Beetle fuel economy and performance

Volkswagen’s familiar range of engines is well represented in the Beetle. The petrol engines are smooth and refined, while diesels offer impressive fuel economy. There’s a choice of both manual and DSG dual-clutch automatic transmissions. 

Here are the engine options that were available for this Volkswagen Beetle. 

• Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI petrol: The 1.2-litre four-cylinder TSI is a turbocharged petrol engine with 105PS. This gives a reasonable 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds and the appeal of 51.4mpg fuel economy. Choose from a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. 
• Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI petrol: The larger 1.4-litre TSI boosts power to 150PS, which cuts 0-62mph acceleration to 8.7 seconds. Yet it still averages a claimed 49.6mpg and emits 132g/km of CO2. It’s only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. 
• Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TDI 110 diesel: The lower-powered 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel has an old-school five-speed manual gearbox, or a seven-speed DSG auto. A 110PS output means acceleration to 62mph in 11.0 seconds. 
• Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TDI 150 diesel: The more powerful diesel offers a big lift in power to 150PS, plus a 90Nm hike in torque to 340Nm. Zero to 62mph takes 8.9 seconds and it averages up to 62.8mpg. Here, the six-speed manual gearbox is offered alongside a six-speed DSG automatic. 

The used line-up of Volkswagen Beetles hasn’t changed too much over the years. There was a fun 2.0-litre TSI with over 200PS at one point; it used the same engine as the Golf GTI hot hatch. Most used VW Beetles will either have a 1.2 TSI or a 1.4 TSI petrol engine, though. 

Used Volkswagen Beetle dimensions and boot size

The Volkswagen Beetle’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4288mm
• Width: 1825mm
• Height: 1488mm
• Ground clearance: 136mm

The Volkswagen Beetle’s boot space is:

• 310 litres
• 905 litres with rear seats folded

Used Volkswagen Beetle road tax

The popular 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine produces 134g/km of carbon dioxide when coupled to a manual gearbox. This means you'll pay £180 in road tax for any car registered from the 1 April 2017 onwards, and cars bought new before that date will pay the same amount.

The rest of the engine line-up will pay the same £180 figure for those registered from April 2017-on, but a sliding scale of road tax charges is applied to earlier models. As a result, a 2.0 TSI will cost you £290 per year and a 2.0 TDI turbodiesel registered before April 2017 comes in at £150. Fortunately, all Beetle of this generation won't be too onerous on your budget for road tax.

How much is it to insure a Volkswagen Beetle? 

The Volkswagen Beetle shouldn’t prove too expensive to insure, at least in lower-spec guises. The entry-level 1.2-litre version has an insurance group 13 (out of 50) rating, edging up to group 14 for the Design and 15 for the Dune. Similarly, the 2.0-litre TDI 110 diesel starts from a reasonable group 14. It’s when you choose VW Beetles with more power that it gets more expensive. The 1.4-litre version starts from group 20, and the 2.0-litre TDI 150 from group 21. 

Read our full Volkswagen Beetle review