The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T is starting to roll into dealerships with a base price of $21,115 for models with the five-speed manual transmission. Models with the six-speed automatic will cost $22,215, while the Beetle Convertible 1.8T (only sold with an automatic) starts at $25,990. All prices, which include the $820 destination fee, are exactly the same as the outgoing 2013 model despite the new and more fuel-efficient engine.
As previously reported, Volkswagen has ditched the 2.5-liter inline-five engine in favor of a new 1.8-liter direct-injection, turbocharged I-4 that is lighter and more fuel-efficient. Compared to the 2.5-liter, the 1.8-liter's horsepower remains the same at 170 hp, but torque increases by 7 lb-ft to 184. The new engine, however, reaches those peak figures at lower rpm.
The 1.8T is also a better fuel sipper. When paired with the manual, the 2014 Beetle 1.8T returns anEPA rated 24/27/33 mpgcity/combined/highway, compared to 22/25/31 mpg for the 2.5-liter. The automatic achieves 25/28/33 mpg (increase of 3/3/4 mpg), while the convertible is rated at 24/27/32 mpg, compared to 21/23/27 mpg from the top-down Beetle with the 2.5-liter. Fuel savings can also be attributed to the Beetle's new electro-mechanical power steering system. In addition to the 1.8T, the 2014 Beetle can be had with a 2.0-liter turbo-four or a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 diesel engine.
Photos below are of the2014 Volkswagen BeetleTDI and outgoing Beetle 2.5
Source: VW
As MotorTrend’s road test editor and fleet manager, Erick Ayapana spends a bulk of his day pestering automakers for vehicles to test and shaming staffers for curbing wheels. Erick is a SoCal native who spends his free time doing SoCal things and pondering the world’s unsolved mysteries, including the proper way to launch a Subaru WRX with a manual transmission.
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