Volkswagen Beetle vs BMW i3
Overview | |
MSRP$19,495 | MSRP$42,400 |
Listings154 | Listings32 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.0 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.0 out of 10 |
Reviews SummaryThe 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible TDI keeps its retro styling, but loses some of the cute this year, making it a little more guy-friendly than in years past. It does not lose any of the fun with three engine choices including a new, more powerful TDI clean diesel that also offers improved fuel economy. | |
Reviews SummaryThe small, lumpy i3 hatchback may not look like a BMW underneath all of its badges and grilles, but it does have enough tech to make up for it. A carbon fiber and aluminum body, and lightweight materials inside, help a 22kWh battery power the i3 for 80 miles on electricity alone—when fitted with an optional "range extending" gas-powered generator, twice that. Its $42,400 entry price isn't for the squeamish, but the "gee-whiz" tech helps make up for that. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine1.8L 170 hp I4 | Engine168 hp Electric |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity4 | Seating Capacity4 |
Horsepower170 hp @ 4800 rpm | Horsepower |
EV Battery Capacity | EV Battery Capacity27 kWh |
MPG City25 | MPG City137 |
MPG Highway33 | MPG Highway111 |
Battery Charge Time (240V) | Battery Charge Time (240V)4 hours |
Engine | |
Engine Name1.8L 170 hp I4 | Engine Name168 hp Electric |
Torque184 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm | Torque |
Horsepower170 hp @ 4800 rpm | Horsepower |
Battery Charge Time (240V) | Battery Charge Time (240V)4 hours |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
EV Battery Capacity | EV Battery Capacity27 kWh |
MPG City25 | MPG City137 |
MPG Highway33 | MPG Highway111 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity4 | Seating Capacity4 |
Key Features | |
Navigation System | Navigation SystemStandard |
Sunroof/MoonroofOptional | Sunroof/Moonroof |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.4 cu ft | Cargo Space11.8 cu ft |
Curb Weight2948 lbs | Curb Weight2634 lbs |
Height58.5 in | Height62.1 in |
Length168.4 in | Length157.8 in |
Width71.2 in | Width70.0 in |
Wheelbase99.9 in | Wheelbase101.2 in |
Maximum Payload851 lbs | Maximum Payload |
Number of doors2 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $19,495 | $42,400 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.0 out of 10Read full review | 7.0 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | ||
Summary | The 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible TDI keeps its retro styling, but loses some of the cute this year, making it a little more guy-friendly than in years past. It does not lose any of the fun with three engine choices including a new, more powerful TDI clean diesel that also offers improved fuel economy. | The small, lumpy i3 hatchback may not look like a BMW underneath all of its badges and grilles, but it does have enough tech to make up for it. A carbon fiber and aluminum body, and lightweight materials inside, help a 22kWh battery power the i3 for 80 miles on electricity alone—when fitted with an optional "range extending" gas-powered generator, twice that. Its $42,400 entry price isn't for the squeamish, but the "gee-whiz" tech helps make up for that. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 1.8L 170 hp I4 | 168 hp Electric |
Drive Train | FWD | RWD |
Seating Capacity | 4 | 4 |
Horsepower | 170 hp @ 4800 rpm | |
EV Battery Capacity | 27 kWh | |
MPG City | 25 | 137 |
MPG Highway | 33 | 111 |
Battery Charge Time (240V) | 4 hours | |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 1.8L 170 hp I4 | 168 hp Electric |
Torque | 184 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm | |
Horsepower | 170 hp @ 4800 rpm | |
Battery Charge Time (240V) | 4 hours | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
EV Battery Capacity | 27 kWh | |
MPG City | 25 | 137 |
MPG Highway | 33 | 111 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 4 | 4 |
Key Features | ||
Navigation System | Standard | |
Sunroof/Moonroof | Optional | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.4 cu ft | 11.8 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 2948 lbs | 2634 lbs |
Height | 58.5 in | 62.1 in |
Length | 168.4 in | 157.8 in |
Width | 71.2 in | 70.0 in |
Wheelbase | 99.9 in | 101.2 in |
Maximum Payload | 851 lbs | |
Number of doors | 2 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.
Popular vehicle comparisons
Volkswagen Jetta vs Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle vs MINI CooperVolkswagen Beetle vs Porsche 912Volkswagen Beetle vs BMW 3 SeriesBMW 5 Series vs BMW i3Volkswagen Beetle vs Rolls-Royce CornicheVolkswagen Beetle vs Toyota CorollaVolkswagen Beetle vs Volvo XCNissan LEAF vs BMW i3Volkswagen Beetle vs Mazda MX-5 MiataVolkswagen Beetle vs Jeep Wrangler
