2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Convertible

The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune convertible wears bold bodywork that writes a check that its run-of-the-mill powertrain can’t cash. While the Dune’s extra 0.2 inch of ground clearance, aggressive fascias, fender flares that widen the body by 0.6 inch, trim-specific 18-inch wheels, and rocker-panel-level “Dune” graphics present the posture of a Global Rallycross car, the front-wheel-drive convertible’s 170-hp 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission mean the Dune is little more than a Beetle 1.8T convertible on stilts. Really short stilts.

We were more excited about this offering when we assumed that, like the concept car displayed at the Detroit auto show two years ago, it would be based on the more powerful Beetle R-Line with the turbocharged 2.0-liter rated at 210 horsepower. To really pay off on the styling’s promise, it also would need all-wheel drive, but even the concept car did without that hardware.

Underneath It All

As it turns out, the extra ground clearance actually makes a measurable difference to the Dune’s performance. Weighing a modest 18 pounds more than the last Beetle 1.8T convertible we tested, our preproduction Dune convertible took an additional 0.3 second to get from zero to 60 mph and to cross the quarter-mile mark, recording figures of 7.9 seconds and 16.1 seconds at 86 mph.

Likewise, the high-riding Dune will be thirstier than the normal Beetle 1.8T convertible, if the coupe version is anything to go by. Although the EPA has yet to release official fuel-economy figures for the 2017 Beetle line, it says the 2016 Dune coupe sips fuel at a rate of 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway—figures that fall behind the Beetle 1.8T by 1 and 3 mpg. For what it’s worth, we averaged 26 mpg during our time with both the Dune convertible and the Beetle 1.8T convertible.

The Dune does one-up its standard counterpart in ride quality. Credit its soft, longer-travel suspension setup and added ground clearance with helping the Dune smoothly traverse pockmarked highways and gravel-covered roads.

This comfortable ride comes at the expense of cornering grip, however. On our skidpad, the Dune recorded a stability-control-inhibited 0.81 g—0.03 g less than what we coaxed from a Beetle 1.8T convertible. Regardless, the Dune is composed when traveling over rougher pavement, although no one should confuse the Dune with something that has sporting or off-road intentions.

Devils & Dust

Like the Dune coupe, the convertible is available in one of three exterior hues: white, black, or Sandstorm Yellow, the last of which graced our test car. The uncommon color pairs nicely with the black vinyl seats with gray fabric centers and orange stitching. A standard 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready, thanks to the inclusion of Volkswagen’s Car-Net system. Although the system is easy to use and quick to respond to inputs, glare from the sun during top-down driving can make it all but impossible to read the display.

The top is operated via a header-mounted switch and can be opened in 9.5 seconds. Closing the cloth top takes 11 seconds, and both functions are operable at speeds up to 31 mph. As in other Beetle convertibles, the Dune’s 50/50 split-folding rear seats are cozy but capable of carrying only two passengers, while the trunk can hold 7.0 cubic feet of cargo regardless of the top’s position. Volkswagen also includes a bulky tonneau cover for the lowered top; it must be installed and removed manually, so we imagine most owners will seldom use it.

The Price You Pay

Volkswagen has not yet released pricing for the 2017 Beetle line. We know the 2016 Beetle Dune coupe commands a $1545 premium over an equivalent Beetle SE coupe equipped with an automatic transmission. Assuming the Dune convertible costs that much more than the $28,890 Beetle SE convertible, the base price would be approximately $31,000.

Options on our test car included the aforementioned Sandstorm Yellow paint ($250 on the ’16 Dune coupe) and the Technology package ($1695 in 2016), which includes dual-zone climate control, a proximity key with push-button start, and a Fender premium stereo. Although not found on our car, a lighting package with xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights will be offered. All told, we estimate that a Beetle Dune convertible equipped like our test vehicle will cost about $32,500.

Ultimately, the Dune convertible comes across as more kitsch than competence. Still, consumers who regularly commute on bumpy roads, as well as those hellbent on driving something different, may find the Dune to be an appealing option.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible

PRICE AS TESTED (EST): $32,500 (base price, est: $31,000)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 110 cu in, 1798 cc
Power: 170 hp @ 4800 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 100.0 in
Length: 168.7 in
Width: 71.7 in Height: 59.1 in
Passenger volume: 81 cu ft
Cargo volume: 7 cu ft
Curb weight: 3234 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 22.7 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 30.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 6.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.1 sec @ 86 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 118 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.81 g
*Stability-control-inhibited

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving (C/D est): 24/31 mpg
C/D observed: 26 mpg