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Volkswagen Beetle Dune Coupe boot space, practicality and safety

2016 - 2018 (change model)
Practicality rating: 2.5 out of 52.5

Written by Christofer Lloyd Published: 6 June 2019 Updated: 6 June 2019

The Beetle was last crash tested in 2011 – on a system with slightly different parameters to the current test. However, it should remain a reasonably safe car.

All Beetle Dunes get twin front and side airbags, plus a raft of safety kit including active head restraints, and Isofix child seat preparation for both of the rear seats. The car also gets Volkswagen’s automatic post-collision braking system that brings the car to a safe stop in the event of a crash, to prevent subsequent collisions.

One of the Dune’s main selling points – its unique curvy styling – may make it stand out, but it also limits practicality somewhat, as does the three-door-only body. As a result, neither the rear seats nor the boot compare well against rivals.

With no five-door option, rear passengers have to clamber their way into the back of the Beetle and, when in, head and leg-room is limited. There’s only space for two passengers, too. Even those under six-feet tall may find their heads resting on the roof, and the story doesn’t get that much better in the boot.

Volume isn’t bad at 310 litres with the rear seats up, rising to 905 litres if you drop the seats, though the Dune’s most obvious rivals all best these figures by around 10-20%. It’s not the most usefully shaped boot, either, due to the car’s sloping silhouette – meaning that fitting in larger items might be tricky.

Fitting smaller items into the Dune can be challenging as well – the front door bins are useless, consisting of fabric straps, while passengers in the rear have a tiny cupholder to fight over, plus minute trays at the side of the cabin. Adding to storage, there are two much more useful large cupholders behind the gearstick.

Euro NCAP rating

Ratings for this model not available

Equipment and options

Each trim level will have different equipment offerings.
Basic equipment (26)
  • ABS
  • Air conditioning
  • Alarm
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Driver`s airbag
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front electric windows
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Height adjustable drivers seat
  • Isofix child seat anchor points
  • Lumbar support
  • PAS
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Remote locking
  • Service indicator
  • Side airbags
  • Space saver spare wheel
  • Steering wheel rake adjustment
  • Steering wheel reach adjustment
  • Traction control
Standard Equipment
Optional Equipment
Dune Standard Equipment
  • n/a
Dune Optional Equipment
  • n/a

Dimensions

Length 4286mm
Width 1822mm
Height 1502mm
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