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Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet interior, tech and comfort

2003 - 2010 (change model)
Comfort rating: 2 out of 52.0

Written by David Ross Published: 6 June 2019

While the Beetle Cabriolet may look funky from the outside, the interior is a bit of a let down. It’s fairly drab and there’s little to catch the attention apart from the unusual dash-mounted vase and body-coloured door tops – although these only stand out if you go for a bright colour. The three-spoke steering wheel is another nice touch, but the rest of it is standard Volkswagen – neatly laid out but not especially exciting.

It also feels a little dated, but build quality is good. However, visibility is a little compromised by the windscreen pillars and with the roof down, rear visibility is poor. The extremities are difficult to judge which can make parking difficult, so the optional parking sensors are a wise investment.

Passenger space is very cramped in the back and there’s limited leg room for adults, although a couple of kids will be happy. Wind buffeting is considerable with the roof down, which becomes less comfortable on colder days or at higher speeds. A wind deflector can be fitted to reduce this, but its location behind the front seats means the back seats can’t be used.

Where fitted, the optional heated seats (in conjunction with the heater) are good enough to make roof-down winter driving an enjoyable possibility.