2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Review - A Bug, Not a Buggy

It’s clear what Volkswagen is trying to do with the Dune trim level of its Beetle two-door.

The company claims the Dune is inspired by classic Beetles that were modified into “dune buggies.” Which is fine, but all it really is is a current Beetle with a raised suspension, black exterior cladding, rear spoiler, bumpers unique to its trim, unique air intakes, 18-inch wheels, LED taillights, special interior stitching, and cloth/leatherette seats.

Other than that, little sets it apart from its Beetle brethren. It’s powered by the same 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in most Beetles (the R-Line has a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder) and mates to a six-speed automatic transmission.

A small, relatively lightweight (it’s still a tick over 3,000 pounds) compact coupe like the Beetle should be fun to drive, even if it’s raised, like the Dune is. But “should be” and “is” are two different things.

With 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, acceleration is solid, though you won’t be blowing anyone’s doors off. The six-speed auto is compliant and serves without complaint.

Handling is this car’s biggest letdown. The body is a bit tippy in corners, and the steering is too light and too distant. No one expects the Beetle to be a sports car, but I was hoping for better. Sure, the R-Line trim might be the answer to my complaints, but even with a raised suspension the Dune should be more engaging in corners than it is.

On the flip side, one might expect a compact two-door coupe with a slightly raised suspension to have a less-than-pleasant ride, but that’s not the case. I drove the car from Chicago to Kalamazoo and back for the Dodge Demon event, and despite a tad bit of stiffness, it was pleasant on the highway.

At least from a ride perspective, that is. Generic road noise leaked in at highway speeds. You’ll need to turn the radio up a bit.

From a comfort standpoint, the Beetle’s shape means it’s roomy up front but not so much in back – the rear seats are basically a parcel shelf. Sure, they’ll hold toddlers in car seats, but adults will be none too pleased to be back there, especially if they’re on the tall side. When it came to shoot photos of the interior, I could not climb in or out without scraping my legs.

Another nitpick – the infotainment screen is small. Easy to use, but small. At least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, and CarPlay’s visuals are bigger and easier to read than VW’s. The infotainment system does have proper knobs, at least.

Not surprisingly, interior storage space is limited. That’s probably not an issue for most owners most of the time, but it was a hassle on a short road trip in which I needed a place to put receipts and find a home for snacks and such.

From a styling standpoint, I like the overall shape of the current Beetle – I’ve found it pays homage to the original well enough without being as overtly cloying and cutesy as the New Beetle. In Dune flavor it’s got just a little bit of aggression thrown in. Enough aggression that it drew the eyes of more than a few folks – someone gave me a thumbs-up on I-94 in southwest Michigan, and when I stopped for water and snacks after the Demon event, a middle-aged man driving a work truck wandered over and peppered me with questions about the car before indicating he’d love to buy one.

I was a bit taken aback by these interactions. The Beetle has been on the market long enough that it shouldn’t generate stares. Nor is it a particularly rare vehicle. Sure, the Dune trim stands out, but I was still expecting to move about the world more invisibly while driving it.

Lack of storage space aside, the interior is attractive, and the Dune-specific trim works. The yellow is probably a bit too loud for some eyeballs, but I didn’t mind it.

The Dune may look the part, but it’s not meant to ever truly go off-road. So it’s essentially a styling exercise that’s meant to appeal to a specific subset of Beetle fans. Based on the reactions I saw, I’d say it does that.

That’s also what it does best. It’s not quite as fun to drive as it promises to be, and while it’s a fine commuter or road-tripper for one or two people, it’s not going to haul rear-seat passengers who are past kindergarten age, nor it will be haul much luggage. At least I saw 29.7 mpg combined while driving it.

It’s also not expensive (my tester was $25K out the door), but that price could fetch you a basic Golf/base GTI or a Civic Si – sportier, more practical cars that don’t punish at the pump.

If you like the classic Beetle shape, or you miss the dune buggy days of the ‘70s, that’s one thing. But take away the Beetle’s uniqueness, and you’re best served shopping elsewhere.

[Images © 2017 Tim Healey/The Truth About Cars]