Tank Ledger

Volkswagen Beetle Convertible MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Beetle Convertible has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 2013 to 2019. Across those years its best rated version returned 33 mpg (2015) and its thirstiest returned 23 mpg (2013). The EPA record holds 22 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

33best combined mpg (2015)
23worst combined mpg (2013)
29latest year best (2019)
22configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2013531 mpg23 mpg#6 of 71 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DriveDiesel, Premium, RegularSubcompact Cars
2014631 mpg23 mpg#9 of 63 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveDiesel, Premium, RegularSubcompact Cars
2015533 mpg25 mpg#8 of 71 (90th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegular, Premium, DieselSubcompact Cars
2016328 mpg26 mpg#17 of 71 (77th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2017128 mpg28 mpg#19 of 88 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2018129 mpg29 mpg#12 of 82 (86th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2019129 mpg29 mpg#12 of 85 (87th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Beetle Convertible placed highest in 2013 at #6 of 71, and lowest in 2017 at #19 of 88. It spent 7 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 22 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20192.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged263329396.610.3$2,1503086/10
20182.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged263329396.610.3$2,1503086/10
20171.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged243328410.710.6$2,2503226/10
20162.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd RegularSIDI, turbocharged233126442.311.4$2,4003436/10
20162.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged233026442.311.4$2,4003436/10
20161.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged243328410.710.6$2,2503207/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged232925460.011.9$3,1003576/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233126442.311.4$3,0003476/10
20151.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged243227425.911.0$2,3003307/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel293933348.510.8$2,7003097/10
20152.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel303833348.510.8$2,7003057/10
20142.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular2.5L 5-cyl212723500.012.9$2,7003786/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged232925460.011.9$3,1003576/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged233126442.311.4$3,0003477/10
20141.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) RegularSIDI, turbocharged243227425.911.0$2,3003307/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel273930383.311.9$3,0003357/10
20142.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel273831371.011.5$2,9003327/10
20132.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular2.5L 5-cyl212723500.012.9$2,7003786/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged213024479.212.4$3,2503716/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged212824479.212.4$3,2503746/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel273930383.311.9$3,0003357/10
20132.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel273731371.011.5$2,9003327/10

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2014 → 201531 → 33 mpg+2 mpg348 gal
2015 → 201633 → 28 mpg-5 mpg411 gal
2017 → 201828 → 29 mpg+1 mpg397 gal

What Beetle Convertible fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible burns 397 to 397 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,190$1,190$0
$3.50/gal$1,388$1,388$0
$4.00/gal$1,586$1,586$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2019 model year is $2,150 to $2,150 a year in fuel, or $500 less than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 29 mpg the Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is 5 mpg better the median, which is worth about $289 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Volkswagen nameplates

Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.