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.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 | 31 mpg | 23 mpg | #6 of 71 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 2014 | 6 | 31 mpg | 23 mpg | #9 of 63 (87th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Premium, Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 2015 | 5 | 33 mpg | 25 mpg | #8 of 71 (90th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular, Premium, Diesel | Subcompact Cars |
| 2016 | 3 | 28 mpg | 26 mpg | #17 of 71 (77th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 2017 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #19 of 88 (79th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 2018 | 1 | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | #12 of 82 (86th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 2019 | 1 | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | #12 of 85 (87th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact 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.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 26 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 308 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 26 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 308 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 322 | 6/10 |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 343 | 6/10 |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 343 | 6/10 |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 320 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $3,100 | 357 | 6/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 347 | 6/10 |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 32 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 330 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 29 | 39 | 33 | 348.5 | 10.8 | $2,700 | 309 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 30 | 38 | 33 | 348.5 | 10.8 | $2,700 | 305 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 2.5L 5-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 378 | 6/10 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $3,100 | 357 | 6/10 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 347 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 32 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 330 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 27 | 39 | 30 | 383.3 | 11.9 | $3,000 | 335 | 7/10 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 27 | 38 | 31 | 371.0 | 11.5 | $2,900 | 332 | 7/10 |
| 2013 | 2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | 2.5L 5-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 378 | 6/10 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 21 | 30 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 371 | 6/10 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $3,250 | 374 | 6/10 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 27 | 39 | 30 | 383.3 | 11.9 | $3,000 | 335 | 7/10 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 27 | 37 | 31 | 371.0 | 11.5 | $2,900 | 332 | 7/10 |
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.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 → 2015 | 31 → 33 mpg | +2 mpg | 348 gal |
| 2015 → 2016 | 33 → 28 mpg | -5 mpg | 411 gal |
| 2017 → 2018 | 28 → 29 mpg | +1 mpg | 397 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 price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $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.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.