Volkswagen New Beetle MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen New Beetle has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 13 model years, from 1998 to 2010. Across those years its best rated version returned 38 mpg (1998) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (1998). The EPA record holds 61 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen New Beetle placed highest in 1999 at #1 of 40, and lowest in 2010 at #28 of 63. It spent 13 of its 13 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 61 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What New Beetle fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle burns 500 to 500 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2010 model year is $2,700 to $2,700 a year in fuel, or $2,250 more 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 23 mpg the Volkswagen New Beetle is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $73 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.