Volkswagen Beetle gets special edition Dune version with bold features

Dune Punch Buggy

Few cars evoke as many strong emotions as the Volkswagen Beetle. It’s a love/hate type of thing. Some of the criticisms are totally unfair, and some are justified. But, undeniably, the Beetle is an icon whether you like it or not. So I knew it was going to be an interesting week when I found out I’d be driving a special edition Beetle as a convertible, in late fall.

The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune is intended to be bold – and it accomplishes that. It comes in one of three bold, exclusive paint colors with my tester being the Sandstorm Yellow. That yellow was carried over from the outside to the inside, on the dashboard and on the seat stitching. It was drastic and certainly invoked opinions from people as I drove around, top down in the brisk fall air.

I drove the Beetle Dune in a parade with other fabulous vehicles, from classic cars to shiny new convertibles. But, as I drove through the parade route, tossing candy to bystanders, most of the feedback was positive about the Dune. If nothing, its appearance made a statement and helped set it apart from other Beetles you might see on the road.

Beyond the eye-catching color, the Beetle Dune has other attributes that differentiate it. There are special wheels along with a slightly elevated frame that allows for more ground clearance. The Dune gets a special front fascia, which has a sportier look than the standard Beetle grille, along with LED head lights.

While the design of the VW Beetle Dune is unique, the powertrain is pretty typical. There’s a 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It makes 170 horsepower and 184 lbs.-ft. of torque. It drives enthusiastically and is certainly better than previous-edition Beetles. Now in its third generation, this is the most spry and enjoyable Beetle to drive. It’s quick and responsive, with little to no turbo lag. Through twists and turns, it offers superb handling. Its go-kart-like performance never disappoints and this car is best suited at the lower speeds than on the open highway. It’s available as a coupe, but is ideal as a convertible.

There’s a six-speed automatic transmission that is adequate, but uninspiring. The slightly elevated posture of this special edition changes the driving dynamics slightly, but it’s generally fun.

As mentioned, the interior carries over the special paint color with the yellow appearing all along the dashboard and side panels as well as in the stitching of the leather seats. If my words make it sound garish, then I’m not doing it justice because the Beetle Dune is special-looking, which is the intent of this limited edition.

Where the yellow color invades inside, is also a harder plastic material, diminishing the touch points of the Beetle. As soft and comfortable and quality as the seats are, the dash and side panels felt lower quality, even if they were aesthetically pleasing.

The back seat, as expected from such a diminutive car, has limited leg room. With the top up, head room is cramped. With the top down, front passengers are happy as can be, but rear passengers, even those like my teenaged parade passengers, will feel confined and limited.

The 6.3-inch touchscreen integrates with smart phones through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. There’s a USB port and a premium Fender sound system. The touchscreen is responsive and easy to use and mimic other smart devices with gestures like swiping and pinch-zooming.

The coupe version has a starting price of $23,995. However, my drop-top tester had a price of $29,395. The Beetle Dune has an EPA rating of 24 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway. In a week’s worth of driving I averaged 23 mpg. I didn’t take it much on the highway, and I did drive it for a couple miles in the parade going about 5 mph, so I think fuel economy could’ve been better had I driven like I normally would have. Note: My tester arrived during a seasonable, but cool forecast in the fall and I still drove it with the top down. All convertibles, even here in the Midwest, should be driven with the top down whenever possible.

Volkswagen adds this Dune special edition to the iconic Beetle to pay respect to the days of dune buggies on the beach. While this “punch buggy” is not going up any sand dunes, it certainly has the look, and improved ground clearance to put on the act. It’s a nice modification to the iconic Beetle.

Jimmy Dinsmore is a freelance automotive journalist.


2017 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE

  • Price/As-tested price………………………………………… $29,935/$29,935
  • Mileage…………………………………… 24 mpg/city; 31 mpg/hwy
  • Engine……………………………………… 1.8-liter 4-cylinder
  • Horsepower…………………………… 170 hp/184 lbs.-ft.
  • Transmission…………………………… 6-speed automatic
  • Drive wheels……………. Front-wheel drive
  • Final assembly point……………. Mexico

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