2016vwbeetle475Everyone of a certain age has fond memories of the original Volkswagen Beetle. Whether you drove one or knew someone who did, the Beetle is an iconic symbol of a special time and Volkswagen in its infinite wisdom decided to bring the icon back, but with all of the goodies that technology can offer.

The 2016 Beetle is a two-door convertible or hatchback (this review focuses on the convertible) that comes in S, SE and SEL trims.

The 1.8T SE convertible comes with keyless ignition and entry, 17-inch wheels, a rearview camera, heated front seats, “V-Tex” upholstery, three-color ambient lighting, a 6.3-inch touchscreen, VW “Car-Net” smartphone integration features, HD radio and satellite radio.

2016vwbeetleintA 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine powers the Beetle Convertible producing 170 horses and 184 pound-feet fo torque. A six-speed automatic change the gears with ease. Fuel economy is generous at 25/city, 34/highway and 28/combined mpg.

The Beetle received five stars from government crash test for overall and side crash protection. Frontal protection was rated at four stars.

Retro is great but retro with modern conveniences is even better and this is what the Beetle Convertible provides. With a great exterior look that hearkens back to the original but with an interior that offers all the modern gadgets, the Beetle is the best of both worlds.

A new touchscreen is now standard in all of the Beetle models and offers a more intuitive way to interface with all of the cars features.

The interior is roomy with good headroom front and back but legroom in the back seat is a bit cramped. Storage space is cramped too at just 7.1 cubic feet.

The Beetle Convertible has a smooth ride with all but the largest of road imperfections smoothed out. Acceleration is good and steering true.

Want to own an icon without compromising on new technology? Give the 2016 Beetle Convertible 1.8T SE a test drive.