2008 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible Safety Review
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 New Beetle Convertible comes equipped with an array of standard safety features and performs admirably in government crash tests. Reviewers find potentially limited visibility to be the only notable safety issue for this convertible.
Consumer Guide reports that windshield posts and door mirrors "can obstruct vision in turns, and [the] view over minivan-vast dashtop takes acclimation," adding, "Convertible top limits lane-change vision when up, blocks some view aft when down."
In federal government crash tests, the 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible earned 4 out of 5 stars for driver protection in front impact crashes and 4 out of 5 stars for front passenger protection. The New Beetle Convertible does not yet have ratings for side impact crashes, but earned 4 out of 5 stars in rollover testing. The 2008 New Beetle Convertible has not been tested by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, but the 2007 model received a score of "Good," the highest possible, in frontal offset tests.
Accident Avoidance
The New Beetle Convertible comes with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and standard traction and stability control. Volkswagen's Electronic Stability Program helps drivers stay on course by distributing brake pressure in order to avoid a potential accident.
Also standard on the 2.5-liter model is a Brake Pad Wear Indicator, which warns the driver when the brake rotors are almost worn, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
Crash Protection
The New Beetle Convertible comes standard with a total of four air bags, including passenger and side air bags. This convertible also comes with automatic rollover protection, which deploys two steel beams when a rollover is detected to help minimize injury. Also included is a Collapsible Steering Column, which collapses upon impact to help reduce driver injury. Volkswagen boasts steel reinforcements in the New Beetle Convertible, which absorb and redirect impact. The Beetle also comes with Side Airbag Pressure Sensors.
