2005 Volkswagen Beetle Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
21 -22 City / 30 -31 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
115 -150
Seats
4
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Dal M
There really is not any suspension on the car, you can feel every bump.
I love that my car has heated seats and an ready to work dashboard. There is much more space in the car and trunk than what's expected. The only downside is that is holds heat in the summer and holds cold in the winter, but the heating and cooling easily fix that.
accountCircle Dave B
Labor costs can get a bit pricey when it needs repairs.
My only complaint is the cost of repairs can get a bit high. Otherwise, I love my beetle - it gets great gas mileage and is spacious enough that we have taken it on road trips and vacations.
accountCircle Kay S
Mine is very reliable and have received lots of approvals on my added designs.
Good gas mileage because it is diesel, no major problems and can park anywhere. I have almost 200,000 miles and still runs like new.
accountCircle Melissa I
Great car. Lots of legroom. Speedy little bugger.
I love the size. I also love the turbo and the feel of the engine. I dislike the size of the trunk but I expected that when buying the beetle.
accountCircle Abigail R
Light blue bug with eyelashes.
It is a nice car with a very reliable engine. With a super cute blue color. It is a convertible top. This is perfect for sunny weather. My car is perfect to put eyelashes on. The car is tiny but roomie for sure. It is like a tiny little home. Or like a glass bowl.
accountCircle Gabriel A
Economically user friendly.
Standard shift, and very economical. Environmentally friendly. Practically maintenance free. Extremely good fuel mileage. Technologically reliable. A very reasonable price. Interior design is compatible with exterior design and color. Great trade-in and resale value.
accountCircle Bridget H
The engine was made to last.
I love the engine. It is continued to run since 2010, when I received it, and by 2010 it had already been used. What I dislike: in the summers where I live, the black interior and anywhere there is adhesive (the back lining around the window ) melts and dissipates, meaning much of the cosmetic element in the car falls apart. . . Literally. It was not made to withstand extreme heat and humidity.
accountCircle shekinah a
She's a little rough around the edges. She drives good. Dependable. And holds a lot more than you'd expect
She's a light blue beetle bug, and despite her age, she's still holding strong. I'm not much about latest tech or anything, I just want something reliable, and she's been great. We've been to and from three different states, college, grad school, and moving several apartments. Her name is Jelly bean. I dislike that she needs some upkeep. I've been rough on her. I wish I'd known how to take better care of her.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sara P
Beautiful car but poorly made and cheap.
Expensive to repair but poorly made. The car is beautiful and was well taken care of but every little thing is breaking. Transmission problems. Random radiator leak. Heated seats and window motors don't work. Buttons are breaking off and hard to find to replace.
accountCircle Penney V
Classic, cute & sturdy car.
Dislike that it is a stick. Like its classic. I like the color & convertible. I haven't owned it long.
accountCircle Sabrina T
Volkswagen new beetle review.
Lots of engine problems, some minor issues including that it is a gas drinker, is a reliable car as long as it gets checked regularly. Pretty spacious not too small perfect for a young new driver. Sits four comfortably and has room for a car seat. Sunroof looks nice.
accountCircle Kylie A
Red 2005 Volkswagen beetle.
Its a 2005 with 98k miles on it but it the 6 months that I have had it I have had to put in 2000 dollars worth of labor. The alternator needed to be replaced and there were a lot of wiring issues. It's a fast car and stylish but so far it has had a lot of problems in a short amount of time.
accountCircle Rosa Gutierrez
My 2005 VW BEETLE is more often dead then working.. :(
I have 6 months with my BEETLE. My battery keeps dying. Hard to find Mechanic that wants to work with it.. Has Brand new Battery, new tires. Got new brakes. Seems like the more I invest in it, It won't start. Don't know what to do next.. Love my car, unhappy senior citizen..
accountCircle Elizabeth L
If you want to have trunk space this is the car for you.
Well it is a convertible and the back windshield is starting to come unglued which I have heard is a very common problem. As well as the top has a hole in the top which is patched over. The only other major problem I have had was the axles at the front broke.
accountCircle Kate K
A teenage dream, and adulthood nightmare.
The vehicle is so fun to drive, smooth, fast, and sporty. However, there are many problems that make driving it incredibly difficult. For one, if the gas gets below a quarter tank, the fuel pump does not function properly. The soft-top leaks when it rains, the back window is falling out, and the cover on the gear shift shattered and fell apart. All-in-all it was a great car when I turned 16, but I am looking for something more reliable.

Volkswagen Beetle Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GL Coupe
115 HP 27-27 MPG 4 Seats
car
Bi-Color Edit Coupe
115 HP 27-27 MPG 4 Seats
car
Bi-Color Edit
115 HP 27-27 MPG 4 Seats
car
GLS Coupe
150 HP 26-26 MPG 4 Seats
car
GL
115 HP 26-26 MPG 4 Seats
car
Dark Flint
115 HP 26-26 MPG 4 Seats
car
GLS
150 HP 26-26 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Reviews

4.17
29 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 45%
4 stars 31%
3 stars 21%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Debra R on March 15, 2021
VW: cost effective or cost prohibitive.
My VW has good gas mileage; easy, comfort drive; recently have had to change brake pads. It is very difficult and complicated to work on this vehicle without taking it to a mechanic that works on foreign vehicles or you must take it to the actual VW dealership. Not so cost effective which causes vehicle maintenance to be an issue.
accountCircle carol t on January 25, 2021
Has a good safety record never had major problems with it
Not very good in the snow. Love that it is good on gas fun to drive
View All Reviews (29) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Deana S.

Easy and fun to drive and park your car. Color of yellow is easy to spot and other drivers can see you coming and know that you are in the vicinity. Haven't had any major problems and keep all maintenance up to date.

likeFilled Deana S.

Great gas mileage because it is diesel. I get about 42 miles to the gallon. I am now over 200,000 miles without any major problems and plan to drive it at least another 100,000 miles. The color is yellow which is easy to see when driving at night.

likeFilled Guadalupe C.

Gas friendly. Car design has character. Experience a smooth and economic drive. Parts for this car can be expensive. I do not recommend this car to be for a family but it is roomie enough for friends. If you like small cars but not too small this car is perfect and comfortable.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Deana S.

This car is very small and if you have a dark color it is often no easy to see especially at night or if it is raining. It rides very low to the ground so if there is a large amount of snow your car will be unable to navigate through it.

dislikeFilled Deana S.

The major con of my Volkswagen beetle is that room to transport anything is limited. I have lowered my front seat so I can put something thru the back hatch going all the way against the glove compartment to be able to carry it.

dislikeFilled Guadalupe C.

Parts for this car can be expensive. It is a German engineered vehicle so depending on what the car may need parts would have to be ordered. Having to order parts consumes time and you will have to find other means of transportation while you wait for it to get fixed.

Ranks #7 Small Cars by Owners

The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle has an average owner rating of 4.17 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2005 Volkswagen Golf
4.67
2
car
2005 Toyota Echo
4.56
7
Tie
car
2005 Volkswagen Beetle
4.17

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle has a combined MPG of 34 which ranks it #8 of 23 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2005 Toyota Echo
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
2005 Volkswagen Jetta
43 MPG
8
Tie
car
2005 Volkswagen Beetle
31 MPG

Is The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle A Good Car?

Yes this is a good vehicle. It is great in gas and it will last me a long time. I love Volkswagen cars. They are the best cars you could possibly get.
mackenzie b.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle?

The only probably that I have with the beetle is that it skips from 3rd to 4th gear every once in a while. It really jerks more than anything.
mackenzie b.

Is The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle A Good Value?

I got mine for $5,000 it was not worth that much in my opinion because of all the work that needs done on it.
mackenzie b.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why my 2005 VW Beetle convertible trunk wont open?

Answer: There are three ways to go about opening the trunk on the 2005 VW beetle. To start You can use the keys and insert them into the lock on the back of the trunk. This is the traditional way of doing this. The...

What's the 2005 VW Beetle o2 sensor location?

Answer: The 2005 Volkswagen Beetle has an oxygen sensor that is somewhat difficult to locate. It will take around 5 to 7 minutes of Your time. First, You will need to go to the back of Your vehicle, and crouch down...

What's the 2005 Volkswagen Beetle oil type?

Answer: Your 2005 Volkswagen Beetle is going to want to be filled up with some SAE 5W-40 synthetic oil. You're free to vary the viscosity slightly, as it won't hurt Your vehicle, thought it's usually best to stick with...

What might cause my 2005 Volkswagen Beetle check engine light to come on?

Answer: There are a huge number of reasons the check engine light might come on in any vehicle, let alone Your 2005 Volkswagen Beetle. It's essentially a catch-all light that indicates that You need to scan Your...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety