Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 City / 29 HWY
Horsepower
150
Seats
4
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Brittany G
Beautiful interior. Long landing car.
Some issues with car computer and wring. I have manual. I enjoy it. No troubles with transmission. Seats are very comfortable. Hatchback is convenient. Headliner didn't last long though.
accountCircle Jesika H
It's one of my favorite cars! Super cute and super comfortable. I have plenty of room despite the small size and the ride is smooth. The only complaint is the horn is really quiet.
Honestly, I picked this car cause its adorable and matches my personality. I think everyone should pick a car that is right for them.
accountCircle Lisa N
The tire sensors don't last long.
I love the get up and go my 5 cylinder engine has. Great car all around. A few electrical problems but nothing major.
accountCircle Mikayla M
I love my car and I never want to get rid of it.
My car surprisingly has a lot of room. Everyone who has ever rode in my car has said that. My car also gets great gas mileage and I always get tons of compliments. Sometimes it is hard to see when someone is passing you. Unfortunately my car has a blind spot.
accountCircle AURORA D
MY BEETLE'S RELIABLE NO PROBLEMS
MY VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SURPRISED ME. IT WAS MUCH ROOMIER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. WITH REGULAR UPKEEP IT HAS BEEN THE MOST RELIABLE CAR THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED OTHER THEN THE 1972 VERSION THAT I STILL HAVE.
accountCircle Rob E
My beetle is yellow. It is comfortable and roomy despite it is small outer look.
I absolutely love my vehicle. The only negative with it is there are a few electrical problems. The driver-side window often gets stuck and will not go up without multiple tries. The headlights will often go out on the same side. The vehicle is comfy and roomy despite it is smaller size. It is cute and is appealing to people. It drives smoothly. I love the car!
accountCircle Elizabeth P
I love the reliability of a Volkswagen. I am.
I love my beetle convertible. The cons is there is very little trunk space and it shakes a little on the interstate after a certain amount of miles like 80 miles per hour. Also, it is good on gas mileage on the highway, but it is not so good on gas mileage in the city.
accountCircle Joanna
So d**n cute!
I love my 2008 beetle. Sure I’ve had to get a new air conditioner compressor, and the headliner had to be replaced, and it’s expensive for oil changes, but it’s just so d**n cute. I have the beige one and it always looks clean even when it’s not. I love my beetle!

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Gabrielle C
The most interesting detail about the VW beetle would be how great it is on gas!
I have a Volkswagen beetle, it gets me from point a to point, the car is awesome on gas and runs great as long as it gets oil changes regularly. My only complain about the car is that my headlights and tail lights are always having some kind of problem because of the wiring in my car.
accountCircle Rebecca F
Why I wouldn't buy a Volkswagen beetle again.. A lot of recalls on it.
I own a 2008 Volkswagen beetle. As much as I love my car and how cute it looks, I regret buying one. The gas to miles is good, that is not the problem. The headlights keep messing up, I have replaced the whole light piece, (not the bulb) and it is somehow still not fixed. My air conditioning also stopped working and it is not the freon. The water leaks out and for some reason no one can fix it other than that I love my beetle. But wouldn't buy it again.
accountCircle Paul I
Battery life seems to be not the best.
Battery problems, inside door handles break easy, headliner loose, headlights loose, overall a really good vehicle these issues are mostly about repairing.

Volkswagen Beetle Models

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

car
S Coupe
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
S
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
SE Coupe
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
SE
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
Triple White Coupe
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
Black Tie Edition Coupe
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
Triple White
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
car
Black Tie Edition
150 HP 25-25 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Reviews

4.53
38 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 63%
4 stars 29%
3 stars 5%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Lindsay C on June 26, 2021
Fun, peppy car with headlight problems.
The major dislike of this vehicle are the headlights! I have had this car for seven years and I have had to replace the headlight bulbs every six months, no lie. Also, when the headlights are working, they are not very bright. Currently in the process of installing aftermarket fog lights to help. That is my only complaint, otherwise, it is a fun and reliable car and safe. I have been rear ended twice in it and there was minimal body damage to the car and minimal injuries to me and my passenger. It is a cute little car with a lot of pep.
accountCircle Jackie M on June 18, 2021
This is my 4th ve Beetle. I have had absolutely no problems with this one. It registers at 175 miles. It is easy to drive, comfortable and is very dependable.
The most important thing about my VW Beetle is that is reliable in every way

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Jadan H.

It is convertible. If you are looking for a small car this is definitely an option. You can fit anywhere as far as parking. Amazing seat warmers. You can see everything. I like the speed of the car. Very low car. Does not pull off too fast or to slow.

likeFilled Rachel W.

It is small and cute and drives well and works fine. It has a lot of features I wanted in a car and is very convenient to drive. It is the color I wanted and very comfortable. It has great ac and has heated seats and gets good gas mileage.

likeFilled Hazel S.

It is a small, fast vehicle, that is fun to drive, it is great on gas and is a really cute car. Would recommend for anyone's first car. I have had my car for almost 2 years and it is still running strong.

likeFilled Elizabeth C.

The pros of this vehicle are the small size, the good gas mileage, and it is a fun and cute car. The car is long lasting if taken care of well. The pros are limited and I wouldn't really recommend this car to anyone else.

likeFilled Makenzie P.

Compact car but plenty of space inside for both front seats and back. Good gas mileage for both everyday travel and long road trips. Easy to take care of and to find parts if any is needed. Good amount of trunk space.

likeFilled Alex K.

It is gas mileage is really good. Since it is small it is easier to get around traffic and to park. It is very recognizable so I never have a hard time picking it out of a crowd or finding it in a parking lot.

likeFilled Chris G.

It is a very responsive car that handles well in the winter. It also gets great mileage. The safety features give me price of mind. I haven't had to do too many repairs in the 12 years that I have owned the car.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Jadan H.

It has a very small trunk. It only has 4 seats. It only has one car charger. There are no vents in the back seats. There are no seat warmers in the back. Not enough cup holders. No back windshield wipers. No Bluetooth. It takes forever to get cold when it is hot.

dislikeFilled Rachel W.

It is expensive to service, it has some minor details wrong with it, due to previous owners, such as the wrong key assignment, faulty lights, a trunk that does not open properly, a broken gas cap, and a faulty speedometer.

dislikeFilled Hazel S.

It is too expensive to fix. The car tends to have overheating issues that are really expensive to fix. Most Volkswagen cars have to be taken to a dealership or a Volkswagen certified mechanic. Which can be difficult to find, especially when you are on a budget.

dislikeFilled Elizabeth C.

This car is incredibly expensive to fix for literally anything. It is difficult to find service sometimes because it is a German car and a lot of places do not work on Volkswagens. Not a fast car and requires careful driving as any bump can be felt.

dislikeFilled Makenzie P.

Hard to tint windows due to shape of windows which can cause the inside of the car to get warm if in warmer or sunny weather. Compatibility for newer technology in older years but that is common regardless of car.

dislikeFilled Alex K.

Since it is all black it always gets really hot in the summer, and the air conditioning always takes a while to start working as well as I would like. Other than that I love the car, it runs wonderfully.

dislikeFilled Chris G.

The care is starting to get older, and it will be hard to part with. The radio is not USB compatible, and that makes it hard to play my iPod. Sensors can sometimes go out and be expensive to replace.

Ranks #3 Small Cars by Owners

The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle has an average owner rating of 4.53 out of 5 which ranks it #3 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
car
5
2
car
4.56
3
car
4.53

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle has a combined MPG of 34 which ranks it #8 of 30 other Small Cars.

1
car
36 MPG
2
Tie
car
35 MPG
8
Tie
car
29 MPG

Is The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle A Good Car?

The beetle is a very good car. It has great gas mileage and rides very smooth. But I have found it to have a lot of problems, especially technological. This car has a new issue every few months, and... Read More
abbie b.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle?

The beetle is not very reliable in my opinion. There is always problems with the sensors and technology. Also there has been a lot of issues with the transmission.
abbie b.

Is The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle A Good Value?

The beetle is very affordable and is good value, UT it is very expensive to fix the car and replace parts.
abbie b.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2008 vw beetle have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2008 VW Beetle is equipped with a timing chain. Timing chains are housed within the engine and receive lubrication from engine oil and can last a long time, while timing belts are located outside of the...

What's the 2008 VW Beetle oil type?

Answer: The 2008 VW Beetle takes sae 5w-40 synthetic motor oil. Volkswagen recommends getting Your Beetle's oil & filter changed every 3,000-5,000 miles. You can change the oil Yourself, just remember when You change...

What are some of the 2008 VW Beetle convertible window problems?

Answer: To reset the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle convertible window use Your key on the outside of the car to reset the motion. First put Your key in the hole, turn to left, and hold. The windows should go down all the way...

What's the 2008 vw beetle coolant type?

Answer: The type of coolant that should be used in the 2008 Volkswagen New Beetle is any Audi/VW G13 or G12 approved coolant/antifreeze. The color of coolant for it will either be pink or purple coolant. If You are...

What are some of the 2008 vw beetle convertible top problems?

Answer: The most common issue with the convertible top of the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle is, fortunately a simple one -- it stems from low hydraulic fluid levels, which can affect the vehicle's ability to raise and lower...

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