It's hard to approach the status of the Beetle. Only a couple of cars on the road have similar lifetime sales numbers and few have the instantly recognizable shape of the Beetle. Introduced in 2012, the third generation is longer, wider and has an overall more aggressive look. Modern Beetles are front wheel drive with the engine in front. A large hatchback and fold-down rear seat fill the space where the engine used to be. Beetle powertrains include an inline five-cylinder engine and a turbocharged four cylinder. The turbocharged Beetle with 200-horsepower and a six-speed dual clutch transmission should be quick enough to turn some heads. In today's market, Scion, Hyundai, and Kia provide the kind of value that the original Beetle was known for, but a unique combination of heritage, style, utility, and fuel economy should help keep the Beetle on some shopping lists.

After a short hiatus the Beetle returned for the 2012 model year. Compared to its predecessor, the Beetle grew by some 7 inches in length, 1 inch in wheelbase and almost 4 inches in width. A range of engines will be offered worldwide.