2015 head-to-head · Compact Car

2015 Volkswagen Beetle vs Volkswagen Beetle Diesel

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,722/ year to fuel
27 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,632/ year to fuel
34 MPG

The 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,632 a year to fuel (34 MPG), versus $1,722 for the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle (27 MPG). That's roughly $90 a year, or about $449 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Volkswagen Beetle
  • Volkswagen Beetle Diesel

Side by side

Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle Diesel
$1,722 Your annual fuel cost $1,632
27 MPG Combined efficiency 34 MPG
24 MPG City 30 MPG
32 MPG Highway 39 MPG
81 cu ft Passenger volume 85 cu ft
7 cu ft Cargo volume 15 cu ft
330 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 302 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Diesel
Regular gasoline Fuel Diesel
1.8L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 6-speed manual
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Volkswagen Beetle vs Volkswagen Beetle Diesel across model years

  • Volkswagen Beetle
  • Volkswagen Beetle Diesel

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel has more passenger space (85 vs. 81 cu ft); the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel has more cargo space (15 vs. 7 cu ft).

Among 52 2015 compact cars, the Volkswagen Beetle ranks 29th and the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel 28th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Volkswagen Beetle is a conventional gas model, while the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel is a diesel.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle or the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Diesel?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel. The Volkswagen Beetle is rated 27 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel 34 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle vs. the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $1,722 for the Volkswagen Beetle and $1,632 for the Volkswagen Beetle Diesel.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Beetle Diesel, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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