The original Beetle could never shake its “people’s car” roots, except in the Cabriolet version. Replacing the steel roof with a convertible top turned the Beetle into an “everyman’s car” as at home on college campuses as it was in upscale suburban driveways. The New Beetle, on the other hand, is a fashion item that mimics the look of the original in order to appeal to a large cross-section of the population. However, replacing its steel roof with a fabric top also may bridge the gap between fashion slaves, upscale sun worshipers in search of a less ostentatious vehicle, and people looking for a fun ride.

Though it keeps the profile of the regular Beetle, the convertible version adds a tasteful chrome strip running from A-pillar to A-pillar around the beltline, and side mirrors with turn signals at their outer edge. This trim accentuates the three-layer fabric top. A top which would be at home on a Mercedes, but sits atop a vehicle with a starting price of $20,450. (As driven: $25,355.) However, since it follows the shape of the departed steel roof and has a heated glass rear window instead of larger sewn-in clear plastic panes, the top’s sail panels are large enough to create a sizeable blind spot. On the plus side, a power option is available that raises or lowers the top in 13 seconds. On the minus side, the leading portion of the roof sits at head restraint height when folded.

There was a fair bit of concern that the automatic transmission would detract (a.k.a. suck power) from the 115-hp 2.0-liter engine. (The 150-hp 1.8-liter turbocharged four is available as an option on the GLS, standard on the top of the line GLX, and something to dream about if you can only afford the base GS trim level.) However, the six-speed automatic has closely spaced ratios that keep the engine in the heart of the torque band under acceleration, and a top gear that helped return 26.2 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving.

And now for the big concern: Is the New Beetle Convertible, like the Golf Cabriolet, the perfect car for every Malibu Barbie and gender-neutral Tennis Pro Ken, or a vehicle anyone can enjoy? The jury is still out on that one. Current Beetle owners (predominantly women) loved the car, as did many of the guys who bothered to take notice. Oddly, Golf Cabrio owners acted as if it wasn’t there. It wouldn’t take much to produce a sportier version of the car around the turbo motor, the right set of wheels and tires, and a less restrictive exhaust system. Throw in a bit of suspension tuning to dial-out some of the understeer and improve the damping curve, and you’d have a surprisingly sporting package. One that might even get Ken to exchange his tennis racket for a mountain bike.