Volkswagen aren't renowned for producing vehicles at which one glance will leave you hopelessly smitten. The German marque's designs tend to major on quality and subtlety rather than attempting to blow onlookers into next week with jaw-dropping styling. The Beetle, however, is that rare thing - a Volkswagen that is defined by the way it looks. The 1960s flower power connotations of the iconic retro lines are such that Beetle buyers often know they want one before they've even sat inside the car. If anything, this effect is stronger still with the Cabriolet version. The drop-top roof is a further concession to style in the face of practicality but at least the fitting of a sensible TDi diesel engine can help to redress the balance.

It seems to make sense, a modern take on the 1960s Love Bug with a folding roof for really getting back to nature and a salt of the earth oil-burning engine chugging away under the bonnet. You certainly get low emissions and good fuel economy with the TDI powerplant so buyers can paint daisies all over the bodywork safe in the knowledge they're doing less to poison the local fauna and flora than many other motorists. Yes, the Beetle Cabriolet TDI is fairly clean but there's nothing especially environmentally friendly about it, just as there's nothing old-fashioned or retro about its construction or underlying technology. Visually the car might evoke the old hippy's favourite VW Beetle convertible (which would be classed as a very dirty car by today's standards) but it's actually a MkIV Golf with a trendy topless body to seduce the dewy-eyed nostalgists among us.

The Beetle's TDI engine actually churns out 149g/km of carbon dioxide which is the lowest of all the units offered in the Beetle Cabriolet and with a claimed average economy figure of 50mpg, it's also by far the most economical: even the smallest petrol unit can only manage 39mpg. Performance is fairly brisk too, with only the 1.8-litre petrol turbocharged engine giving significantly more forward thrust than the 105bhp TDI unit.

"A folding roof for really getting back to nature and a salt of the earth oil-burning engine chugging away under the bonnet.."

The normally aspirated 2.0-litre engine and the 1.9-litre TDI diesel are well-matched adversaries in terms of performance. The petrol unit can reach 60mph in 11.7s from a standing start before eventually running out of steam at 115mph, whereas the TDI does the 0-60mph sprint in 12.4s and has a 110mph top speed. Look beyond these figures, however, and the TDI edges ahead. 240Nm of torque at just 1,800rpm translates to a forceful punch of acceleration that's easily accessible early in the rev range. It's delivered in quite a raucous and aggressive fashion, so buyers wanting a smoother driving experience from their Beetle Cabriolet may favour a petrol unit but the diesel definitely has greater flexibility to offer at the engine speeds where most people do most of their driving. On top of this, there's the TDI's 50mpg economy compared to the petrol's 32mpg. The price being asked for the petrol is slightly less than the £18,775 you'll need to secure a TDI model but the 2.0-litre car does come with alloy wheels.

The 1.9-litre TDI engine makes a solid case for itself in the Beetle Cabriolet but how does the rest of the car measure up? The roof is always going to be a key issue with convertible cars and true to form, Volkswagen have done a thorough job of engineering the one you'll find on the Beetle. Raising or lowering the hood will only take 13 seconds thanks to a slick electrohydraulic system. All you'll need to do is release a pair of latches on the windscreen header rail and press a button. The hood itself is a cloth-lined three-layer construction that does a surprisingly good job of cutting down on wind noise when in the upright position and includes a proper heated glass rear window. With the hood up, the car looses its trademark domed roof profile to some extent but fold it away and it perches above the boot opening in an attractive manner that's reminiscent of the original Beetle. The roof may not come to rest in the boot but don't expect much space in there for luggage. The repackaging of the Beetle into Cabriolet form has left little room for anything more than a few shopping bags.

The suspension on the Beetle Cabriolet is biased towards comfort rather than sporty dynamism and the result is some body roll through corners but there seems to be very little flex in the chassis caused by the absence of a roof. The car feels very solid on the road, just as we've come to expect from Volkswagens over the years, but let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a remarkable achievement in a convertible car.

The Beetle Cabriolet has an interior design that's far less extrovert than the exterior lines but it's hard not to be impressed by the quality of the construction and there are a few nice details spread around the cabin. The lovely blue instrument lighting which illuminates only the figures on the speedometer is very attractive, as is the beautifully designed unique-fit stereo and there's even a flower vase on the dashboard where you can keep your daisy in water. All Beetle Cabriolet TDI models come with electric windows, heated door mirrors, a CD stereo with 10 speakers, air-conditioning, ABS brakes, twin front airbags and ESP stability control.

The TDI diesel is substantially more expensive than the entry-level 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol options and even with the fuel economy advantage the oil-burner gives you, it will take years of motoring for the engine to pay for itself. Likewise, if you want a Beetle Cabriolet with a real turn of speed, the 1.8T is the only viable option. Where the TDI unit comes into its own is as a compromise between pace and price. It gives respectable performance with that characteristic low-end grunt while returning the best fuel consumption figures of any model in the range. The Beetle Cabriolet itself is a well-conceived and well-executed product in typical Volkswagen style but it's the retro look and that degree of quirkiness that will do most to snare buyers in the highly image-conscious small convertible sector.

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	Volkswagen Beetle 1.9 TDi 2dr Cabriolet Convertible
	ETR	Mthly £312	Saving £2,039	Price £16,966

typical 10.20% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000