The standard Beetle scored a reasonable four stars in official Euro NCAP crash tests and the Cabriolet version should be equally as safe in an accident. Every model comes with driver and front-seat passenger airbags while a side impact airbags is also mounted in each of the front seats. Curtain airbags are also standard. The front seatbelts have pre-tensioners plus there are Isofix child seat mounting points in the back while ESP stability control is also included on every model.

In the event of the vehicle turning over, rollover bars incorporated into the rear headrests deploy automatically. Security equipment includes an alarm system that is triggered by movement within the cabin, providing protection even when parked with the roof down.

The boot is very limited in size and has a very awkward small opening. You’ll probably end up keeping the tonneau cover in there too, eating into what little space there is. It’ll just about take a weekly shop, but forget about anything larger and there’s no where for a pushchair either. There’s reasonable stowage in the front with twin cupholders in front of the gear lever, however the door pockets – with their netting cover – aren’t very useable.

The roof is electric on most models – except the 1.4-litre Luna model where you have to open and close it manually.