Step on the accelerator and, well, there's acceleration. The New Beetle may not qualify for pocket rocket status, but it's no sloth, either. Torque from the base 2.0-liter engine comes on at relatively low revs and makes the car feel quite sprightly around town. You won't leave a trail of rubber taking off from a stoplight, but it will keep up with most of the cars in its class.

Playing off of the famous Volkswagen ads of the '60s, one of the new ads cheerfully acknowledges the New Beetle is no hot rod: "0 to 60? Yes."

That familiar exhaust note and the metallic sound of those solid lifters has been replaced by an incredibly quiet car. Wind noise is surprisingly low at cruising speeds, only making itself apparent at 80 mph.

For maximum sports appeal, we recommend the 5-speed manual over the optional 4-speed automatic. It's more fun to drive. The automatic works well enough, but it gives up a little low-end acceleration and makes the car seem thrashy on pedal-to-the-metal standing starts.

Tight, linear, responsive steering with a solid, on-center feel and a smooth, sporty ride replaces that loose feeling we remember in the original Beetle. Its four-wheel independent suspension, provides ride and handling that suggests a much more expensive automobile.