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Volkswagen Beetle Engine Specifications

The 2019 Volkswagen Beetle is offered with 1.8L–2.0L engines in 4-cylinder form, per EPA fuel-economy records.

Latest model year (2019):

The Volkswagen Beetle is available with 4 2.0L and Automatic (S6) (Front-Wheel Drive).

Verifiedfueleconomy.gov · Verified August 11, 2026
OverviewMPGEngine SpecsFuel CostTransmissionDrivetrainVehicle ClassMaintenanceDimensionsCurb WeightSafety

Volkswagen Beetle Engine Specs — All Years

YearTrimCylindersDispl.TransmissionDriveFuel TypeVehicle Class
2019Config 1 of 2Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2019Config 2 of 2Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2018Config 1 of 4Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2018Config 2 of 4Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2018Config 3 of 4Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2018Config 4 of 4Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2017Config 1 of 5Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2017Config 2 of 5Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2017Config 3 of 5Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2017Config 4 of 5Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2017Config 5 of 5Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 1 of 9Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 2 of 9Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2016Config 3 of 9Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 4 of 9Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2016Config 5 of 9Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 6 of 9Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2016Config 7 of 9Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LManual 5-spdFront-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 8 of 9Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2016Config 9 of 9Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2015Config 1 of 11Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DriveDieselCompact Cars
2015Config 2 of 11Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DrivePremium GasolineSubcompact Cars
2015Config 3 of 11Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DrivePremium GasolineCompact Cars
2015Config 4 of 11Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LAutomatic (AM-S6)Front-Wheel DriveDieselSubcompact Cars
2015Config 5 of 11Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineSubcompact Cars
2015Config 6 of 11Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2015Config 7 of 11Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L41.8LManual 5-spdFront-Wheel DriveRegular GasolineCompact Cars
2015Config 8 of 11Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DrivePremium GasolineSubcompact Cars
2015Config 9 of 11Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DriveDieselSubcompact Cars
2015Config 10 of 11Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DriveDieselCompact Cars
2015Config 11 of 11Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L42.0LManual 6-spdFront-Wheel DrivePremium GasolineCompact Cars

Data sourced from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy). MPG figures are EPA-tested. Fuel costs are estimates based on average fuel prices and 15,000 miles/year.

Volkswagen Beetle data analysis

How Volkswagen Beetle engine displacement varies

Across 31 configurations recorded for the 2015 through 2019 Volkswagen Beetle, engine displacement runs from 1.8 litres to 2 litres. The strongest figure belongs to the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle (SIDI) at 1.8 litres, and the weakest to the 2015 car (SIDI) at 2 litres — a spread of 10%. The narrow spread means any year of the Volkswagen Beetle in this table behaves much like the others, so you can shop on price, condition and mileage rather than chasing a particular model year.

What changed for 2019

Average engine displacement for the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle is 2 litres, against 2 litres for the 2018 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.

How to read this Volkswagen Beetle data

This page lists every 2015 through 2019 Volkswagen Beetle record we hold for this measurement — 31 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.

Configurations behind these Volkswagen Beetle numbers

The 2015 through 2019 Volkswagen Beetle entries here cover the variants SIDI, Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L and Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L. 2015 is the busiest model year in the record with 11 separate measured configurations, which is why a single quoted engine displacement figure for that year is rarely the one that matches the car in front of you. Match the row to the exact drivetrain, body style and engine on the window sticker or VIN before relying on the number, and use the comparison links below to see how those same configurations line up against rival models.

Where these Volkswagen Beetle figures come from

Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Volkswagen Beetle record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beetle Engine Specs

What engine does the Volkswagen Beetle have?

The Volkswagen Beetle is available with 4 cylinder engines ranging up to 2.0L. Transmission and drivetrain options vary by trim. See the full table above.

Is the Volkswagen Beetle available with all-wheel drive?

Check the drive column in the table above to see available drivetrain configurations.

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