Chrysler PT Cruiser vs. Volkswagen Beetle
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen Beetle contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Chrysler PT Cruiser and the Volkswagen Beetle.
When comparing the Chrysler PT Cruiser's and the Volkswagen Beetle's specifications and ratings, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and interior volume. The Volkswagen Beetle has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Chrysler PT Cruiser's and the Volkswagen Beetle's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: A used 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser ranges from $3,347 to $9,894 while a used 2019 Volkswagen Beetle is priced between $16,991 to $29,599.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Chrysler PT Cruiser’s base engine makes 150 horsepower, and the Volkswagen Beetle base engine makes 174 horsepower. The PT Cruiser is rated to deliver an average of 21 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 360 miles. The Beetle is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 479 miles. This gives the Volkswagen Beetle the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser uses gasoline, and the Beetle uses regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Chrysler PT Cruiser has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Volkswagen Beetle has the advantage in the areas of front head room, front shoulder room and front leg room.
Safety Ratings: The Volkswagen Beetle has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
18275
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
20895
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
21340
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
14795 - 40395
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
6078
Price Range:
3347 - 9894
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
8
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
102801
# Good or Great Deals:
2
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
22937
Price Range:
16991 - 29599
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
19292
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
11224 - 33439
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
72
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
56468
# Good or Great Deals:
26
Chrysler PT Cruiser Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
Volkswagen Beetle Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.811944 / 10
Reliability:
7.859329 / 10
Retained Value:
8.576503 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Chrysler PT Cruiser
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volkswagen Beetle
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
6.7
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
6.3
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
4.1 - 9.5
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.002
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
0.8694982252038431
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
3.36923637737944
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
4.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
0.5 - 15.5
Chrysler PT Cruiser Rankings
Not yet available
Volkswagen Beetle Rankings
Available Body Styles
Wagon
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Chrysler PT Cruiser Trim Levels
Base
Volkswagen Beetle Trim Levels
2.0T Final Edition SE, 2.0T Final Edition SEL, 2.0T S, 2.0T SE
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
6 years / 72000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 72000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
150 hp @ 5100 rpm
Torque:
165 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.047 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
174 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
184 foot-lbs @ 1500 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.057 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
19 / 24 / 21
Range (city/hwy):
285 / 360 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
26 / 33 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
377 / 479 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
Available
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Massage Seats:
N/A
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
Available
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.2 inches
Front Leg Room:
40.6 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
53.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
40.9 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.6 inches
Cargo Space:
21.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
62.7 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
120.5 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
31.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
49 inches
Cargo Space:
15.4 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
29.9 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 3rd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
100.5 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3222 lbs
Width:
67.1 inches
Height:
63 inches
Length:
168.9 inches
Wheelbase:
103 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.5 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3045 lbs
Width:
71.9 inches
Height:
58.6 inches
Length:
168.8 inches
Wheelbase:
100.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P205/55R16
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
215/60R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat
Blue
Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat
Red
Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat
Silver
Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat / Silver Steel Metallic Clear Coat
White
Stone White Clear Coat
Gray
Not available
Orange
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Deep Black Pearl
Blue
Silk Blue Metallic
Red
Tornado Red
Silver
White Silver Metallic
White
Pure White
Gray
Platinum Gray Metallic
Orange
Habanero Orange Metallic
Interior Colors
Gray
Pastel Slate Gray
Black
Not available
Interior Colors
Gray
Not available
Black
Titan Black
