2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition Review: Weird Yet Charming

For decades, VW continued to find ways to honour the Beetle's quirky heritage. For 2017, it was with the Pink Edition. We review this iconic coupe in fuchsia that's fittingly weird yet charming.

Most car manufacturers denote their vehicle lineup’s various trim levels with two-letter codes like LX, SE, or GT.  It’s rare, however, to find a trim designation named for a car’s colour, but leave it to Volkswagen and its retro-inspired Beetle to pull that trick out of its sleeve.

A Pink VW Beetle with Gunmetal Wheels

The Beetle’s Fresh Fuchsia Metallic paint is new for 2017. VW thinks it’s special enough to warrant a distinct trim level, and we agree: we think this is the most beautiful finish you’ll find on a new car this year. The paint pops even on a gray, rainy day, and looks so rich and deep in direct sunlight you’ll want to reach in and grab a handful of it.

2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition Review rear rolling
2017 Beetle Pink Edition. Photo: VW

That colour comes with a set of 18-inch gunmetal wheels that look fab next to that gorgeous paint, and the package is topped off with an adorable “Bug” badge on the trunk lid.

The Pink Bug’s Interior

Even from inside the Beetle’s cabin, you won’t forget the colour this car wears on the outside. Dashboard inserts are painted to match the exterior, and the comfortable seats get checked with pink upholstery and matching stitching. Whether or not you like pink, you have to admit Volkswagen has done a great job creating a trim based around a fantastically extroverted shade.

Cool as all that is, the Beetle remains a car best suited to two people who will enjoy generous headroom up front. While the back seat is usable, both head and legroom are limited and access can be challenging for tall passengers, who have to perform some human origami to get in without hitting their heads.

2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition Review interior
2017 Beetle Pink Edition. Photo: VW
2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition interior seats front and rear
2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition

We were grateful for the Pink Edition’s standard blind spot alert, as the C-pillars, large rear headrests, and relatively small backlight all conspire to restrict visibility to the rear. The Pink Edition also inherits a backup camera from the entry-level Trendline model.

Powered by a 170 horsepower 1.8-litre Turbocharged 4-cylinder

The Pink may look like a Beetle with the GTI treatment, but it shares its underpinnings and 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with the rest of the Beetle line (save for the Beetle Dune and its lifted suspension).

2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition Review engine
2017 Beetle Pink Edition’s 1.8L engine. Photo: VW

Despite its small displacement, the engine is notable for its combination of torquey performance and respectable fuel consumption, which averaged 9.5 L/100 km in a week of city driving, matching the Natural Resources Canada estimate for that driving environment. For that, you can thank our tester’s optional six-speed automatic transmission’s only fault: being over-eager to upshift as quickly as possible and reluctant to downshift for highway passing maneuvers.

Despite its small displacement, the engine is notable for its combination of torquey performance and respectable fuel consumption, which averaged 9.5 L/100 km in a week of city driving, matching the Natural Resources Canada estimate for that driving environment.

For that, you can thank our tester’s optional six-speed automatic transmission’s only fault: being over-eager to upshift as quickly as possible and reluctant to downshift for highway passing maneuvers.

Like many other cars that get unfairly labeled as “girly,” the Beetle shrugs off that misnomer with competent handling that, while not as sharp as that GTI’s, nonetheless belies the car’s compliant suspension.

If you’re shopping for a used Beetle with more power, there’s the 2013 Beetle Turbo we reviewed, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque; it’s enough power to give the car the ability to sprint from 0-100 km/h in a very respectable six seconds.

2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition rear view parked on street outside
2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Trims and Pricing


In the United States, the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle was available in various trims and configurations to cater to different preferences and needs. The available trims for the 2017 VW Beetle included:

  1. S: The base trim, offering a solid set of standard features.
  2. SE: A step up from the base model, typically including additional features and options.
  3. SEL: The SEL trim level often came with more advanced technology and comfort features.
  4. Dune: A unique trim with a rugged, off-road-inspired appearance.
  5. R-Line SE: A sportier option with performance-oriented features.
  6. R-Line SEL: The highest trim level, combining sportiness with premium features.
  7. Convertible: The Beetle was also available in a convertible version, with various trims mirroring the options listed above.

Standard Features

In Canada for 2017, the Beetle started out in Trendline trim for $19,990 CAD, and moved up through the Classic model ($21,990) before arriving at our Pink Edition tester, priced at $26,890.

At this level, the car comes standard with niceties like dual-zone climate control, a 400-watt, nine-speaker stereo, bi-xenon headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, passive keyless entry, panoramic sunroof, and parking sensors. Notable is the lack of active safety features, like the automatic collision-avoidance emergency braking system available in the Jetta sedan.

Optional AWD

There’s also the Beetle Dune, a rugged-looking trim whose only real nod to going off-road is what VW calls “rough road” suspension. That car with the Golf Alltrack’s AWD system would be compelling in a weird way, especially as a convertible, a configuration also available with the Pink Edition package.

2017 VW Beetle Pink Edition Review front profile
2017 Beetle Pink Edition. Photo: VW

VW Beetle Pink Edition Takeaway, Specs & Images

We’re pleased that although VW has been building the modern iteration of the Beetle for two decades, it keeps finding new ways to honour the car’s quirky heritage. Pink Edition may be one of the weirder trim designators we’ve come across, but it’s perfect for this utterly charming little car.

  • Engine: 1.8L four-cylinder, turbocharged
  • Power: 170 hp
  • Torque: 184 pound-feet
  • Transmission: Six-speed automatic
  • Brakes: Four-wheel disc
  • Steering: Electric power-assist rack-and-pinion
  • Suspension: MacPherson strut (front); Independent (rear)
  • Fuel economy, ratings (l/100km, city/highway): 9.7/7.2
  • Fuel economy, observed (l/100km): 9.5 L/100 km (estimated)
  • Price: $19,990 CaD starting MSRP; $26,890 CaD as tested
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Author:
Chris Chase
Chris Chasehttps://chrischasescars.com/
Chris has been writing professionally about cars since 2004, in print and online. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and two feline tyrants. In rare quiet moments, he can be found travelling or playing one of his way-too-many guitars. Chris is also a journalist member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).