1995-02 Volkswagen Cabrio | Consumer Guide Auto

Sporty/performance car; Built in Germany, Mexico

2-door convertible

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Good condition price range: $1,600 – $4,000*

1995 Volkswagen Cabrio

1997 Volkswagen Cabrio Highline

1997 Volkswagen Cabrio

1997 Volkswagen Cabrio interior

Pros:	Antilock brakes Fuel economy Ride Steering/handling
Cons:	Cargo room Visibility

If a sharp-looking, crisp-handling, solidly built convertible is on your shopping list, Volkswagen might be the place to look. Prices aren’t so cheap, however, and because sales never reached high levels, not too many are on the market.

Overview

Volkswagen’s Cabrio is based on the mid 1990s front-drive Golf hatchback and Jetta sedan. It replaced the old Rabbit-based Cabriolet. Dual airbags and antilock brakes were standard, and the soft top opened manually. The glass rear window incorporated a defogger. A fixed roll bar added structural rigidity and provided mounting points for height-adjustable manual front seatbelts. Sole engine was a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; electronic 4-speed automatic optional.

Yearly Updates

1996 Cabrio
Daytime running lights became standard for 1996, and a new dashboard switch for the standard central locking system could lock or unlock both doors and the trunk.

1997 Cabrio
For ’97, two versions went on sale: a “value-leader” base model and a posh, lavishly equipped Highline.

1998 Cabrio
Volkswagen replaces the Highline with the GLS model and adds a standard power convertible top. Also, optional on all models are seat-mounted front side airbags.

1999 Cabrio
Cabrio got mildly revised front and rear fascias to go with redesigned dashboards, featuring new radio and climate controls. Instrumentation backlighting changed from white to blue.

2000 Cabrio
Cabrios stuck with the platform of the 1994-98 Golf, which has been redesigned for ’99. An in-dash CD player became optional, alarm systems were revised, and a dashboard light now illuminated when brakes needed servicing.

2001 Cabrio
Cabrio added a plush GLX model for 2001. The new GLX included a power top, along with leather seats and alloy wheels.

2002 Cabrio
For ’02, heated front seats were standard on the GLS and GLX, the self-dimming rearview mirror gained an on/off switch, and silver Cabrios are available with a gray instead of a white top. VW’s bumper-to-bumper warranty was now 4 years/50,000 mi. instead of 2/24,000, and the powertrain warranty was 5/60,000 instead of 10/100,000. No ’03 models were produced as Cabrio was effectively replaced by the New Beetle Convertible.

ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches)	2.0/121
Engine HP	115
Engine Torque (lb-ft)	122

Avail. Trans.	EPA MPG (city/hwy)	MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual 4-speed automatic	23/30 22/28	27.5 25.1

ohc I4

Engine Size (liters/cubic inches)

2.0/121

Engine HP

115

Engine Torque (lb-ft)

122

Avail. Trans.

EPA MPG (city/hwy)

MPG avg. as tested

5-speed manual
4-speed automatic

23/30
22/28

27.5
25.1

Ratings

Model Tested: 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio auto

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 3

30%

Fuel Economy - 7

70%

Ride Quality - 5

50%

Steering/Handling - 5

50%

Quietness - 4

40%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5

50%

Room/Comfort Front - 5

50%

Room/Comfort Rear - 3

30%

Cargo Room - 1

10%

Other

Value - 3

30%

Total: 41

Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1999 Cabrio 2-door convertible

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A

N/A0%

Front Passenger Injury - N/A

N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A

N/A0%

Rear Passenger Injury - N/A

N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision	89
Injury	95
Theft	78

2000 Volkswagen Cabrio	Pricing Effective: 10/08/1999
Model Pricing	Retail Price	Dealer Price	Destination
GL 2-door convertible	$ 19,990	$ 18,301	$ 525
GLS 2-door convertible	23,300	21,309	525
Price Note:

2001 Volkswagen Cabrio	Pricing Effective: 06/20/2001
Model Pricing	Retail Price	Dealer Price	Destination
GL 2-door convertible, manual	$ 19,600	$ 17,974	$ 550
GL 2-door convertible, automatic	20,475	18,811	550
GLS 2-door convertible, manual	20,600	18,856	550
GLS 2-door convertible, automatic	21,475	19,720	550
GLX 2-door convertible, manual	22,300	20,400	550
GLX 2-door convertible, automatic	23,175	21,264	550
Price Note:

Standard Equipment
GL : 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, dual front airbags, front side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, integral roll bar, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunk release, air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats w/height adjustment, center console, cupholders, folding rear seat, heated manual mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette w/CD changer controls, digital clock, tachometer, rear defogger, intermittent wipers, heated washer nozzles, illuminated visor mirrors, remote decklid release, floormats, manual folding top, theft-deterrent system, 195/60HR14 tires, wheel covers
GLS adds: cruise control, heated power mirrors, power windows
GLX adds: leather upholstery, heated front seats, power folding top, fog lights, alloy wheels

Optional Equipment
Option Note:
Powertrain
Option	Avail.	Retail	Dealer
California and Northeast emissions		$100	$99
Required on cars purchased in Calif., N.H., N.Y., Mass., Conn., R.I., Pa., N.J., Del., Md., Va., Vt., and Washington, D.C.

2002 Volkswagen Cabrio	Pricing Effective: 09/10/2001
Model Pricing	Retail Price	Dealer Price	Destination
GL 2-door convertible, manual	$ 19,600	$ 17,947	$ 550
GL 2-door convertible, automatic	20,475	18,811	550
GLS 2-door convertible, manual	20,600	18,856	550
GLS 2-door convertible, automatic	21,475	19,720	550
GLX 2-door convertible, manual	22,300	20,400	550
GLX 2-door convertible, automatic	23,175	21,264	550
Price Note:

Overview

Yearly Updates

Engines

Road Test

Performance

Accommodations

Other

Total: 41

Specifications

NHTSA

HLDI

Trouble Spots

Recall History

Equipment Lists

Pricing

Standard Equipment
GL : 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, dual front airbags, front side-airbags, antilock brakes, integral roll bar, daytime running lights, air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats w/height adjustment, folding rear seat, center console, cupholders, heated manual mirrors, power door locks, tachometer, AM/FM/cassette w/CD changer controls, digital clock, rear defogger, intermittent wipers, heated washer nozzles, illuminated visor mirrors, floormats, manual folding vinyl top, theft-deterrent system, 195/60HR14 tires, wheel covers
GLS adds: cruise control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, power folding cloth top, power windows, heated power mirrors, fog lights, alloy wheels

Standard Equipment
GL : 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, dual front airbags, front side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, integral roll bar, daytime running lights, emergency inside trunk release, air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats w/height adjustment, center console, cupholders, folding rear seat, heated manual mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette w/CD changer controls, digital clock, tachometer, rear defogger, intermittent wipers, heated washer nozzles, illuminated visor mirrors, remote decklid release, floormats, manual folding top, theft-deterrent system, 195/60HR14 tires, wheel covers
GLS adds: cruise control, heated front seats, heated power mirrors, power windows
GLX adds: leather upholstery, power folding top, fog lights, alloy wheels