While I was out shooting photos of the 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune, I noticed a woman watching me. I wasn’t blocking traffic. I don’t think I had anything funky going on with my hair.
So, I kept taking photos.
And the next time I looked up, the woman had edged closer, still staring.
Finally, she said: “Can I take a picture of your car? I love that color!”
Me, too.
And the only car you can get it on is this trim of the Beetle.
So, while the Beetle Dune mostly looks like a regular Beetle and drives like a regular Beetle, this whole color thing got me thinking: What’s so special about the Dune?
We found five things that set this Beetle apart from the other Bugs.
Get ready for a Sandstorm
Though the official color is “Sandstorm Yellow,” the color is more rich gold than sunny yellow – unless it hits the light just right. That’s kind of what makes it so special; it sparkles and changes depending on lighting. The Beetle Dune does offer two other colors – Pearl White and Deep Black Pearl – but the specialness is in the Sandstorm. Especially since this color affords special interior treatment with Sandstorm dash accents as well as yellow trim and stitching on the steering wheel, gearshift and seating surfaces. We just wish it wasn’t a $250 option.
Dune Buggy revival
The Beetle Dune edition is inspired by the classic Baja Bugs, so it is a little different from the plain-trimmed Beetles. You’ll first notice the Dune badging and black trim strips, which are a throwback to the original Beetle running boards. The Dune also gets a slightly raised ride height (0.4 inches higher) and slightly wider body (0.6 inches wider) to give it a more rugged stance. Dune also gets 18-inch Canyon aluminum alloy wheels and all-season tires. So, while you aren’t going to be doing any serious off-roading in this bigger Beetle, you might be able to tackle a (cough) dune or two.
Bolder Beetle
There’s no doubt that the Beetle falls on the cute side of the spectrum, but the front and rear fascia of the Dune get a different design treatment that makes it look a little more aggressive. This includes the addition of front and rear skid plates as well as an overlarge rear spoiler.
Rugged yet refined features
The Dune is a really nice mix of sturdy yet nice. It has standard LED taillights, automatic transmission and heated front seats. And yet you’ve got cloth seating surfaces and manually adjusted seats and steering wheel. While there might not be navigation, you do have standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s also a standard rearview camera. Push-button start and passive entry are available as a part of the Technology Package ($1,695), which also includes a panoramic sunroof, premium audio and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Packaged pricing
The Dune trim adds pizzazz to the Beetle lineup without adding to the sticker price. You get unique interior and exterior treatments and a bevy of nice standard features for less than $25K. There are only two packages available (Technology and Lighting), and if you go all in with packages and paint, you’ll cash out at $27,555.
The Dune Beetle comes equipped with the standard 1.8-lter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 170 horsepower. That combined with the Beetle’s compact size makes it both peppy and fun-to-drive.
If you like the Beetle, but want something a little more unique, the Dune trim is a great option, taking a little bit of the “cute” out of the equation and adding in some “cool.”
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