Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio 1.8T

The newcomer is fitted with the established 1.8T engine from the MkIV Golf GTI, and with 150bhp on tap, it can sprint from 0-60mph in 9.3 seconds. While this may not sound that quick, it's 2.5 seconds faster than the 2.0-litre version.

The main advantage that the turbo has over its naturally aspirated sibling is its added pulling power. With 220Nm of torque available from 2,000rpm, overtaking is easy, with no need to change down, which is just as well as the sloppy gearbox isn't very pleasing to use. However, there is a downside to this power delivery. Around town, the delayed throttle response can be a pain, and although slower overall, the 2.0-litre car actually feels nippier through traffic.

And despite the extra performance, the turbocharged Bug still isn't involving, because the chassis is too vague to give you the confidence to push it hard. It's far more at home cruising on A-roads, where the smooth engine and supple suspension provide a relaxing ride.

Then there's the problem of price. If your heart is set on a Beetle, it's worth paying the extra ΂£830 for the added power the turbo offers over the 2.0-litre version, but ΂£18,815 seems high when compared to superior rivals. With the arrival of the MINI Cooper S Convertible, which offers image-boosting style and genuine driving thrills for ΂£17,595, it's hard to justify buying the turbo version of the Beetle Cabriolet at all.