Compare the2018 Volkswagen BeetleVS 2017 Honda Accord Coupe

The Beetle has standard post collision braking, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing safer, the Beetle Coast/SE’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Beetle SE has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Beetle and the Accord Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Beetle is safer than the Honda Accord Coupe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Beetle comes with a full 6-year/72000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Accord Coupe’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 3 years and 36,000 miles sooner.

The Beetle’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Accord Coupe’s (10 vs. 5 years).

The Volkswagen Beetle’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Accord Coupe’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The camshafts in the Beetle’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The Accord Coupe EX-L V6/Touring 3.5 SOHC V6’s camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Accord Coupe’s cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

On the EPA test cycle the Beetle Dune gets better fuel mileage than the Accord Coupe EX-L V6/Touring Auto V6 (26 city/34 hwy vs. 21 city/32 hwy).

The Volkswagen Beetle comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Accord Coupe.

For better stopping power the Beetle’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord Coupe:

The Beetle stops much shorter than the Accord Coupe:

For better maneuverability, the Beetle’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Accord Coupe LX-S’ (35.4 feet vs. 37.6 feet). The Beetle’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Accord Coupe EX/EX-L/Touring’s (35.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Beetle is 1 foot, 8.8 inches shorter than the Accord Coupe, making the Beetle easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Beetle Dune Coupe is quieter than the Accord Coupe EX-L V6:

The Beetle Coupe has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Accord Coupe (15.4 vs. 13.7 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Beetle’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord Coupe’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Beetle’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord Coupe’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Beetle’s standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accord Coupe’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Beetle Convertible’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Accord Coupe EX/EX-L/Touring’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Beetle SE/SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Beetle R-Line has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Beetle’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Coupe EX/EX-L/Touring.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Beetle has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Accord Coupe doesn’t offer rear vents.

Insurance will cost less for the Beetle owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Beetle will cost $1290 less than the Accord Coupe over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Beetle is less expensive to operate than the Accord Coupe because typical repairs cost less on the Beetle than the Accord Coupe, including $170 less for fuel injection and $46 less for a fuel pump.