2018 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2018 Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Beetle

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,603/ year to fuel
29 MPG

The 2018 Ford Fiesta is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $1,603 for the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle (29 MPG). That's roughly $103 a year, or about $517 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Ford Fiesta
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Side by side

Ford FiestaVolkswagen Beetle
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,603
31 MPG Combined efficiency 29 MPG
27 MPG City 26 MPG
37 MPG Highway 34 MPG
85 cu ft Passenger volume 81 cu ft
15 cu ft Cargo volume 7 cu ft
286 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 305 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed dual-clutch Transmission 6-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Beetle across model years

  • Ford Fiesta
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Ford Fiesta has more passenger space (85 vs. 81 cu ft); the Ford Fiesta has more cargo space (15 vs. 7 cu ft).

Among 44 2018 subcompact cars, the Ford Fiesta ranks 5th and the Volkswagen Beetle 6th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Ford Fiesta or the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle?

Measured by cost to drive, the Ford Fiesta. The Ford Fiesta is rated 31 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Beetle 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Ford Fiesta vs. the Volkswagen Beetle per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Ford Fiesta and $1,603 for the Volkswagen Beetle.

Which has more cargo space?

The Ford Fiesta, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Beetle in other years

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