CLIFF LEPPKE'S CYBER SEAT

VW’s Mexican Beetle Under Glass

Ornately bedecked with glass beads, this 1990 Mexican VW Beetle is called the Vochol—a portmanteau of vocho (Mexican term for the Bug) and Huichol (an indigenous people of Mexico).

Huichol artisans employed 2,277,000 beads and worked for 9,000 hours to create this rolling work of art. They decorated the car inside and out covering the exterior surfaces with resin and then applying beads in intricate patterns. You’ll see snakes, deer and scorpions in a Moderne tribute to traditional folk art.

CLIFF LEPPKE'S VW REVIEWS

2020 Atlas Cross Sport: Fashion for Less?

Peggy Olson, Mad Men’s crafty copywriter ran into a jam. Her mid-1960s task was difficult: find a breakthrough copywriter. Her candidate search proved futile; each candidate portfolio looked like a VW ad. One offender put roll of toilet paper where you’d expect a Beetle.

Truth isn’t far from fiction. To wit: the TV spot for 2020 Atlas Cross Sport. It knocks conspicuous consumption—extolling the virtues of a low-priced car. This notion echoed throughout the 60s as VW claimed it was the prime rib of economy cars.

Is the VW Cross Sport an affordable fashion-forward SUV? It depends. If you pine for a sleek Audi Q8 lookalike, then VW’s TKTS booth to SUVs that jettison the third pew and some cargo space has the sexier silhouette for thousands less. Otherwise, the vehicle’s MSRP starts at $31,565 and climbs to $50,815. The CS’s interior, however, is more Dollar Store than Neiman Marcus.

Due to its wide stance, the Atlas suggests Euro-themed sportiness. Spoiler: The 4,411-lb CS keels over when you twist the direction finder. Yet, it tackles expressway cloverleafs competently; brakes are firm. Highway tracking in foul weather is good. The unique narrow-angle 276-hp V-6 mill and eight-speed automatic whisper. I observed 21.6 mpg overall.

VW must fix the driver-machine interface. Throttle tip response varies. Sometimes it lurches. In tandem with an auto-stop engine, which conserves fuel, you’ll get whiplash. Ride quality is civilized, but it hops over some bumps.

This VW is comfortable. The heated/chilled front thrones are well stuffed. Heated rear-seat legroom is impressive. The aft seatbacks reline or fold flat as Kansas.

Despite contrasting stitching and a well-padded steering wheel, the CS should wear a recycling logo with a 2 in it. Acres of hard plastics seem wrong; the Sport SEL Premium lists for $49,745. You get a self-parking feature, though.

VW puts the V in vehicle connectivity. There many USB ports, power outlets and a phone charging pad. You get Car-Net, a telematic system which turns the vehicle into a Wi-Fi hotspot. There’s a convenient handsfree tailgate.

Cross Sports with the standard 235-hp four-cylinder mill list for less. AWD is optional. Regardless, the CS seems ordinary. It wouldn’t stir Ms. Olson, but Costco shoppers might approve.

WHAT IS THE VWCA?

The VWCA (Volkswagen Club of America) is a not-for-profit hobby club for owners and enthusiasts of Volkswagen and Audi automobiles. Founded in 1955, the Club has followed the evolution of Volkswagen from the early air-cooled Beetle to the latest models to roll off the assembly line. We are not owned by, affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen AG or Volkswagen of America, the Importer. The Club is operated and managed solely by volunteer members who contribute their time and energy in pursuit of our motto, "to help Volkswagen and Audi owners enjoy their cars to the fullest." Read about the club's history.