Tired of being compared to wimpy little matchbox cars in terms of safety, the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle has been pumping iron. It's a strong and stylish 4-person transporter with undeniable worldwide appeal. It has earned 4 out of five stars from the NHTSA for frontal crash safety tests. With suggested base model price points between $18,690 and $27,390, the new Bug is on the streets across America and across the planet, with female drivers dominantly behind the wheels.

The 2010 New Beetle from Volkswagen is estimated by the EPA to travel 20/28 mph city/highway and comes in 5 trim levels: Base, Red Rock, Final, Convertible and Final Convertible; all are 2-door compacts. Volkswagen proudly calls the New Beetle "A thoroughly modern take on an icon." It's advanced German engineering is indeed impressive by any standards with features including:

• 2.5L 150-horsepower 170 lb-ft 20-valve DOHC I5 engine;
• Standard 5-speed manual transmission;
• Optional 6-speed automatic Tiptronic gearbox with manual shift mode;
• ASR (anti-slip regulation) system limits engine power when wheel-slip is detected;
• ESP (electronic stability program) works with ABS, ASR and EDL for safe, efficient maneuverability;
• Exciting, steady and absorbent Euro-tuned suspension;
• Heat-dissipating front vented disc brakes;

Competitors including the MINI Cooper ($18,800), Nissan Cube ($17,450), smart fortwo ($17,990) and the Toyota Yaris ($12,905) are perpetually nervous thinking about how to stack up against the VW New Beetle's legendary status. All trims are front wheel-driven and based on the Jetta/Golf's MK4 platform. The only notable change for the new year is the addition of an available white leatherette interior. The new Bug also requires a 17.9-foot radius for turning.

More standard safety features for the 2010 New Beetle VW include:

• 4-wheel antilock braking;
• Seat belt pretensioners;
• Anti-whiplash head restraints;
• Plenty of airbags;
• Ignition disable;

The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle maintains its small physical status with 161.1 inches in length, 67.9 in width and 59.0 in height. Its short 98.8-inch wheelbase carries its less-than-3000-pound (except convertible trims) curb weight with solid balance. Nonconvertible trims clear the ground by 4.6 inches. And on the inside of the very clean and well-fitted cabin, a surprising amount of spaciousness is present. You'll find 38 inches of headroom (37 rear), 53 inches of shoulder room (49 rear), 39.4 inches of legroom (33.5 rear) and 12.0 cubic feet of luggage capacity (expandable up to 27.1 cubic feet by using rear seating area). Have a fun time testing a new VW "Bug" out today!