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2001
Volkswagen Cabrio

Starts at:
$19,600
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New 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Conv GL Manual
    Starts at
    $19,600
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Conv GL Auto
    Starts at
    $20,475
    22 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Conv GLS Manual
    Starts at
    $20,600
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Conv GLS Auto
    Starts at
    $21,475
    22 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Conv GLX Manual
    Starts at
    $22,300
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Conv GLX Auto
    Starts at
    $23,175
    22 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio

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Expert 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

It’s getting plenty long in the tooth, but the amazing thing about the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio is that it still has plenty of sex appeal. That is, if you’re female. Still affordable and still cute as a button, the Cabrio hasn’t received a serious makeover in years. But VW has altered prices for 2001 and added some equipment, so the top-of-the-line Cabrio GLX that we tested had loads of features with an appealingly low sticker of $23,725.

If only Paul weren’t so embarrassed to be seen behind the wheel.

She: I can understand a guy avoiding the VW Cabrio. I felt like I was part of a sorority driving it. Every time I would pass another woman in a Cabrio – by the way, I never did see a man in one – I’d get a friendly beep and a wave. It startled me at first, but then I actually looked forward to the next one. A friendly bunch, those Cabrio owners. Plus, this is a sweet little car with a jaunty look and a pleasing personality. It’s enough to make you overlook most of its flaws.

He: If I dare to criticize it, will the next Cabrio driver give me a one-finger salute?

She: That’s such a guy thing. We’re not like that. Besides, honey, get in touch with that feminine side. You did have a Ken doll, didn’t you?

He: Still have it. Don’t tell. What I don’t have is a lot of patience with the $875 automatic transmission in the Cabrio. It feels slushy and seems to take forever to get the engine’s torque to the front wheels. If you really want to buy this car, I’d highly recommend the five-speed manual if you want to get the most out of that 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which only makes 115 horsepower. Most guys will find it pretty anemic.

She: I agree. I think most women would find it anemic, too. But I see the Cabrio as a decent first convertible for a young buyer because it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The GLX version we had came with a great power cloth top. And it has lots of features and standard equipment, including heated leather seats and power windows and mirrors. I was also pleased to see that VW didn’t skimp on safety features. Standard items include anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, a roll bar, front and side air bags and height-adjustable safety belts. That’s not bad for a base price of $22,300.

He: The sticker is really attractive. There aren’t many convertibles out there for under $25,000 any more. And this one is really in a class by itself, even if it does have limited appeal. I wouldn’t recommend it to families. We could barely squeeze our pint-size nephews in the rear seats for a Sunday afternoon trip to the ice-cream store. But we did manage to stuff eight bags of groceries into the trunk.

She: I was surprised that the Cabrio had more trunk space than the new Thunderbird. And it’s not like some other convertibles that make you feel claustrophobic. The VW has a surprising amount of headroom in front and didn’t seem too plagued by the shakes, like som e convertibles we’ve tested. But some of the contradictions bothered me – like the fact that you get free maintenance and roadside assistance, but the basic warranty is only good for two years or 24,000 miles, when most of the competition is offering three years or 36,000 miles.

He: I guess a bunch of little things bothered me about the Cabrio – the bland, all-black interior, for instance, which sure didn’t look too female-friendly to me. And even though the car feels pretty nimble on the road, I think the power steering could use a little more assist at low speeds, too, to help you get out of tight parking spaces easier. And please kill that obnoxious seat-belt warning buzzer, which sounds like a French ambulance gone berserk.

She: What I like best about the Cabrio is that, like a great outfit, it gives you options. It’s a solid car for commuting to work, and on weekends, you can pop the top down and head for the beach.

He: I can’t remember the last outfit wore where you took the top down, honey.

She: Oh, go play with Ken.

Anita’s rating: Above average

Paul’s rating: Acceptable

Likes: Cute styling. Good standard safety features, including antilock brakes and side air bags. Power top on GLX is easy to operate. Nimble handling. Free maintenance and roadside assistance.

Dislikes: No room for rear passengers above 4 feet tall. Bland all-black interior. Automatic transmission feels slushy and not well-geared to engine’s torque curve. Power steering needs a little more assist at low speeds. Obnoxious seat-belt warning sounds like French ambulance. Warranty is only 24 months/24,000 miles.

Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, four-passenger convertible.

Price: Base, $22,300; as tested, $23,725 (inc. $550 destination charge).

Engine: 2.0-liter I-4; 115-hp; 122 lb-ft torque.

EPA fuel economy: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway.

12-month insurance cost, estimated by AAA Michigan: $1,231 (Ratesmay be higher or lower, depending on coverage and driving record.)

Where built: Puebla, Mexico

2001 Volkswagen Cabrio review: Our expert's take
By

It’s getting plenty long in the tooth, but the amazing thing about the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio is that it still has plenty of sex appeal. That is, if you’re female. Still affordable and still cute as a button, the Cabrio hasn’t received a serious makeover in years. But VW has altered prices for 2001 and added some equipment, so the top-of-the-line Cabrio GLX that we tested had loads of features with an appealingly low sticker of $23,725.

If only Paul weren’t so embarrassed to be seen behind the wheel.

She: I can understand a guy avoiding the VW Cabrio. I felt like I was part of a sorority driving it. Every time I would pass another woman in a Cabrio – by the way, I never did see a man in one – I’d get a friendly beep and a wave. It startled me at first, but then I actually looked forward to the next one. A friendly bunch, those Cabrio owners. Plus, this is a sweet little car with a jaunty look and a pleasing personality. It’s enough to make you overlook most of its flaws.

He: If I dare to criticize it, will the next Cabrio driver give me a one-finger salute?

She: That’s such a guy thing. We’re not like that. Besides, honey, get in touch with that feminine side. You did have a Ken doll, didn’t you?

He: Still have it. Don’t tell. What I don’t have is a lot of patience with the $875 automatic transmission in the Cabrio. It feels slushy and seems to take forever to get the engine’s torque to the front wheels. If you really want to buy this car, I’d highly recommend the five-speed manual if you want to get the most out of that 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which only makes 115 horsepower. Most guys will find it pretty anemic.

She: I agree. I think most women would find it anemic, too. But I see the Cabrio as a decent first convertible for a young buyer because it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The GLX version we had came with a great power cloth top. And it has lots of features and standard equipment, including heated leather seats and power windows and mirrors. I was also pleased to see that VW didn’t skimp on safety features. Standard items include anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, a roll bar, front and side air bags and height-adjustable safety belts. That’s not bad for a base price of $22,300.

He: The sticker is really attractive. There aren’t many convertibles out there for under $25,000 any more. And this one is really in a class by itself, even if it does have limited appeal. I wouldn’t recommend it to families. We could barely squeeze our pint-size nephews in the rear seats for a Sunday afternoon trip to the ice-cream store. But we did manage to stuff eight bags of groceries into the trunk.

She: I was surprised that the Cabrio had more trunk space than the new Thunderbird. And it’s not like some other convertibles that make you feel claustrophobic. The VW has a surprising amount of headroom in front and didn’t seem too plagued by the shakes, like som e convertibles we’ve tested. But some of the contradictions bothered me – like the fact that you get free maintenance and roadside assistance, but the basic warranty is only good for two years or 24,000 miles, when most of the competition is offering three years or 36,000 miles.

He: I guess a bunch of little things bothered me about the Cabrio – the bland, all-black interior, for instance, which sure didn’t look too female-friendly to me. And even though the car feels pretty nimble on the road, I think the power steering could use a little more assist at low speeds, too, to help you get out of tight parking spaces easier. And please kill that obnoxious seat-belt warning buzzer, which sounds like a French ambulance gone berserk.

She: What I like best about the Cabrio is that, like a great outfit, it gives you options. It’s a solid car for commuting to work, and on weekends, you can pop the top down and head for the beach.

He: I can’t remember the last outfit wore where you took the top down, honey.

She: Oh, go play with Ken.

Anita’s rating: Above average

Paul’s rating: Acceptable

Likes: Cute styling. Good standard safety features, including antilock brakes and side air bags. Power top on GLX is easy to operate. Nimble handling. Free maintenance and roadside assistance.

Dislikes: No room for rear passengers above 4 feet tall. Bland all-black interior. Automatic transmission feels slushy and not well-geared to engine’s torque curve. Power steering needs a little more assist at low speeds. Obnoxious seat-belt warning sounds like French ambulance. Warranty is only 24 months/24,000 miles.

Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, four-passenger convertible.

Price: Base, $22,300; as tested, $23,725 (inc. $550 destination charge).

Engine: 2.0-liter I-4; 115-hp; 122 lb-ft torque.

EPA fuel economy: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway.

12-month insurance cost, estimated by AAA Michigan: $1,231 (Ratesmay be higher or lower, depending on coverage and driving record.)

Where built: Puebla, Mexico

Available cars near you

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
2 years / 24,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
10 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
2 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
MY 2016-MY 2017 vehicles / 75,000 miles; MY 2018- MY 2019 vehicles / 72,000 miles; MY 2020 and newer vehicles / 75,000 miles
Basic
Vehicles purchased on or after 1 / 5 / 21: MY 2017 & older, 2 yrs / 24,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty; MY 2018-19, 1 yr / 12,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty; MY 2020 & newer, 2 years / 24,000 miles (whichever is 1st) limited warranty
Dealer certification
100-plus point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.3
Performance 4.1
Value 4.4
Exterior 4.7
Reliability 4.2

Most recent

  • Nice but needs lots of maintenance and repairs

    It's an awesome car but requires a lot of maintenance and repairs. I don't think the previous owner took very good care of this vehicle.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Most reliable car I?ve owned.

    This vehicle has done a lot of good for me. Very nice exterior look. Fun to take out with friends and is a reliable car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    6 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • beautiful car

    Very nice i take to the beach come and join us, does not burn that much gas i have alot fun this car. its a CONVERTIBLE
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Most fun car since my '69 Firebird convertible.

    Has lots of features. Heated seats, 5 speed, non- power top so it has lots of trunk space, great gas mileage, cruse all day at 75, motor has 140,000 miles on it and still purrs, leather interior, has been well maintained especially with oil changes.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • cabrio

    enjoying the good gas mileage of 30 plus. Sound system is awesome even with the top down and 80mph. Only 60K on it so we hope for many fun miles ahead.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Used Cabrio

    I wanted a reasonably priced convertable for summer driving only. Came across a 2001 with very low milegae at a great price. Best car deal I ever made. What a fun car, great milegage, easy to maintain. It will last me another 8 to 10 years easy. Thanks cars.com
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Classic good looks

    The Cabrio is a great little car with a sports car feel. It can keep up with the big dogs despite the 4 cylinders. It has plenty of head room and interior space even for tall people. The ride is amazingly smooth on the open road for a small car and the leather interior gives it a rich feel. It's great in the city for getting in and out of tight parking spaces and getting through city traffic. There's nothing like the warm breeze on a summer day tooling around in a convertible! Especially one that is fun to drive.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Cabrio German engineered

    The car has heated seats. A car is only as good as who is taking care of it. All the service requirements, plus, have been done with this vehicle for all the miles. One owner one way of taking care of the vehicle. We are purchasing a new VW convertible to replace this one.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Cabrio goes!

    Have owned '01 for six years; one-owner previous. Only work needed is AC unit; repaired not replaced. Bought to supplement two motorcycles on trips w/out rain/heat/cold/etc. Have cruised the plains to the sea and points in between. Love the ease of roof raise/lower. Heated seats keep butt warm on cold days w/roof down. Five speed shift gives enough 'sport car' effect to make this ol' guy happy. 25/39 mpg!!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Fun car that is reliable and very inexpensive

    Bought it used with very low mileage drove it 5 years and 80000mls and never had any bigger problem with it. The maintanance is very affordable. Very small turning radius and the trunk is huge for such a small car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Good second car.

    We wanted a decent car with good gas mileage for our bi-weekly drive into town. We consider the convertible a bonus. This car gets 32 MPG (really) on the highway and isn't as boring as a civic. ( our other option) It has so far been a reliable 80,000 miles. The interior isn't first rate, by any standard though, and is showing real wear. Our only complaint. Other than that, it is cheap, enjoyable driving. It handles nicely, but is tepid in its preformance. It's not a sports car
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio?

The 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio is available in 3 trim levels:

  • GL (2 styles)
  • GLS (2 styles)
  • GLX (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio?

The 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio offers up to 24 MPG in city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio reliable?

The 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio has an average reliability rating of 4.2 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio owners.

Is the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio a good Convertible?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.3
  • Performance: 4.1
  • Value: 4.4
  • Exterior: 4.7
  • Reliability: 4.2
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