WE knew it was coming right from the start, and now that the new Beetle Cabriolet is finally with us, we can say it turns out to be perhaps more appealing than the hard-top model – not just for its extra-dimensional aspects, but also because, to most eyes, it’s cuter. For all its fetching looks and fresh air appeal, though, it’s less practical than the hard-top, with a tiny boot accessed through an even tinier lid, and a laughable rear seat. For a significant premium – it’s the most expensive of Beetles, with the six-speed auto version nudging $50,000 - the cabriolet throws in some extra equipment, although it certainly fails to break into the luxury sector. Wisely, VW makes the 2.0-litre engine standard.