Are you a sucker for older Volkswagen models that are hard to find? If so, you might be the type to scour the classifieds for the occasional Rabbit or Corrado. Don’t forget to check out if anyone is off-loading Type 2 microbus, too. In either case, you’re probably not looking for Volkswagen Beetle Dune – but it could be the collectible you need.

This special 2018 Volkswagen Beetle car was not a dune buggy

Contrary to its name, the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle Dune was not a genuine dune buggy. Instead, it was merely a special edition of the standard-issue Beetle at the time, complete with a special paint job and a few tweaks. That paint job came in three different hues: Pearl White, Deep Black Pearl, or Sandstorm Yellow, which was more of a gold color.

That last color was a $250 option, but it was well worth the extra cash as it matched well with the special interior treatment of yellow dash inserts and yellow stitching on the steering wheel, gearshift, and seats.  

In addition to the special colors, the Beetle Dune received black strip decals, which were a throwback to the original Beetle’s running boards. However, the main attraction of this special Beetle is its slightly raised ride height (0.4 inches higher) and slightly wider body (0.6 inches) to give a more aggressive stance.

The 18-inch Canyon aluminum alloy wheels and rear spoiler further enhance the bolder look. Overall, we think the sportier look takes away some of the overall “cuteness” of the car, but it is unique.

The Volkswagen Beetle Dune came with plenty of standard features

In addition to the Dune dress-up package, this limited version of the Volkswagen Beetle came with a fair amount of comfort and tech features. Some of the most notable features included LED taillights, an automatic transmission, and heated front seats. The interesting part about the Beetle Dune having heated front seats is that it had a cloth interior, and the front seats were manually adjustable – talk about melding old-school styling with new tech.

Aside from those comfort features, the Beetle had some technology to offer in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also had a rearview camera for safety, but that’s mostly it. Anyone trying to find one of these cars in the used market could find one with a Technology package that included a push-button start, a panoramic sunroof, premium audio, and dual-zone climate control. It may not have been ground-breaking by today’s standards, but the Beetle Dune had everything that most drivers needed.

The Beetle Dune was more about style than speed

You would think the Beetle Dune would have a little more power under the hood since it’s modeled after the dune buggies traversing the Baja, but it didn’t. The Dune version of the Beetle came with the same turbocharged 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that made 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. According to MotorTrend, it took the car 7.4 seconds to get up to 60 mph, so it wasn’t a Baja burner by any means.

How much does a VW Beetle Dune cost today?

We recently did a nationwide search on CarGurus and found that many Volkswagen Beetle Dune models are currently selling for around $20,000. That’s not bad, but it’s not that great either, considering the car retailed for around $25,000 when it was new. That said, if you’re on the hunt for a collectible Volkswagen that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, the Beetle Dune could be a good one to add to your garage.