The Morris Minor and the VW Beetle are two stalwarts from a time when widespread car ownership was truly opened up for the masses. But which one is the ultimate people’s champion?
Sporty cars are exciting; they allow a sensation of escape from normality. We all dream of owning one. But, very few of us actually bother to purchase a sports car. The vehicles that really capture our hearts and actually matter are the vehicles that helped mobilise us. Let’s face it; you would choose a charismatic Mini Clubman over a showy Lamborghini any day. Wouldn’t you?
So, in that spirit, which iconic favourite should you adopt? The 1950s is a great place to start – an era when many families could bask in the glow of car ownership for the first time. Two potential budget choices were the Morris Minor and Volkswagen Beetle, so… which one deserves your garage space?
The Looks
The Morris Minor does appear a little lumpy when compared to the Beetle, with its flowing lines in various directions and bulges all over the shop - but it still looks friendly. The large lights and wide grille give the impression of a face, while the dimensions add a cute charm topped only by the original Mini.
The Beetle is slicker, but almost gawky with its bulging nose and gawping face. However, despite these common observations, it appears purer in design when compared to the Morris, perhaps due to a little less fussiness in the body design.
However, as far as which one we think looks better – we’d plump for the Morris Minor with its loveable frontal appearance and curves.
The Power
We wouldn’t recommend either of these vehicles if you enjoy muscle and speed. Their power outputs are almost laughable when compared to modern day counterparts.
The Beetle can muster 60mph from a standstill in 27.5 seconds and crack 73mph on a good day with its 34bhp, while the Morris can reach 80mph and achieve 60mph from zero in 24.8 seconds with its 14 extra ponies. Hardly pull-your-face-off fast, but asking these vehicles to undertake a speed run is like asking the Queen to dance the Tango; totally unjustified and missing the point.
The Beetle loses this round - sluggish in comparison to the Minor and ultimately slower, while steep hills are a serious no-no. Strangely, you would never guess that the Beetle is actually the lighter car out of the two.
The Handling
The Beetle works with all-independent (albeit basic) suspension, providing a smooth ride that can cope with even the roughest of roads. However, the steering is woolly to almost Land Rover-esque levels, except that while the Land Rover’s steering is woolly to prevent damaged hands off-road, the Beetle’s seems to be there only to keep the driver awake, with constant correction required to stay in a straight line. Don’t think it’s appalling in the corners though, it’s actually quite easy to place and holds the road well, but it takes some amount of getting used to. It’ll take a corner in a spirited manner under the right circumstances, but that engine in the rear can catch out the unwary who try to drive it in the same way they would a front-engined machine.
The Minor is light and smooth behind the wheel, with a sharper response. The handling is one of the biggest pleasures from the Minor, as it’s extremely precise. The chuckability of the Minor is huge and it copes well with some pretty hard driving, bar some spongy dampers and a touch of body roll - but then this is no Ferrari, so it’s to be expected.
The Interior
The Minor doesn’t really offer much to get excited about in the cabin. It’s clean and functional with lots of room, but where the colour-coded metal isn’t on show, there is a smattering of cheap-looking vinyl covers. The centre speedometer feels like a cost-cutting cop-out to easily swap right- for left-hand drive when exporting to foreign markets. Seats don’t offer any side support and can leave you with an aching back on long journeys without additional lumbar support. In the form of a cushion, perhaps?
The Beetle doesn’t exactly leave you breathless with its achievements inside, either. The quality of the fittings are certainly above the humble Minor though, and there are more chrome highlights, with seats that offer more serious support before you start to tire of them. It’s not all fun and games in the VW however, with extremely poor heat insulation and a ventilation system with less circulation than Sexy TrainTimbles Monthly. Breathless is an understatement, making cold mornings and de-misting the windscreen an absolute misery.
Living With Them
The Minor may not be the most refined vehicle on the planet, but it is certainly more refined than the Volkswagen when keeping noise at bay. The Morris may not be the most comfortable for a long distance journey, but its lack of support in the seating department can be counteracted, while the noise from the Beetle will eventually give you a headache and, if you’re not a committed Volkswagen fan, eventually sour you towards the entire car, brand, life and other drivers on the road.
Both cars are easy to work on and parts are cheap, thanks to a big network of specialists and clubs. When it comes to running costs, the VW will average 32mpg and the Minor can scrape 36mpg, but this will entirely depend on how the vehicles are driven. In reality, trying to keep pace with contemporary traffic will result in below 25 miles per gallon.
Verdict
They may share a number of common attributes, but the Minor is closest in feel to a modern car, with better performance, handling and fuel consumption. It’s also, in our opinion, the easiest on the eye and has a wonderful feeling of heritage. It’s a nation personified. And it’s our preferred choice.