May 23rd, 2009 | 
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The 2002 Cabrio is an important vehicle to Volkswagen for the convertible market segment. The GL is a member of a series of three trim levels for the Cabrio which include GL, GLS, and GLX. The two-door car with its front-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Volkswagen. There is strong competition from vehicles from Toyota.
Engine Performance
The Cabrio GL is equipped with a Volkswagen 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine that utilizes 8 valves. The engine is mated to a Volkswagen 4-speed Transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Volkswagen.
The Cabrio uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.
Cabrio GL Statistics
The dimensions of the Cabrio GL are 66.70 inches wide by 160.40 inches long. It sits a comfortable 56.00 inches off the ground. It seats a standard four passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 97.40 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $20,600 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $18,856. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.
Fuel Efficiency
The fuel system for the 2002 Cabrio is a traditional Bosch Motronic, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 13.70 gallons.
The 2002 Cabrio gets 29 - 31 miles/gallon on the highway and only 23 - 24 in the city. This is average for a convertible car.
In Summary
The 2001 model began the promise of the Volkswagen Cabrio. The 2002 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Volkswagen hopes that the Cabrio GL will continue to be a profitable vehicle.
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