In 1979, Volkswagen stopped selling the Beetle — at least in the United States.

The car designed back in the 1930s could not meet the crashworthiness and emissions standards of the '70s. Plus, there was a lot of very heavy competition from newer and more modern economy cars from Japan.

These may not have had the Beetle's charm or lawn mower simplicity. But they did have working heaters, among other draws.

Fast-forward.

In 1998, VW brought the Beetle back, but it was a very different Beetle, not air-cooled or with the engine in the rear but with heated seats, as well as climate control AC.

It was iconic-looking but did not like a classic. People loved it all over again.

But the love waned as the Beetle aged and was overtaken by more modern rivals.

History does repeat, even if the engine isn't in the same place.

What It Is

The current iteration of the Beetle is basically a Golf, VW's compact hatchback, with a body that looks like a classic Beetle's.

Mechanically, the Beetle shares no common parts with the iconic original Beetle, which VW continued to make and sell in other countries all the way through 2003. The engine's upfront, and it's water-cooled, unlike the original. But both Beetles are compact-sized two-doors with instantly recognizable silhouettes that set them apart from the run of the mill.

Base price for a 2019 coupe is $20,895; a top-of-the-line Final Edition SEL costs $25,995. A convertible Beetle is available, too. They list for $25,995 to start, topping out at $29,995 for a Final Edition.

What's New

2019 will be the last year for a new Beetle.

To celebrate The End, a Final Edition version is available. It comes with 17-inch wheels and special interior and exterior trim.

All final-year Beetles come standard with the same drivetrain. The previously optional turbocharged engine, the turbodiesel engine and the previously available manual transmission are no longer available.

What's Good

It looks like a classic Beetle but has all the modern amenities — and dependability.

It has three times the power of a classic Beetle.

The hardtop has lots of cargo space for its size.

What's Not So Good

It lacks the quirky charm of the original.

All editions are automatic only.

The convertible has almost no cargo space.

Under the Hood

VW has thinned the engine — and transmission — herd for the Beetle's final year. Regardless of trim or top, all 2019s come with the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder, mildly turbocharged to 174 horsepower and paired with a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels.

On the Road

The classic Beetle only came with one engine, too, but it would take three of the old air-cooled flat four-cylinders to make the same power the current Beetle's water-cooled four-cylinder produces.

You can't shift for yourself, but you can merge without risking being run over by semis, and the Beetle easily keeps up with traffic, which the original had trouble doing.

Plus, the heater works. And the defroster. It is not necessary to keep an old rag in the glove box so you can wipe a hole in the fogged-up glass and see where you're headed.

At the Curb

The Beetle is pretty practical for a coupe — if you get the hardtop. It has a large trunk — in back, unlike the classic model — that has 15.4 cubic feet of capacity, which is about the same as many full-size sedans with much larger footprints. With the back seats folded, the available space opens up to 29.9 cubic feet.

However, the convertible sacrifices almost all of that space for the sake of open-air motoring. Capacity plummets to just 7.1 cubic feet.

Luckily, the Beetle has two glove boxes.

The Rest

The Beetle is classic in one way.

Relative to other 2019 model years, it has relatively few driver-assistance technologies, such as lane-keep assist and automatic engine stop/start, which have become very common features in almost all new cars.

The reason for this is that the 2019 Beetle is basically the same as the 2012 Beetle, which was the last time VW did a major makeover.

If you prefer a simpler car without the latest driver-assistance tech, which some people consider naggy, then here's a chance to avoid it without having to buy a used car.

The Bottom Line

It's sad to see the Beetle going away — again.

But there's still time get one before it goes away.

Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.