The NEW Bettle is as safe as any car and with front wheel drive it handles snow quite well if equipped with proper winter tires. It is, however less reliable than other cars in that class and repairs are more expensive.
The old rear drive beetle has good traction, but is a very unsafe car and has a very poor heater. Current owners treat them mostly as hobby cars. The reason this model was discontnued was the impossibility to make it safe. The Rabbit which succeded it has front wheel drive and a body specifically designed with safety in mind.
The old Beetle is a mid 1930s design approved by Hitler for mass production, but the war prevented that. The Nazis were not terribly concerned with passenger safety.