Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen Beetle Dimensions & Size Comparison

Comparing 2021 vs 2019 catalog dimensions. Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Beetle

Same scale for both vehicles. Generic silhouette — proportional to measured length, height, width, wheelbase, and clearance.

Side view
  • Length167.6 in
  • Height58.2 in
  • Wheelbase103.8 in
  • Ground clearance5.4 in
  • Curb weight2,945 lb
Front / width
  • Width70.8 in
  • Volkswagen Beetle width71.9 in

Which is bigger?

  • Length: Volkswagen Golf is 1.2 in shorter (167.6 in vs 168.8 in)
  • Width: Volkswagen Golf is 1.1 in narrower (70.8 in vs 71.9 in)
  • Height: Volkswagen Beetle is 0.1 in taller (58.2 in vs 58.3 in)
  • Wheelbase: Volkswagen Golf has a 3.7 in longer wheelbase (103.8 in vs 100.1 in)
  • Ground clearance: Volkswagen Beetle has 0.3 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.7 in)
  • Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 197 lb heavier (2,945 lb vs 3,142 lb)

Biggest size differences

  1. Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 197 lb heavier (2,945 lb vs 3,142 lb)
  2. Ground clearance: Volkswagen Beetle has 0.3 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.7 in)
  3. Wheelbase: Volkswagen Golf has a 3.7 in longer wheelbase (103.8 in vs 100.1 in)
  4. Width: Volkswagen Golf is 1.1 in narrower (70.8 in vs 71.9 in)
  5. Length: Volkswagen Golf is 1.2 in shorter (167.6 in vs 168.8 in)

Practical verdicts

  • Easier to fit in a short garageVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen Golf is shorter by 1.2 in Check garage fit for Volkswagen Golf · garage fit for Volkswagen Beetle
  • Narrower for tight parkingVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen Golf is narrower by 1.1 in
  • More ground clearanceVolkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle has 0.3 in more clearance
  • Smaller exterior footprintVolkswagen GolfBased on length × width (Volkswagen Golf)

Dimension comparison

SpecVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen BeetleDifference
Length167.6 in168.8 in1.2 in
Width70.8 in71.9 in1.1 in
Height58.2 in58.3 in0.1 in
Wheelbase103.8 in100.1 in3.7 in
Ground clearance5.4 in5.7 in0.3 in
Curb weight2,945 lb3,142 lb197 lb

Values use trim midpoints when a model year lists a range.

Compare by year

Overlapping model years with dimension data.

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