Spec Sizes

Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen Beetle Dimensions & Size Comparison

Comparing 2015 catalog dimensions. Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Beetle

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

Side view
  • Length167.5 in
  • Height57.2 in
  • Wheelbase103.8 in
  • Ground clearance5.4 in
  • Curb weight2,901 lb – 3,080 lb
Front / width
  • Width70.5 in – 70.8 in
  • Volkswagen Beetle width71.2 in

Which is bigger?

  • Length: Volkswagen Golf is 0.9 in shorter (167.5 in vs 168.4 in)
  • Width: Volkswagen Golf is 0.5 in narrower (70.7 in vs 71.2 in)
  • Height: Volkswagen Beetle is 1.0 in taller (57.2 in vs 58.3 in)
  • Wheelbase: Volkswagen Golf has a 3.8 in longer wheelbase (103.8 in vs 100.0 in)
  • Ground clearance: Volkswagen Beetle has 0.2 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.6 in)
  • Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 178 lb heavier (2,991 lb vs 3,169 lb)

Biggest size differences

  1. Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 178 lb heavier (2,991 lb vs 3,169 lb)
  2. Wheelbase: Volkswagen Golf has a 3.8 in longer wheelbase (103.8 in vs 100.0 in)
  3. Ground clearance: Volkswagen Beetle has 0.2 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.6 in)
  4. Height: Volkswagen Beetle is 1.0 in taller (57.2 in vs 58.3 in)
  5. Width: Volkswagen Golf is 0.5 in narrower (70.7 in vs 71.2 in)

Practical verdicts

  • Easier to fit in a short garageVolkswagen Golf — Volkswagen Golf is shorter by 0.9 in Check garage fit for Volkswagen Golf · garage fit for Volkswagen Beetle
  • Narrower for tight parkingVolkswagen Golf — Volkswagen Golf is narrower by 0.5 in
  • More ground clearanceVolkswagen Beetle — Volkswagen Beetle has 0.2 in more clearance
  • Smaller exterior footprintVolkswagen Golf — Based on length × width (Volkswagen Golf)

Dimension comparison

SpecVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen BeetleDifference
Length167.5 in168.4 in0.9 in
Width70.7 in71.2 in0.5 in
Height57.2 in58.3 in1.0 in
Wheelbase103.8 in100.0 in3.8 in
Ground clearance5.4 in5.6 in0.2 in
Curb weight2,991 lb3,169 lb178 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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