Spec Sizes

Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen Beetle Dimensions & Size Comparison

Comparing 2016 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 – 3,023 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 0.3 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.7 in)
  • Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 132 lb heavier (2,962 lb vs 3,094 lb)

Biggest size differences

  1. Ground clearance: Volkswagen Beetle has 0.3 in more ground clearance (5.4 in vs 5.7 in)
  2. Curb weight: Volkswagen Beetle is 132 lb heavier (2,962 lb vs 3,094 lb)
  3. Wheelbase: Volkswagen Golf has a 3.8 in longer wheelbase (103.8 in vs 100.0 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 0.3 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 in5.7 in0.3 in
Curb weight2,962 lb3,094 lb132 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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