Volkswagen Beetle Specs — Dimensions & Weight by Generation

Quick answer

The current Volkswagen Beetle is 168.5″ long, 71.3″ wide, on a 100″ wheelbase, weighing 2,992 lb. Since 1971 it has grown 6% in length and gained 62% in weight. At 14 feet it fits a standard garage and fits a street parking space.

Everything on the Volkswagen Beetle

Recalls111 campaigns Fuel economy34 mpg best Reliability4.5/5 Common problems677 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build Cargo space15 cu ft Used prices462 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1998–2019

Every Volkswagen Beetle generation, measured

One row per generation. Watch the weight column — that is where most of the change happens, and it is the number that decides fuel use, tyre wear and how far the car takes to stop.

FIG.01·Volkswagen Beetle dimensions by generation
Generation	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
1971–1973	159.1″	61″	59.1″	94.5″	1,850 lb
1974–1978	163″	61″	59.1″	94.5″	1,896 lb
1998–2002	161″	67.7″	59.4″	98.8″	2,712 lb
2012–2020	168.5″	71.3″	58.7″	100″	2,992 lb

ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada

From 1971 to today the Beetle gained 9.4″ of length (6%) and 1,142 lb of weight (62%). A modern compact often outweighs the mid-size car of a generation before.

Beetle year by year

Measured every model year, not just at generation changes — 22 years on record. Small moves inside a generation are facelifts; the jumps are new platforms.

FIG.02·Volkswagen Beetle dimensions by model year
Model year	Length	Width	Wheelbase	Curb weight	Body styles
2020	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,086 lb	2
2019	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,086 lb	2
2018	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,086 lb	2
2017	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,086 lb	2
2016	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,082 lb	3
2015	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,095 lb	4
2014	168.5″	71.3″	100″	3,117 lb	3
2013	168.5″	71.3″	100″	2,983 lb	2
2012	168.5″	71.3″	100″	2,992 lb	2
2002	161″	68.1″	98.8″	2,851 lb	3
2001	161″	68.1″	98.8″	2,851 lb	3
2000	161″	68.1″	98.8″	2,851 lb	3
1999	161″	68.1″	98.8″	2,818 lb	3
1998	161″	67.7″	98.8″	2,712 lb	1
1978	165″	61.8″	95.3″	2,110 lb	1
1977	164.2″	61.4″	94.9″	2,041 lb	2
1976	164.2″	61.4″	94.9″	2,011 lb	2
1975	163″	61″	94.5″	1,896 lb	1
1974	163″	61″	94.5″	1,896 lb	1
1973	159.8″	61″	94.5″	1,850 lb	1
1972	159.1″	61″	94.5″	1,850 lb	1
1971	159.1″	61″	94.5″	1,850 lb	1

ROWS 22·SOURCE Transport Canada vehicle specifications

Will a Beetle fit

The practical question behind every dimensions search. A single-car garage in the US is typically 20 feet deep; a street parking space is about 18. We allow a foot of clearance in both — nobody parks to the millimetre.

FIG.02·Volkswagen Beetle — will it fit
Space	Typical size	This car	Verdict
Single garage	20 ft deep	14 ft	Fits, with room to open the door
Street parking space	18 ft	14 ft	Fits comfortably
Standard parking bay width	8.5 ft wide	5.9 ft	Room to open doors both sides

ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed from vehicle dimensions

Against cars of the same length

Compared with 584 vehicles within ten inches of the same length — a fair proxy for «cars of this size», regardless of what the marketing calls them.

FIG.03·Volkswagen Beetle against similar-sized cars
Measure	This car	Typical car of this length	Difference
Width	71.3″	68.9″	+2.4″
Wheelbase	100″	100.4″	-0.4″
Curb weight	2,992 lb	2,950 lb	42 lb

ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed across vehicles of similar length

A longer wheelbase for the same overall length means shorter overhangs — usually more cabin space and a steadier ride. Lighter than typical for its size generally means better fuel economy and shorter stopping distances.

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How we measure

Dimensions come from NHTSA vPIC and Transport Canada vehicle records — manufacturer-declared figures, held in metric and converted to inches and pounds for display.

One row per generation, not per model year: manufacturers rarely change the body between facelifts, and a table of forty near-identical rows helps nobody. Where a generation offered several body styles, the figures are the base measurements for that generation.

Related tools

Full Volkswagen Beetle overview

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What a Beetle costs to fuel

Weight drives consumption

Frequently asked questions

How long is a Volkswagen Beetle?

168.5″ (14′ 1″) in its current generation, 71.3″ wide and 58.7″ tall.

How much does a Volkswagen Beetle weigh?

2,992 lb at the kerb, which is 62% more than the first generation we hold from 1971.

Will a Beetle fit in a garage?

At 14 feet it fits a standard 20-foot single garage with room to spare. A street parking space of 18 feet is comfortable.

Has the Beetle got bigger over the years?

Yes — 9.4″ longer and 1,142 lb heavier since 1971, across 4 generations. Weight grew 62%, far faster than length.

Dimensions from NHTSA vPIC and Transport Canada vehicle records, manufacturer-declared. Metric values converted to inches and pounds; generation ranges approximate. Fit verdicts computed by ForCar against typical US garage and parking dimensions. Last updated Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.