Quick answer
The 1981 Volkswagen Dasher, the latest model year on record, is 173.2″ long, 63.8″ wide and 53.5″ tall on a 97.2″ wheelbase, and weighs 2,070 lb. At 14.4 ft it fits a standard garage and leaves 3.6 ft spare in an 18-foot street space.
Every Volkswagen Dasher generation, measured
| Generation | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1981 | 172.8″ | 63″ | 53.9″ | 97.2″ | 2,070 lb |
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada
Dasher year by year
| Model year | Length | Width | Wheelbase | Curb weight | Body styles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 173.2″ | 63.8″ | 97.2″ | 1 | |
| 1979 | 172″ | 63″ | 96.9″ | 1 | |
| 1978 | 172″ | 63″ | 96.9″ | 1 | |
| 1977 | 172″ | 63″ | 97.2″ | 1 | |
| 1976 | 172.8″ | 63″ | 96.9″ | 1 | |
| 1975 | 172.8″ | 63″ | 97.2″ | 1 |
ROWS 6·SOURCE Transport Canada vehicle specifications
Will a Dasher fit
| Space | Typical size | This car | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single garage | 20 ft deep | 14.4 ft | Fits, with room to open the door |
| Street parking space | 18 ft | 14.4 ft | Fits comfortably |
| Standard parking bay width | 8.5 ft wide | 5.3 ft | Room to open doors both sides |
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed from vehicle dimensions
Against cars of the same length
Among the 794 cars within 10″ of its length, the Dasher is lighter than 99% and narrower than 97%, and has a shorter wheelbase than 84%.
| Measure | This car | Typical of 794 cars within 10″ of its length | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 63.8″ | 70.1″ | −6.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 97.2″ | 102.8″ | −5.6″ |
| Curb weight | 2,070 lb | 3,183 lb | −1,113 lb |
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed across vehicles of similar length
Dasher against its rivals
| Model | Model year | Length | Width | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Dasher (this car) | 1981 | 173.2″ | 63.8″ | 2,070 lb |
| Subaru Brat | 1982 | 169.3″ | 63.4″ | 2,224 lb |
| Renault Fuego | 1982 | 176.8″ | 66.5″ | 2,385 lb |
| Lotus Elite | 1982 | 179.5″ | 71.7″ | — |
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada; rivals: same EPA class and body, most searched
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Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, the Dasher or the Subaru Brat?
The 1982 Subaru Brat is 3.9″ shorter and 154 lb heavier than the 1981 Dasher.
Dimensions from NHTSA vPIC and Transport Canada vehicle records, manufacturer-declared for 6 Dasher model years, 1975 to 1981. Metric values converted to inches and pounds; generation boundaries are estimated from changes in size (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.
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