Comparison: wheelbase VW Beetle vs. competitors 2025

The wheelbase is the distance between the centres of the front and rear wheels It is the value that most determines the comfort of the front and rear seat occupants.Hatchbacks like the VW Beetle 1.6 TDI may have a shorter wheelbase due to their compact size. A shorter wheelbase can contribute to their agility and maneuverability in tight spaces.With it’s length of 4278 mm and bootspace of 310 l, the VW Beetle has a wheelbase of 2537 mm. The longest wheelbase you can find amongst similar vehicles has VW Arteon 2.0 TDI SCR (3H ), which is 298mm more than the Beetle 1.6 TDI - 2835 mm.For illustration, the difference in length between the VW and the VW is 588mm. On the other hand, the shortest wheelbase in the "medium hatchback" category belongs to Renault Twizy , which is 1686 mm - that makes it 851mm shorter than the VW in question.

Table of contents:

Overview of generations
Comparison to similar cars
Comparison to other VW models
Variants

VW Beetle - How has the wheelbase changed over the generations?

VW Beetle generations

VW Beetle generations
Generation year	Wheelbase
Beetle, Model year 2011 (Beetle 2. Generation)	2537 mm
Beetle, Model year 2016 (2.Generation (1. Facelift))	2524 mm
Beetle, Model year 2005 (1.Generation (1. Facelift))	2515 mm
Beetle, Model year 1998 (1.Generation)	2508 mm

Beetle, Model year 2011 (Beetle 2. Generation) 2537 mm
Beetle, Model year 2016 ) (2.Generation (1. Facelift) 2524 mm
Beetle, Model year 2005 ) (1.Generation (1. Facelift) 2515 mm
Beetle, Model year 1998 (1.Generation) 2508 mm

The difference in wheelbase between first generation (1.Generation) from 1998 and last generation (2.Generation (1. Facelift)) from 2016 is 1.6cm mm.

The wheelbase of the current generation of Beetle is 2537 mm.

Variants

VW Beetle variants: Beetle vs. Beetle Cabriolet

Wheelbase: VW Beetle variants
Variant name	Wheelbase
Beetle Cabriolet	2540 mm
Beetle	2537 mm

Beetle Cabriolet 2540 mm
Beetle 2537 mm

The wheelbase compared to other VW models

VW Beetle vs other current cars by VW

Wheelbase: Beetle vs. other models by VW
Variant name	Wheelbase
ID.7	2971 mm
ID.7 GTX	2971 mm
ID.7 Tourer	2971 mm
ID.7 Tourer GTX	2970 mm
Touareg	2904 mm
Touareg R	2899 mm
Passat Variant	2837 mm
Tayron	2790 mm
Touran	2786 mm
ID.4	2771 mm
ID.5	2770 mm
ID.5 GTX	2770 mm
ID.3	2770 mm
ID.3 GTX	2770 mm
ID.4 GTX	2769 mm
Golf R Variant	2678 mm
Tiguan	2677 mm
Golf Variant	2669 mm
Golf GTE	2630 mm
T-Roc Cabriolet	2630 mm
Golf R	2629 mm
Golf GTI	2627 mm
Golf	2620 mm
T-Roc R	2594 mm
T-Roc	2590 mm
Taigo	2554 mm
Polo	2552 mm
T-Cross	2551 mm
Polo GTI	2549 mm

ID.7 2971 mm
ID.7 GTX 2971 mm
ID.7 Tourer 2971 mm
ID.7 Tourer GTX 2970 mm
Touareg 2904 mm
Touareg R 2899 mm
Passat Variant 2837 mm
Tayron 2790 mm
Touran 2786 mm
ID.4 2771 mm
ID.5 2770 mm
ID.5 GTX 2770 mm
ID.3 2770 mm
ID.3 GTX 2770 mm
ID.4 GTX 2769 mm
Golf R Variant 2678 mm
Tiguan 2677 mm
Golf Variant 2669 mm
Golf GTE 2630 mm
T-Roc Cabriolet 2630 mm
Golf R 2629 mm
Golf GTI 2627 mm
Golf 2620 mm
T-Roc R 2594 mm
T-Roc 2590 mm
Taigo 2554 mm
Polo 2552 mm
T-Cross 2551 mm
Polo GTI 2549 mm

How does the wheelbase of the VW Beetle compare to it's nearest competitors?

VW Beetle vs. similar cars

Wheelbase: VW Beetle vs. similar cars
Car model	Wheelbase
VW Arteon 2020	2835 mm
Citroen DS 5 2012	2727 mm
Nissan Leaf 2012	2690 mm
Chevrolet Volt 2011	2685 mm
Renault R20 1976	2660 mm
Lexus CT 2011	2600 mm
Daewoo Lacetti 2004	2600 mm
Opel Ampera 2017	2600 mm
Renault Zoe 2013	2575 mm
Mitsubishi i-MiEV 2010	2550 mm
Citroen C-Zero 2010	2550 mm
Peugeot iOn 2010	2550 mm
Alfa Romeo 145 1994	2540 mm
Honda e 2020	2538 mm
VW Beetle 2011	2537 mm
Audi A3 1998	2512 mm
Rover 25 2000	2500 mm
VW Fox 2005	2465 mm
Audi A2 2000	2405 mm
VW Golf 1974	2400 mm
Volvo 340/360 1982	2395 mm
KIA Picanto 2004	2370 mm
Peugeot 108 2014	2340 mm
Casalini 550 2022	1795 mm
Casalini M20 2022	1795 mm
Aixam Sensation 2017	1795 mm
Aixam Emotion 2020	1795 mm
Renault Twizy 2012	1686 mm