<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000813383
<NAME> DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 164190
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 163547
<RECEIVABLES> 2572
<ASSETS-OTHER> 9
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<TOTAL-ASSETS> 166128
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1286
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<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 137479
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 11922
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12478
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 606
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6379)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (642)
<NET-ASSETS> 131064
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3902
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (646)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1208
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4464
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3299)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2166)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 304
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4758)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5733)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.89
<PER-SHARE-NII> .08
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.99
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .007
</TABLE>