An energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system is provided. The energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system provides a series of spaced apart barrier units, wherein adjacent barrier units are interconnected by a cable linkage, enabling the modularity that limits damage to the barrier system and facilitates segmented replacement. Each barrier unit provides a vertically spaced apart net of longitudinal cables, each longitudinal cable terminates adjacent the opposing end faces of its barrier unit in the form of a loop, protruding through the end face. The resulting column of spaced apart loops nest with the adjacent barrier unit's column of spaced apart loops in an aligned configuration so that a pin secures both sets of columns, providing the cable linkage. The barrier units are made from no fine concrete that crumbles upon collision so as to absorb energy. The system sits on a substructure also adapted to absorb the energy of a high-speed collision.