Volkswagen Rabbit Review

2009 Volkswagen Rabbit S 2dr Hatchback

Introduced in the mid-1970s, when Americans' attention turned to small, fuel-efficient cars, the Volkswagen Rabbit was a hop-away hit. Initially available as either a two- or four-door hatchback, and later on as a convertible and even a pickup truck, the Rabbit combined a nimble, front-wheel-drive chassis with high build quality and incredible space efficiency for a vehicle with such a small footprint. Early print ads even boasted that it had more passenger room than a Rolls-Royce Corniche. This successor to the beloved Beetle easily embarrassed American economy cars of the era that didn't come close to offering the performance, fuel-efficiency or cabin space of the Rabbit. In 1985, the Rabbit nameplate was replaced by the Golf moniker, which was what the car had always been called in Europe.

More than 20 years later, the Rabbit name is back. In a reversal of the 1980s name swap, VW replaced the Golf name with the Rabbit badge on U.S.-bound hatchbacks in mid-2006. Notably, the word "Rabbit" does not appear anywhere on the car; instead, a small chrome bunny cast mid-hop decorates the hatch of Volkswagen's entry-level compact. We're not sure exactly why the cute name was revived, though in all likelihood VW's marketers wanted to stir up some latent nostalgia for this former favorite of small-car fans. The current-generation Volkswagen Rabbit runs with an inline-5, rather than a four-cylinder engine, and although larger and heavier than before, it retains the characteristic boxy but very functional hatchback architecture.

The new VW Rabbit's success is far from assured, however, as much has happened in the North American market in the intervening decades. The leading Japanese manufacturers dominate the economy car segment thanks to popular nameplates that have credibility with younger buyers, while rising Korean automakers are now turning out high-quality small cars that typically have better track records for reliability than past VWs. But the reincarnated Rabbit is a charmer, offering upscale features (such as heated seats and mirror-mounted turn signal repeaters) not usually seen in this segment, as well as that solid feel on the road that seems to be a birthright of German-engineered cars.

Current Volkswagen Rabbit

Reverting back to the simplicity of the very first VW Rabbit, the current version is offered in two- and four-door hatchback body styles, in just one trim level and with only one engine choice. Two-door Rabbits come with a fair amount of standard niceties, such as air-conditioning and full power features, while the four-door version ups the ante with heated front seats, a fold-down rear armrest and an upgraded stereo. A 2.5-liter inline-5 with 170 horsepower motivates all Rabbits, while transmission choices include a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic. The high-quality cabin trim imparts a richness that's rare in this class, while the comfortable ride and competent (if not overly sporty) handling dynamics make the Rabbit a well-rounded and practical economy car.

Below-average fuel economy is our only major gripe about the Volkswagen Rabbit, as this economy hatchback struggles to average 24 mpg during combined city and highway driving. Fortunately, a more fuel-efficient, diesel-powered Rabbit TDI model should be along within a year or two.

Past Volkswagen Rabbit models

Introduced for 2006, the current-generation Rabbit originally featured a 150-hp five-cylinder engine. The 170-hp version was an upgrade for 2008. Otherwise, not much has changed since this model's introduction.

Shoppers interested in an older model than this will want to examine the Golf. This model has much of the same characteristics of the Rabbit. It was available from 1985-2006. Previous to this, there was the original Rabbit sold from 1975-'84. From a used-vehicle standpoint, however, the odds of finding one fit for general use are quite low.

SELECT A SPECIFIC VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.