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 two decades 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 in mid-hop decorates the hatch of Volkswagen's entry-level compact. The current-generation Volkswagen Rabbit runs with an inline-5, rather than a four-cylinder engine, and although much larger and heavier than before, it retains the characteristic boxy but very functional hatchback architecture. 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 its long-ago predecessor, the VW Rabbit is offered as a two- or four-door hatchback in just one trim level and with only one engine choice. Two-door Rabbits come with a number of standard niceties, such as air-conditioning and full power accessories, 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 four-door is auto-only).

In reviews, we've lauded the Rabbit's high-quality cabin trim, which imparts a richness that's rare in this class. Additionally, the Rabbit's comfortable ride and competent (if not overly sporty) handling dynamics make it 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.

Used Volkswagen Rabbit Models

The present-generation Rabbit was introduced for 2006. It originally featured a 150-hp five-cylinder engine. The 170-hp version was an upgrade for 2008, and a manual transmission was available in the four-door model until 2009. 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 Volkswagen 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.