Overview & Reviews

When the Volkswagen Golf was introduced in 1974, it came to the U.S. in 1975 as the Volkswagen Rabbit, 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 diminutive Rabbit combined a nimble, front-wheel-drive chassis with high-quality German construction and incredible space efficiency. This successor to the beloved Beetle easily embarrassed American economy cars in terms of performance, fuel-efficiency and cabin space. In 1985, the Rabbit nameplate was replaced by the Golf moniker (meant to recall the Gulf of Mexico, not a golf ball), which was what the car had always been called in Europe.

More than two decades later, the Rabbit name returned. 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. This Rabbit ran with an inline-5 rather than a four-cylinder engine, and it retained the characteristic boxy but very functional hatchback architecture, although it was larger and heavier than before. It also offered some upscale features (such as heated seats) not usually seen in its segment, as well as that solid feel on the road that seems to be a birthright of German-engineered cars.

Sadly, the rascally Rabbit died once again following the 2009 model year as Volkswagen reverted to the Golf name once again when it redesigned the car. However, despite the different name, you'll still find the same well-engineered hatchback, though it's made in Mexico these days

Most Recent Volkswagen Rabbit
The most recent VW Rabbit was introduced for 2006, replacing the Golf. It was offered as a two- or four-door hatchback in just one trim level and with only one engine choice. Two-door Rabbits came with a number of standard niceties such as air-conditioning and full power accessories, while the four-door version upped the ante with heated front seats, a fold-down rear armrest and an upgraded stereo.

During its brief, three-year life, the Rabbit changed little. It originally featured a 150-horsepower five-cylinder engine, but it was upgraded to 170 hp for 2008. Transmission choices included a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic, though for 2009 the four-door was only available with the automatic.

In reviews, we lauded the Rabbit's high-quality cabin trim, which imparted a richness that's rare in the compact class. Additionally, the Rabbit's comfortable ride and competent (if not overly sporty) handling dynamics made 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 struggled to average 24 mpg during combined city and highway driving.

Shoppers interested in an older or newer model than this will want to examine the Golf. It has much of the same characteristics of the Volkswagen Rabbit. It was available from 1985-2006, then reintroduced for 2010. There was also 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.

User Reviews:

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  great buy - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By rodimus - October 22 - 11:13 pm

  i love my rabbit its fun to drive and easy on my wallet at fill up. Will be buying Volkswagen again

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  Fuel economy - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By 4dr Hatchback - September 5 - 4:33 pm

  The sticker fuel consumption states 22 city 30 highway. My average city has not been more than 20 and highway not more than 22. I am very disappointed in the fuel consumption of this vehicle. Is there anything I can do? The dealer has no suggestions.

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  Why do rear brakes wear out so soon? - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Ricardo M. Huerta - August 24 - 6:30 pm

  Today I took my car to have a rear braking noise checked at the dealer where I bought it. I knew the problem was with the rear brakes but I didnt figure it to be worn out brake pads and worn metal to metal with less than 20k miles. The front brake pads hardly show any wear at all and now I must spent over $300.00 to fix the problem. Dealer service says that rear brakes wear out twice as fast as the front brakes on this model. Ive always known the front to rear wear ratio to be the opposite and more like 3 front repairs for every rear repair. Front brakes handle about 70% of the stopping for most vehicles and are therefore always thicker. Ive had other cars so why the quick wear out?

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  This is one mean Rabbit - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Alain M - August 5 - 5:10 pm

  Completely satisfied with this car, no problems at all. Really fun to drive thanks to its 170 torque. Lots of leg room!!

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  Great Car to Drive - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By JpL322 - July 18 - 11:20 am

  This is the first VW I have owned and my previous car was a 91 Honda Accord. I love the preformance of the 2.5L engine paired with the manual transmission. The interior is deceptively roomy to me (62"). The quality of construction is the best that I have seen from all of the car companies I have shopped (Dodge, Chevy, Honda, Toyota). This car is by far exceptional in quality, options, and preformance for the price.

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  got 2 bunnies - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Dave A - July 11 - 9:40 am

  I am on my 3 VW, I now have 2 07 Rabbits , 6 speed autos with 16 inch alloys. Both cars have performed flawlessly and have served me well. Gas mileage between 25 and 30 if you keep it on the highway. Little cars will get you in trouble with ability to exceed 125 mph 32,000 on one 24,000 on the other. Very safe cars, Germans are the best at this, why I got one for my wife and daughters.

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  Rabbit raises the bar - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Harley - June 23 - 4:26 pm

  For some reason (maybe reading a lot of hype) I was focused on the Mazda3. Well, forget about it! My 2007 Rabbit 2dr. is superior in EVERY way, except gas mileage. Thats fine with me. Do not buy any Mazda3 until you drive the comparable Rabbit, now made in Germany. Compared to everything else in its class, the Rabbit sets the standard, no matter what you read or hear elsewhere. It is a great car for those of us who enjoy driving.

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  Still in love 2 Years Later - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By BunyLuvr - June 13 - 12:20 am

  My 2008 Rabbit just turned 2 last week, and I love this car as much as I did the day I got it. Superb handling, fun to drive, comfortable, reliable - it has everything I wanted in a small hatchback. My neighbors have two 8-year0old Jettas that have been totally reliable, so I expect my Rabbit will be the same.

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  Mixed Bag - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By takaouna - June 7 - 1:56 am

  This cars pros include its nice Interior, 6 speed auto transmission with Tiptronic and S mode, how it is loaded with options for a base model, its safety features - SAB/SC, ABS, traction control standard, its good torque, and how it is a new model. Its cons include its dreadful fuel economy for this class of car (19-20 mpg), how its 5-cyl. engine is rough for its size, its rattles, concerns about interior build quality, its weight for car of this class, its lack of acceleration, poor VW sales and service experience, and VWs poor reliability history.

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  More Than Expected - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Brandon - May 8 - 12:16 am

  After searching for a low priced second car I couldnt have been more pleased with my selection. The Rabbit is a powerful, well equipped, and fun to drive vehicle. The commute to work is somewhat enjoyable while zipping through traffic in my sporty new VW. After driving a Hyundai Accent, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and a Scion xA, I drove the Rabbit. Needless to say this car outperformed them all and had all the safety and convenience features included in the price. The Civic and the Hyundai had a/c available for an extra $900, what a deal! Im happy with my purchase and I feel safe driving my two young children in this car.