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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Fun Bunny - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
By EJ - September 8 - 3:50 amWe bought this car for our daughter. We looked at the Matrix, the Vibe, the Caliber and other similar cars. The Rabbit is by far the best overall value. The price is great, the list of options is long, the car is well put together (I am a longtime Benz owner, so I am picky about cars) and it is just PLAIN FUN TO DRIVE. I think that VW has hit a homerun with return of the Rabbit. Incidentally, some dealers are trying to charge a "market adjustment" premium over sticker price. DONT pay a premium over sticker, shop around and you will find a good deal.
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VW Rabbit as good as it gets! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
By atomicbri - September 2 - 5:20 amWow. I am really liking my new VW Rabbit. Its still a Golf in my head and I have to get used to the name. Otherwise this car is excellent! Already have taken it on a trip and it proves to be a great driver. Very quiet at highway speed with auto. Small so easy to parallel park in the city, but loads of cargo room. Fun to drive, handles well. And interior fit and finish is excellent.
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Why buy a GTI? - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
By Tim - August 13 - 7:36 pmI bought my Rabbit in June of 08 as a replacement for my 06 Nissan Frontier which was swallowing gas by the gallon and losing value faster than the Big 3 and couldnt be happier. My Rabbit is a great car! The 6 speed Triptonic Auto is more than I could have ever asked for. Very peppy car, will go when you want it to, at the expense of poor mileage however. I average 21 or so in the city and up to 28 on a freeway trip. Interior quality is second to none, love that German engineering.
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Zippy car! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
By VWGryph24 - August 10 - 10:43 pmI give it an excellent rating! Man that Mark 5 Rabbit is such a zippy car. It may not be as powerful as its big brother, the GTI, but it has plenty of spunk. In Sport mode its even more zippy!
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Great dub - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
By petesgarden - August 9 - 6:26 amI upgraded from a 1999.5 MKIV Golf GLS to this 2008 2.5 2dr Rabbit. Awesome car. 16000 trouble free miles over my 1st year of ownership, great get up and go, great ride. Not as much storage space as before and the interior is not as refined as previous models, but still way nicer than the same priced JDM or US cars.
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No More VWs - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
By real_kadini - July 29 - 9:06 pmThis 2008 Rabbit is the 2nd Golf/Rabbit in the family since 2003. The 1st was a 1999 Golf which nickeled and dimed us to death, mostly with lightbulbs, but also other sometimes unbelievable electrical failures. The reliability ratings on the 2006 and up VWs were vastly improved over the previous years, so I took a chance and bought this one in 2010, certified, from a VW dealer with 50K miles, as a graduation gift to my daughter. She couldnt afford to operate it so I bought it back from her with 59K miles thinking it would be a good work car for 3-4 years. WRONG! (continued below)
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Fun and Practical Ride - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
By VW Driver - July 15 - 10:03 amBeing a Former Mini Cooper S owner, I was looking for a car that could match the feel of the Minis drivability, while offering more practicality. The new 170HP engine makes a small, but noticeable increase in peppiness and allows the driver to have fun. Though the suspension has received some criticism for being soft, I feel it is pretty close to replicating the feel of the Mini; it is better than any other car Ive driven in this class. I was very close to purchasing a Mazda 3, but the build quality feels more substantial in the VW Rabbit. While the Mazda is quoted for having the German feel, the VW is truly has the German feel all the way, from the steering to the engine tuning.
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Love VWs - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
By lupdemare - July 9 - 9:15 pmGreat car, easy to handle, good in snow with Nokian snow tires on it, very good on gas. Bought it with 60 k miles. Now at 122 k with no repairs. Tires, oil, filters i.e. maintenance only. A couple of bulbs changed. Thats all. Used to drive VW Passats, earlier with no major problems. The single issue is Check engine light which is turning on and off by itself. If you want a good VW buy one built in Germany.
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Sweet car - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
By Anchoright - June 29 - 4:03 amI do a lot of serious driving, and over the years I have found that I need a car that will act like a car and perform like a car, when I demand from it. The Rabbit does just that. Youre not bulking around a huge vehicle, and so you are able to zip in and out of the rest of the traffic. The 5 cylinder engine with its 170 hp is plenty powerful enough and the car has a whole lot of get-up-and-go. I got the 5 speed manual version of the Rabbit, because, lets face it, its the only way to truly drive a VW. Youre in command at all times. The air conditioning is great, and it has an excellent 10 speaker quality stereo system, with ipod connect and in-dash CD changer. You need this car.
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Great Car!! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
By pepo - June 20 - 12:30 pmI just purchased the Rabbit and I love it. Its my first VW and my first german car. Before this I had a Integra GS-R and I get the same if not better gas mileage in my Rabbit. This car has more torque than that car so it gets up and goes right away.
