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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  The Best Car Ever! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By alf - December 28 - 7:40 am

  Buying this car was the best decision I ever made! Ive had it almost a year now, and I anticipate driving it at least 20,000 miles. Every time I get in my Rabbit, I feel good. I love everything about the car. The design, the power it gives me behind the wheel.

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  Lots of praise and no regrets - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By J Hall - December 19 - 7:43 am

  Originally I was looking for an upgrade to a small SUV but couldnt find anything with pep, decent MPG, and a sticker below $25000. So on to the hatches! $20-22k was more in the price range and the Rabbit perfectly fits the bill. This thing has so much ROOM for a hatch. Its amazing. The only roomy complaint I have is that the drivers knees are *slightly* cramped. There is plenty of length, but something feels a little too tight when it comes to the steering wheel and the knees. But thats it! Thats about the only complaint. The interior, exterior, ride, zip/power, handling, and features are way beyond the competition. 4door auto, ESP, sunroof, alloys, and 170HP for $20k. Nice.

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  Great little car - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Mark - December 15 - 12:20 pm

  Searched for over 3 months to replace an aging Jeep. I wanted a hatchback for its space and size. We looked at the Fit, Versa, Mazda3, Mini, Caliber and numerous others. The finish and quality of the Rabbit was the best. The performance is outstanding, I love the turn radius and size. With my old cherokee, I had a little extra space in my garage. With the Rabbit, I have even more with the same responsiveness and HP as the old 4.0L inline 6 in the Jeep with significantly better gas mileage - it doubled. The dealership I purchased it encouraged naming it, so we now call it Rascal! (after Elmer Fudd wascally wabbit)

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  Good Rabbit - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Steel66 - November 23 - 9:36 am

  This is a great car,with a powerful engine.I own the 6 speed tiptronic transmission which matches great with the engine, giving me the feeling that I am driving a more expensive car

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  Honda/Toyata guy converted to VW - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By VW convert - October 25 - 5:30 am

  I am 100% satisfied with my Rabbit. For me, the Rabbit was a perfect balance of economy and performance. I had considered a whole spectrum of vehicles- from a Toyota Yaris to a Mazda Mazda3 hatchback. The VW Rabbit sits somewhere in between those two models in terms of mpg and is competitive with the Mazda3s performance, though I might say the Mazda has better handling. One thing that the Rabbit, and German cars in general, have over any other car I was considering was its awesome build quality. My Rabbit is a small car and is by no means a tank, but it feels as strong and tough as one. Hondas and Toyotas feel like tin cans compared to VWs. The Rabbit is also very zippy and fun to drive.

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  V-Dubbin in my Rabbit - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Atomicbri - October 4 - 10:50 am

  Ok I love this car! There is no doubt about it! It drives and handles excellently. I have the auto box and it is excellent. All around this is a great car for the money. I see a lot of owners here saying they are not as happy w/ the mpg and while it is a bit lower, I will take the fun to drive factor any day! I get about 30 on hwy and overall I have averaged about 27 total w/ mixed driving. Overall have never been to the dealership except for maintenance. My dealership is pretty friendly I live in Chattanooga where the new VW plant is being built and so the dealership there just got rebuilt and is top notch!

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  The Rabbit is back - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Ben - September 24 - 5:43 pm

  My experience so far has been great. The Rabbit is fun to drive in all settings I have encountered. The gas mileage is less than stated but comes in at estimates at about 60 mph. Oh and the 10 speaker stereo is great! Just be ready for high service costs. Even an oil change is about $50.00.

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  The Right Choice - 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Bob - September 5 - 5:43 pm

  I believe the Rabbit is the best buy for the buck. My wife has an A-4 3.2 and this is like a cousin. The German feel. Great acceleration and just simply fun to drive. The Corolla and Civic appear very refined but are just mini town cars. Compare and you have the most features for your dollar. ESP standard in 09.

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  Great First Car - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By morgoone - September 1 - 5:30 pm

  My parents bought this car for me as my first car and I have never had any problems. It is fun to drive and has enough room to comfortably seat me and 4 friends for whatever excursion comes to mind. I always feel safe in this car because i am surrounded by airbags. The sound system is amazing and makes my friends jealous. This is a great first car.

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  Love It! - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By VW - June 26 - 10:03 am

  I have over 3000 kms. on it and love it more every day. This is my 6th car (4th VW) and is my favorite by far. I love the handling, acceleration, looks, interior, and especially how quiet it is. It has tons of room inside and I really like how everything is laid out inside. I actually like the cruise on the stick and it is very easy to use (unlike previous Jetta models). It makes for a cleaner looking steering wheel. I have had absolutely no problems so far. It is built like a tank.