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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  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.

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  Really fun car. - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By billbolduc - June 21 - 3:06 pm

  I love my new Rabbit. The lease on my 2004 Passat was up, and I was tired of paying for premium gas, so I tried the Rabbit and loved the way it felt. Although it is in a different class (economy vs. midsize), I find it sportier and more agile than my 04 Passat, but it doesnt ride quite as well. The new boost in horsepower gives it plenty of power to get out of the way. It has enough interior room for most needs, although the family would probably be more comfortable in my wifes minivan. The build quality appears to be very good. Overall, another great product from Volkswagen.

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  First Review - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Greyman99 - June 13 - 1:43 am

  I have only owned my Rabbit for a couple of weeks, but already know I will not regret the purchase. It is sensible for an in-city driver like me (3-5 miles/day most days). You get a lot of car for a little price, without throwing the extra $6,000 down for the GTI version. This car is very stylish and remarkably roomy inside (my parents are jealous--they have a new Beetle). Plus, unlike a lot of the 2-door Hatchbacks coming out (the Yaris at $11,000--ha--only if you barely have air-conditioning), the Rabbit comes pretty loaded at the base package. It has power everything, cruise control, etc. I am looking forward to the accessories packages to outfit the base model (be warned: floor mats are not standard, for some reason).

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  VW Golf after eight years & 110K - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Craig m - May 30 - 2:30 am

  This body style is now called the Golf, but a decade ago it was called a Rabbit. I liked the car, and it put up with a lot of careless use. I use my cars for short hops, pickup truck-like hauling, and 2000 mile cross-country trips. I do NOT baby them, and the Rabbit took it all like a champ. Buyers should be cautious to make sure they are happy with the fit of the drivers seat with respect to the controls, because I experienced a tendency to find myself feeling off-center on long trips. That is, I didnt feel I was sitting directly in line with the middle of the steering wheel. I think that was because of a combination of leg length and the rather tight console tunnel placement. This is designed as an inexpensive VW, so dont expect the best of anything - but I am sure that todays Golf offers some improvements over the rudimentary radio/CD player the Rabbit came with. The big attraction back then was the Electronic Stability package, which VW was the first to offer at this price point - and that worked great! If you are a believer in dealer servicing, be prepared for high routine maintenance costs, and be aware you cannot even change the air filter on this car yourself. My particular car had a few gremlins in it: the cruise control would sometimes not come on unless I re-booted the car...and I was never sure whether my interval wipers were stopping because the German engineers wanted them to, or because a gremlin wanted them to. (It didnt make much sense to me that I didnt need a clear windshield if I was stopped at a traffic light, but they quit working nonetheless.) I considered these all to be minor annoyances, though. The plastic frame that supports the radiators, headlights and sheet metal at the front end of the car can be broken in very minor collisions or road debris encounters. Thats an expensive fix, and constitutes a real design flaw. But I suppose other cars of this type have similar drawbacks. The hatchback would admit an insane amount of cargo, and the car handled great in deep snow as well as deep water and misty-slick pavement. No engine issues at all. Tranny required work after 105K of hard use.

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  Love my rabbit - 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By DBLASVEGAS - May 13 - 2:03 pm

  The first thing you need to understand about this car is. Its not the most fuel efficient hatchback out there. However it is fun fun fun to drive. If youre like me and performance is important to you, for the price you cant beat it. Drove the Civic lx, ex and Nissan Sentra. Boring by comparison. Nice cars but no power. Suspension is a little soft for me (it rides well though) but what do you want for 16,800 dollars? I have alloy wheels and iPod adapter built in the armrest (with rear seat air vents) trip computer 10 speaker stereo. The 4 door jumps in price to around 20,000 dollars. The Honda dealership wanted around 20,000 out the door for an lx Civic coupe. Rabbit was 18.

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  Experience "Echtes Fahrvergnügen" - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Liz Wolf - May 4 - 2:26 pm

  I have driven many cars in my 50 years; my Rabbit tops them all! Zip, zip, zippedy zip, in and out of parking spaces, in and out of traffic in a jiffy. Rabbit loves curves. One day I will get a traffic ticket for speeding, since Rabbit does not want to go slow or follow anyone and I just cant control it. Maybe Cesar Millan can help make it calm and assertive, not mildly aggressive :)

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  Pleasently Surprised with the Rabbit - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By dieter bausch - April 1 - 1:06 pm

  This car is roomy, has comfortable seats and is a pleasure to drive. The workmanship in the interior is excellent and the ski bag and hatchback are features, I dont want to miss.

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  Waste of Time and Money - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Groot - March 25 - 9:46 am

  I bought one of these for my wife a year ago and we are getting rid of it with under 17,000 miles on it. We are still upside down in the vehicle, and it is spending more time at the dealership than at our house. And for some reason the dealership is putting around 200 miles on it while trying to fix a problem with the idling. The vehicle has been a problem since the month after we got it and our dealership seems to be making little if no effort to fix the problem.

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  Best small car ever! - 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By vntgdave - March 22 - 2:53 pm

  This is by far the best small car Ive ever driven. Im 61" and 200 lbs. and I fit in it perfectly. It drives like a full size sedan and gets great gas mileage for the horsepower that it has. Ive put 60K on her in 2 years and Ive had no problems. I have long commutes for work (3-6 hours) and I rarely ever feel the fatigue from sitting in my car that long. When I have to drive compact to midsize rentals for my job (I hate most of them) I cant wait to get home to my rabbit. It feels safe too...especially with all of the airbags.

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  Luv My Bunny - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By Lori - March 6 - 5:10 am

  Ive always driven old Volvos, but last year after spending a month in Munich I became a fan of German engineering. I have not been disappointed in my new Rabbit. I am in LOVE. It hugs the road and scoots around like a high performance sports car! Everyone that drives it adores it. It fits like a glove when driving. Its a real drivers car. It great in the snowy Vermont winters (get Nokian tires).