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2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Road Test

Remember the Rabbit? It changed the way we drove back in the mid-‘70s, ushering in an era of compact hatchbacks that’s still with us today. Well, in case you hadn’t heard yet, it’s back… in name at least.

OK, actually it’s a bit confusing. The Rabbit received a name change in the ‘80s and became the Golf so that the car could be recognized globally. Now, for reasons only Volkswagen knows, the Golf name has been dropped for 2007 and the Rabbit is resurrected, but only in North America. In Europe the new car we’re just getting here has been on sale for almost two years as the Golf.

To you and me, all that matters is that the new Golf… er… Rabbit is here, and better than ever before. It’s so refined… so upscale for an economy car. Really, spend one minute inside and you’ll understand. There’s nothing in the compact class that comes close to matching the new VW in perceived quality; the touchy, feely kind of quality that makes you feel as if you’re being pampered. All of the switches click with a familiar German precision.

It takes to the road with that same kind of precision, soaking up dips and bumps like a much

Remember the Rabbit? It's back! (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

larger car thanks to a very sophisticated multi-link rear suspension; unusual in the compact class because such a system is expensive to build, but oh, so worth it. The new Rabbit also handles the curves better than most rivals because of the extra coin spent on the undercarriage, turning what looks like little more than a frumpy hatchback into a pretty fun car to drive. Of course, Volkswagen has made the new Rabbit bigger, wider and heavier than last year’s Golf, so it’s not as tossable as the old car, but it still eats up corners better than most compact hatchbacks.

Straight-line performance? Well, I suppose that 150 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque isn’t bad, and considering that the variable valve control enhanced 2.5-liter 20-valve 5-cylinder gets pretty decent gas mileage at 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway in base trim I suppose it’s a fair trade-off. I also like the fact that the 2.5 runs on good old 87-octane fuel, which, of course, is much cheaper than the premium stuff

Stylish in an understated way. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the old 1.8T gobbled up and 2.0T still does, and that it still manages to pull up to highway speeds in a respectable 9 or so seconds makes living with the car on a day to day basis enjoyable, if not thrilling.

The transmission in my tester was a five-speed manual, kind of a disappointment being that some rivals are now coming standard with six-speed manuals. Still, shifts were expectantly smooth, although a bit notchier than Honda’s Civic Si, although the intervals were well placed to take advantage of the engine’s performance characteristics. Those wanting an automatic will be pleased with the Rabbit’s state-of-the-art, best-in-class six-speed gearbox, again making the most of the power at hand (or should I say at foot). Again, being a rather pricey compact you’re paying for that extra gear or two, among other things. I didn’t get a chance to test the one in the Rabbit, but my experience with this transmission in other VW products is that it shifts about as smoothly as any six-speed, which is pretty well guaranteed to be better than four- and five-speed autoboxes being that the six-speed unit will always be newer, and therefore more refined with the latest electronic hardware, plus the

Best materials in its class... it even features cloth covered pillars. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

extra gears mean more frequent, less dramatic shift intervals. VW’s Tiptronic manual mode makes the process more engaging too, although I hardly find myself using it in regular city traffic.

Standard safety features include ABS enhanced four-wheel disc brakes and traction control, while electronic stability can be added to the package for a price. Six airbags take care of occupants in the event of an accident in base three-door Rabbits, while five-door models get eight standard airbags.

Truly, the new Rabbit is one of the best cars in the compact class, but it may not be the best to live with. According to J.D. Power and Associates and other third party analysts, Volkswagen rates near the bottom when it comes to reliability. There’s no way to tell whether the completely redone Rabbit will raise VW’s game, as it’s too new, so you’ll need to decide what matters most to you and make your choice.

For me, the Rabbit is a great driver’s car, wonderfully comfortable and as convenient as hatchbacks get. It’s pricey, but so is a BMW 3-Series and the Rabbit delivers a similar grade of materials, build quality and fit and finish, which is all difficult to put a price on.

If you can’t make up your mind, you could just buy last year’s Golf for $5,000 less and not worry about it. Isn’t it nice to have so many options?

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