Rabbit chews up the competition, The VW's allure isn't by lucky charm but through appeal

When we got the keys to a 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback, we were just a little turned off.

A rather cheesy-looking, bright green rabbit's foot -- a retro good-luck charm from our childhood -- was attached to the key chain.

With a goofy touch like that, it was easy to worry that the new Rabbit would be a small car that puts too much of a premium on cuteness -- even silliness -- from its adorable bounding-bunny logo to the car's recent marketing hook-up with Playboy magazine. VW explained that unseemly alliance by saying the Rabbit logo was a "distant cousin" to the iconic Playboy bunny logo.

But after spending a week in the German-built Rabbit, we're convinced that all the whimsical stuff surrounding the renamed Golf is just a smokescreen. Because the little Rabbit is one substantial and serious small car that easily keeps pace with, and in some instances even outguns, such high-profile Detroit competitors as the Dodge Caliber and Ford Focus.


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IamEvilHomer - 8/16/2006 1:13:15 PM

+1 Boost

i wouldn't get one but the Rabbit was never a chick car
the demos are about 60% male/
the TDI is going to be great 50mpg

chewy - 8/16/2006 2:57:05 PM

+1 Boost

Well, the best selling car in Europe finally comes here and it is just as good as it is in Europe.

Rupert - 8/16/2006 3:41:59 PM

0 Boost

rabbit?
stupid name, great car.

Rupert - 8/16/2006 3:44:47 PM

0 Boost

an I-5 in a golf?
don't get that here, no wonder the mpg wasn't great (30 isn't very good for a small car here (even american gallons), i was expecting 40)

JCF110 - 8/16/2006 3:47:09 PM

0 Boost

I want my aunt to buy one and then I'll get my step-dad to take the stupid "bunny" badge off of the back!

chewy - 8/16/2006 4:05:46 PM

0 Boost

Rupert

Amrecians need bigger engines.

Rupert - 8/16/2006 4:36:06 PM

0 Boost

need them for what?
i could go into the fatness thing (35% of women are clinically obese, they have a bmi of over 30).
we get a 1.4 in the golf.

chewy - 8/16/2006 5:31:54 PM

0 Boost

Rupert

Cheap gas and bigger cars have made a tradition of big engines.

Rupert - 8/16/2006 6:27:12 PM

+1 Boost

the cadillac escalade 6.0 (or is it 6.3?) does epitomise that philosophy. if gas does get above 4$ per gallon (still cheap for uk) that monster will die.
other cars have smaller engines and diesels in other markets, so for say the porsche cayenne or even an s class, they just bring on the 3.2 or S350.

Rupert - 8/16/2006 7:01:14 PM

0 Boost

chewy, i think tradition is what's killing domestics.
you don't see honda reaching back to the 60's for acura designs or toyota reaching into the past for say a land cruiser, yet gm thinks "heritage" sells more malibus and impalas.

chewy - 8/16/2006 7:35:49 PM

0 Boost

Rupert

True to a degree, gas was so cheap even 5 years ago that was when the big 3 sold so many pickups and SUVs and their cars were relatively ignored. Now the opposite is important with gas about 3 more expensive.

kart1 - 8/17/2006 1:33:55 AM

0 Boost

I agree this engine really isn't the best. I mean for such a small car to get so bad gas mileage is really bad. It really lacks behind in the competition.

I also agree that Americans need bigger engines, because smaller ones aren't economical they are cheap. The tradition is that big engines and big cars are required and it has been that way forever. Even the $3 gas isn't stopping big engines from coming out, all the manufacturers are going bigger.

The best car would be a full sized car with a V8 and get gas mileage of a I4. Ofcourse gas mileage wouldn't matter if gas prices weren't so high. Bigger car basically equals higher status.

In this car though it isn't the same, because it is an hatchback so it wouldn't matter if it had 1.4l engine. I would like to see the new 1.4l engine with the turbo and supercharger.

IamEvilHomer - 8/17/2006 3:18:33 AM

+1 Boost

Just get the TDIs here before they try to force another Hybrid in our gut

IamEvilHomer - 8/17/2006 3:19:06 AM

+1 Boost

the Rabbit TDI at 50MPG - real MPG not made up hybrid numbers

Rupert - 8/17/2006 7:09:46 AM

+1 Boost

why don;t you get any of the fsi engines in the golf?
the 1.4 tsi sounds god, but it's too expensive, only a little less than a gti.
vw's tdis are very good engines.
can i ask, what's insurance like in the states?
hardly any kids drive as it is sooo expensive here.

atomicbri - 8/17/2006 11:08:17 AM

+2 Boost

I have tried out this car and it is great! Better than the Focus or Caliber. And was more fun to drive than the Civic EX.... as for the name, yeah yeah a little dumb, but for those that worry, you can always remove the rabbit and purchase the "Golf" name from one of the aftermarket companies to put on it. It really is a nice vehicle...felt very well built inside and had loads of space when the seats where down to haul just about anything. I can't wait for a diesel version to pop up here, should get great gas mileage...