2007 Volkswagen Rabbit

Welcome to the Driving Range with Dave Jordan - Your Auto Guide to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. All you need to know about Nova Scotia's South Shore Auto scene.

This week, Dave Jordan checks out the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit:

Retro seems to be what's hip these days. Retro clothes, retro home furnishings and retro-themed automobiles have caught the attention of today's consumers. Some auto manufacturers, however, take a more subtle approach to utilizing successful past marketing strategies, such as Volkswagen, for example. For years their nifty Golf and its predecessor, the Rabbit, have been traveling our highways offering versatility and quality engineering to consumers. And now the Rabbit is back with a number of enhancements, making this the best hatchback ever from VW. Thanks go out to Coleman's Autohaus for the use of a three-door Rabbit in Tornado Red with Anthracite (grey) cloth interior.

So this new Rabbit is, in effect, the fifth generation of this model, yet it still maintains the original car's overall design theme and quality construction. In this light, the exterior changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary compared to the previous model's look. With smoother lines, a revised front and rear-end treatment, updated lighting for both ends of the car and a more swept-back profile, there's no mistaking the Rabbit for anything but a spruced-up Golf. The family genes are apparent. This is not a bad thing since the exterior design has always been quite handsome with a solid, purposeful stance and that recognizable silhouette. Mind you, we had the latest and very sporty Golf GTI available in North America before the Rabbit with the same exterior changes we see here in this more utilitarian sibling. But wait. Where's the prominent chrome grill seen on the latest Jetta and Passat? I guess the folks at Volks decided this feature wasn't appropriate for their latest creation. That's okay since the car looks cool just the way it is. By the way, VW offers exterior body kits that rival any aftermarket add-ons and those for the Rabbit really make this car that much better to look at.

You can have a Rabbit in either three or five-door styles, both of which are larger in all dimensions than the previous Golf. The new stout platform is an impressive 80 per cent more rigid than before, which translates into a much more solid-feeling drive behind the wheel. A new multi-link rear suspension is now standard on all models with the retuned front suspension now combined with speed-sensitive electromechanical rack and pinion steering. Anti-roll bars at both ends help quell body roll so the overall experience on the road is one of a solid-feeling, nimble handler with sharp turning and good overall dynamics. This car is fun to toss around in the corners with all major controls – steering, throttle, gear changes and braking working in concert with each other. The five-speed manual in my Rabbit shifted smoothly and felt like it was well matched to the new five-cylinder power plant. This 2.5-litre unit produces 150 horsepower and 170 lb. - ft. of torque, out-powering the previous model substantially even with its hundred or so kilos (with manual transmission) of extra girth. This engine is very smooth and silky, pulling hard while accelerating with a satisfying growl when at the upper rev limit. A six-speed automatic is also available with VW's Tiptronic manu-matic shift mechanism for the best of both gear-changing worlds.

Interiors are hard to fault in today's modern-day Volkswagens and the Rabbit carries on its tradition of excellent materials, superb fit and finish, and great ergonomics, creating a superior driving ambience. VW seats are some of the best in the industry and have been for years. I'm sure extended jaunts in the new Rabbit are possible with little body fatigue. The increased dimensions are noticeable inside with plenty of room up front and lots of knee and head room in back. Hatchbacks are popular because of their ability to swallow large amounts of cargo for their size and the Rabbit doesn't disappoint in this department either. The 60/40 rear seats and flat-folding front passenger seatback allow maximum versatility when hauling "stuff" is required.

Even the basic Rabbit comes with loads of safety and convenience features including four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist; front, side and side curtain airbags; AC; cruise; PM, PW and PDL; tilt/telescopic steering wheel; a great-sounding 10-speaker sound system; turn signal indicators in the outside mirrors; a security system; and more. VW's five-year, 100,000km powertrain and four-year 80,000km limited warranty is on par with the competition, but its 12-year anti-corrosion warranty is the best in the business, bar none. This excellent protection is due to VW's process of zinc coating (galvanizing) both sides of the body and frame before paint is applied. With our very salty Canadian winters, this feature in itself makes any VW a worthwhile purchase.

Volkswagens tend to be a bit more expensive than their competition, but you get a lot of car for the money. Three-door Rabbits start at $19,990 and two extra doors will cost you $1,000 more. If you prefer an automatic transmission, you can add another $1,400 to the cost of your new compact VW. And of course a variety of options can be ordered to personalize your new Rabbit. My three-door was shod with the reasonably priced 16" aluminum wheel package – $565 – and the cold weather package that allows you to heat your bottom and your washer fluid for only $205.

So it looks like Volkswagen has put together another solid, well-built vehicle in the new Rabbit. Its sleek, handsome design, excellent build quality, multitude of standard features and fun-to-drive quotient should bring consumers hopping in to showrooms all over North America.


Dave's Auto Archive - 1975 saw the introduction of the first Rabbit to North America as a then companion to the hugely successful Beetle. With a front-engine, front-wheel drive hatchback configuration, the Rabbit couldn't have been more different from its sister. The sales success of the Rabbit/Golf model rivals that of the original Beetle.