By Chris Chase

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. Click image to enlarge

Related articles on CanadianDriver First Drives 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit, by James Bergeron 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit, by Paul Williams 2007 Volkswagen GTI, by Peter Bleakney Test Drives 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5 four-door, by Greg Wilson 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit, by Greg Wilson 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit six-speed automatic, by Laurance Yap 2008 Volkswagen GTI two-door, by Haney Louka 2007 Volkswagen GTI by Bob McHugh 2007 Volkswagen GTI by James Bergeron Manufacturer’s web site Volkswagen Canada

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2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
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Not all of the most recognizable car and truck names are attached to high-dollar rides. Take the Volkswagen Rabbit: here’s a car with the most humble of roots, starting out as a basic subcompact hatchback. Its smart design and efficiency - in an age of hulking gas-guzzlers - made the Rabbit a household name in a few short years.

The Rabbit name disappeared in the mid 1980s, when Volkswagen brought the Golf name, which the car wore in Europe, to this continent. Then, in a surprising move, Volkswagen decided that the fifth-generation of Golf (the Mk. V as it’s know by VW geeks) would be called the Rabbit in North America; it was equally surprising, then, when VW announced that the sixth-gen car would revert to the Golf name. This week, that short-lived “new” Rabbit is the focus of my column.

As the fifth-generation of VW’s small car, the Rabbit was an evolution of the Golf that came before it. And, like previous generations, the entry-level Rabbit was sold alongside a sporty GTI variant. Both cars were more refined and, some might say, less fun to drive than their predecessors.

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit (top); 2007 VW GTI. Click image to enlarge

The Rabbit strayed from previous generations by coming standard with a five-cylinder engine making 150 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque (all previous Golfs and GTIs used either four- or six-cylinder power), while the GTI used VW’s terrific 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, good for 200 horses and 207 lb-ft of torque.
The five-banger proved to be a torquey piece, which helped in the drivability department, but was thirsty and wasn’t much fun to drive hard. Fuel consumption ratings were 10.7 L/100 km (city) and 7.2 L/100 km (highway) - numbers that were more in line with, say, the $40,000 Toyota Avalon (whose V6 made 268 horsepower in 2007!) than with the compact sedans it was sized to compete with.

By contrast, the GTI’s NRGuide ratings were actually a little better than the Rabbit’s, at 10.1/6.8 L/100 km (city/highway), despite its extra power and rev-happy nature.

The Rabbit was standard with a five-speed manual transmission, with a six-speed automatic (a rarity in the class) being the option. The GTI got a six-speed manual as standard, and VW’s six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) sequential transmission as the extra-cost choice.

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. Click image to enlarge

It’s early to tell for sure, but I’m hopeful that Volkswagen has exorcised the reliability demons that have afflicted some of its other recent models. Consumer Reports gives the fifth-gen Rabbit/GTI above-average used vehicle ratings, but a quick search of the forums at VWVortex.com revealed that there are a few things to look out for.
Here is an informative post detailing a few things to look out for in the GTI’s turbo four-cylinder engine. In fact, the entire thread that post is found in is quite handy.

Interior rattles seem to be a common affliction in Mk. V cars. This thread details how to eliminate an annoying dash rattle; this one takes care of one in the area of the dome light; and thread number three looks after a rattle caused by poorly secured fuel lines.

The DSG transmission “Mechatronics” unit, which I gather is the device that helps the transmission’s complex electronic and mechanical bits cooperate, is prone to failure. Symptoms include a hard second-to-first shift when decelerating, surging under light acceleration and a reluctance to downshift in automatic mode.

2007 VW GTI. Click image to enlarge

Crash safety is good: the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Rabbit “good” ratings in both frontal offset and side impact tests. From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Rabbit earned four stars for front seat occupant protection in frontal impact testing, and five stars for front and rear seat occupant protection in side impacts.

All Rabbits have six airbags (two front, two front-seat torso and two front-seat curtain) as standard, and rear-seat curtain airbags were available in certain models. Traction and stability control was standard in GTI and optional on the Rabbit.

Like many a German car, used Rabbits hang on to resale value. According to Canadian Red Book, used prices range from $15,400 to $18,100. Four-door models, which were $1,000 more expensive than two-door Rabbits when new, tend to be worth $600 to $700 more on the used market, but expect real-world prices to vary greatly depending on options.

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. Click image to enlarge

Meanwhile, the GTI comes in at $21,650 to $24,600; again, the four-door model is worth more used, just like it was when new.
Despite its higher price, the GTI is my choice, for its sporty-yet-comfortable ride and Euro-tight driving feel. The more efficient, more powerful engine is a treat, and while the sophisticated DSG transmission seems prone to some problems, it’s a sweet unit when it’s working as designed.

Many used Rabbits will still have some of their factory warranty left, which is a bonus if you’re concerned about reliability but love everything else about these cars - and this is one car that’s easy to love.

Fore more Used Vehicle Reviews by Chris Chase, click here.