A compact for those who like to drive
Last February, VW presented the new Golf at the Toronto auto show. Last April, VW then announced that the new Golf would not be the Golf, as the car would revive the Rabbit nameplate. Last September, VW gathered up the media to announce the launch of the City Golf, which is actually the old Golf that will live on alongside the Rabbit that replaces the Golf. Got that?
The bottom line is that if you want a stripper Volkswagen, check out the City Golf. If you want a compact that's more nicely finished, more powerful, and better-equipped, the Rabbit is the one to look at.
A novelty for a compact car: torque!
Instead of offering a small and zingy engine, just like all the other compacts do, VW dropped a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder in Bugs Bunny's snout. With 170 pound-feet at a low 3,750 rpm, you'll quickly feel the urge to zip through traffic and blast off at stoplights. If you can't afford the exhilarating punch of the GTI, the Rabbit will serve you nicely for $10,000 less. Some of its rivals might offer more horsepower, but you have to wring their little engines silly to twist out their full potential. It's not the case with the 2.5.
The 5-cylinder engine might provide plenty of gusto, but the downside is that at idle, it sounds like there are a couple of quarts of oil missing in the pan. Once under way, though, the sound improves.
Obviously, don't expect to match the fuel economy of your neighbor's Civic. Unable to resist prodding the gas pedal, my average over the course of the week is 12.5 L/100 km. I could've done better, but I doubt that I would've gotten very far under the 10.0 L/100 km mark.
The car has smooth and clean lines, but I think it just doesn't set itself apart enough from the old Golf. The result is that it doesn't look as new as any other model that's just been redesigned. The fact that this new-generation model hit the streets of Europe way before it reached America didn't help.
I also don't like the black portion of the rear bumper; it looks tacky. A fully-painted bumper would look so much nicer, and the GTI has the same problem. I never thought I'd say this, but in my opinion, the 5-door Rabbit is more attractive than the 3-door.
Last February, VW presented the new Golf at the Toronto auto show. Last April, VW then announced that the new Golf would not be the Golf, as the car would revive the Rabbit nameplate. Last September, VW gathered up the media to announce the launch of the City Golf, which is actually the old Golf that will live on alongside the Rabbit that replaces the Golf. Got that?
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| The Rabbit nameplate brings back memories to many. |
The bottom line is that if you want a stripper Volkswagen, check out the City Golf. If you want a compact that's more nicely finished, more powerful, and better-equipped, the Rabbit is the one to look at.
A novelty for a compact car: torque!
Instead of offering a small and zingy engine, just like all the other compacts do, VW dropped a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder in Bugs Bunny's snout. With 170 pound-feet at a low 3,750 rpm, you'll quickly feel the urge to zip through traffic and blast off at stoplights. If you can't afford the exhilarating punch of the GTI, the Rabbit will serve you nicely for $10,000 less. Some of its rivals might offer more horsepower, but you have to wring their little engines silly to twist out their full potential. It's not the case with the 2.5.
The 5-cylinder engine might provide plenty of gusto, but the downside is that at idle, it sounds like there are a couple of quarts of oil missing in the pan. Once under way, though, the sound improves.
Obviously, don't expect to match the fuel economy of your neighbor's Civic. Unable to resist prodding the gas pedal, my average over the course of the week is 12.5 L/100 km. I could've done better, but I doubt that I would've gotten very far under the 10.0 L/100 km mark.
The car has smooth and clean lines, but I think it just doesn't set itself apart enough from the old Golf. The result is that it doesn't look as new as any other model that's just been redesigned. The fact that this new-generation model hit the streets of Europe way before it reached America didn't help.
 |
| This generation has been available in Europe for quite awhile before reaching our chores. |
I also don't like the black portion of the rear bumper; it looks tacky. A fully-painted bumper would look so much nicer, and the GTI has the same problem. I never thought I'd say this, but in my opinion, the 5-door Rabbit is more attractive than the 3-door.