Bugged about the scarcity of original Beetles when playing Punch Buggy? Switch to the 2009 Rabbit and you’ll be happy once again! The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit has the economical soul of the original Beetle and all its spunk, too. Better yet, the 2009 Rabbit is cutting-edge cool with the latest running gear and an interior that’s the envy of cars costing thousands more.
For 2009, the Volkswagen Rabbit and GTI model are both available in two- or four-door hatchbacks. The four-door Volkswagen Rabbit comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, and all Rabbits get standard stability control this model year.
Power comes from a 2.5-liter, 20-valve DOHC inline-five engine that develops 170 hp and 177 lb/ft of torque.
The Rabbit two-door with the standard manual transmission gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Zero-to-60 mph time is an impressive 7.8 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph.
Standard features on the two-door include an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 compatibility and an auxiliary input jack, power windows and locks, cruise control, and 15-inch steel wheels.
Both the Rabbit and the GTI are well equipped with standard safety features. In addition to stability control, both 2009 VW Rabbit body styles come standard with antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length head-curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are optional on the four-door. In government crash tests, the four-door received four out of five stars for frontal crash occupant protection while it received five stars for front and rear side protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the Rabbit received the best possible rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset and side crash tests.
Volkswagen first offered the Rabbit from 1975 until 1984 when the car became known as the Golf for the 1985 model year. The current Rabbit was reintroduced mid-way through 2006, a smart move since it is far easier to love a Rabbit.
Speaking of love, you’ll find a lot of it in the 2009 Rabbit. You’ll love the truly upscale interior, one that conveys the unique look and feel of European design. The high-grade soft-touch materials and attractive metallic trim make rival interiors look and feel cheap. Rabbit owners coo about the cool blue lights illuminating the instruments and radio display. They become quite attached to the perfectly shaped three-spoke, tilt and telescope Rabbit steering wheel. The Rabbit’s front seats offer great adjustability and excellent support. The stereo and climate controls are models of ergonomic design and intuitive function. Multiple adjustments for the front seats plus the adjustable steering column assure a proper driving position for drivers of different sizes and shapes.
Two-door Rabbits have front seats that slide forward for easy rear-seat access; though the four-door has convenience going for it should your life involve backseat passengers on a regular basis. Still, both two- and four-door Rabbits have the same wheelbase and interior volume is virtually identical. Cargo volume with the 60/40-split/folding rear seats up is a useful 15 cubic feet and expands to 46 with the seats down.
The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit has a far more fun-to-drive-factor (also known as fahrfergnugen, German for “driving pleasure”) than just about any other car in its class. Rabbit drivers find a satisfying balance between a comfortable ride and capable handling, which is really no surprise given that the regular Rabbit serves as the foundation for VW's GTI, the original "hot hatch." On the highway, the Rabbit offers rock-solid stability and a quiet, isolated cabin. The steering is direct and nicely weighted. Handling is downright sporty. Fahrfergnugen can be downright Rabbit-forming!
