Canada Loves the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit Too

From Autonet.ca - With very few changes for the 2009 model year, the Volkswagen Rabbit still sits near or at the top of the list of vehicles in its segment. And that’s saying something, considering it’s up against powerhouses like the Mazda3, Pontiac Vibe and Subaru Impreza.

There really isn’t one thing that sets it apart from any competitor’s vehicles; it simply does just about everything so well that it’s difficult NOT to gush over it.

Take the engine, for instance. The naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre inline-five under the hood of every Rabbit may sip a little more gas than something like a Toyota Matrix, but considering just how fast it gets the hatchback moving, we’re sure it’ll be forgiven in short order. It has the most power in its segment short of a performance model like a Mazdaspeed3 or Chevy HHR SS.

That said, it’s not like the Rabbit is a gas guzzler, thanks in no small part to the available transmissions. Our tester used the standard five-speed manual, though a six-speed automatic with sequential shift is also available. They’re both easy to use, very smooth, and a ton of fun.

Safety isn’t anything to scoff at either, with six airbags and ABS brakes standard, which is on-par with most other competitors. All-wheel drive isn’t available, as it is on the Impreza, Vibe or Matrix, but keep in mind that could add thousands to the overall cost.

Other standard equipment on every Rabbit includes cruise control, CD-player with 10 speakers and power heated side mirrors.

Considering it hasn’t seen a redesign since it first arrived in North America in 2006 as a 2007 model, the Rabbit is aging quite well aesthetically. Whether you’re eyeing the three-door or five-door version, it’s a slick-looking design made all the better by the fact that it’s one of the few vehicles in the Volkswagen lineup that hasn’t adopted the unsightly chrome grille. Opting for the Sport Package adds some stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, and bi-xenon headlamps that really make an impression when they light up brilliantly at night.

Speaking of which, the optional Sport Package is the one and only significant addition to the Rabbit for 2009. Though it pushes the overall price up an extra $1,600, you do get a lot for that extra chunk of change. Besides the stuff mentioned above, you’ll also get a leather steering wheel and shifter, as well as a sport suspension that puts this vehicle head-and-shoulders ahead of mostly everything in the segment in terms of handling.

And fear not, road-travelling commuters - even with this suspension, the Rabbit never feels harsh or unpleasant. Seats, meanwhile, are soft and roomy, with lots of head room and leg room for even the tallest occupants. Leather seats aren’t available but the fabric seats feel decidedly upscale, while providing some nice grip when spirited driving takes precedence.

You can also rest assured knowing that the Rabbit is as versatile as ever. While packing up for a spur-of-the-moment camping trip and seeing the pile of equipment quickly adding up on the floor by the front door, it seemed the need to fold down the 60/40 rear seats would be unavoidable.

Ha! - You could almost hear the Rabbit laughing when it saw the ‘piddly’ number of items that had to be put in the rear cargo area. The trunk swallowed everything up - sleeping bag, fold-up chair, blanket, air mattress, tent and more - with the rear seats firmly in place, ready to carry more passengers. And for anyone who might need to carry something longer, the five-door model comes with a center armrest pass-through.