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2008 Volkswagen Rabbit Quality Review

November 3, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Impressive build quality
Edmunds

The chairs are comfortable and well bolstered
MyRide.com

Volkswagen's answer to compact cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla
Cars.com

Volkswagen is known for high-quality building materials and excellent craftsmanship, and TheCarConnection.com finds that the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is no exception.

With its "roomy and upscale cabin" and "comfortable ride," according to Edmunds, the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit makes for a pleasant ride. MyRide.com adds that the base chairs are rather "comfortable and well bolstered." However, no more than four individuals should be in the car at a time, especially over long distances. The front seats have a manual height adjustment that MyRide.com calls "outdated." “The R32's sport seats, borrowed from the GTI, grip well without forcing you to climb into them,” Edmunds says. The VW Rabbit backseat is surprisingly roomy, notes Cars.com, providing "nearly 2 inches of legroom and more than an inch of headroom over the previous model." Edmunds agrees: “A roomy rear seat offers decent room for a pair of adults.” The four-door Rabbit and GTI have a leg up on two-door versions in terms of access: “The main advantage to the four-door GTI is its more accessible rear seat, though the two-door's front seats slide forward quite easily to improve entry and exit.”

Likewise, the cargo capacity has grown since previous models, "thanks to a 60/40-split folding rear seat," allowing the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008 to carry long items like skis with the front seat folded flat, states Cars.com. “When flipped down, opens up a massive 43 cubic feet of cargo space,” Edmunds reports. With the seats raised, there’s 15 cubic feet of space, they add. Though the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008 sports a large glove box, according to MyRide.com, they would have liked to see "more creative stowage in the center console" and "taller cupholders to fully secure many of today's larger drinks."

Edmunds calls out the "Impressive build quality" of the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008. They also state that the controls feel like they've been taken from a premium-priced Audi. In terms of quality, MyRide.com adds, "A cleanly styled interior takes advantage of Volkswagen's long touted cabin-building competence. Fit-and-finish is impressive for a $15,000 vehicle, and of particular note are the Audi-quality gauges and controls. Other materials, such as the laminated visor and hard plastic door inserts, appear less than top-drawer." Additionally, Cars.com enjoys the "dashboard quality" of this VW Rabbit model. Car and Driver thinks “the seat fabric looks seriously thrifty,” though.

While Edmunds calls it "refined" and "noise-free," Car and Driver reports that the "tires read road textures loudly into the interior."

Conclusion

The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is a high-quality car with impressive materials and adult-sized room in back.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Impressive build qualityEdmundsThe chairs are comfortable and well bolsteredMyRide.comVolkswagen's answer to compact cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota CorollaCars.com Volkswagen is known for high-quality building materials and excellent craftsmanship, and TheCarConnection.com finds that the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is no exception. With its "roomy and upscale cabin" and "comfortable ride," according to Edmunds, the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit makes for a pleasant ride. MyRide.com adds that the base chairs are rather "comfortable and well bolstered." However, no more than four individuals should be in the car at a time, especially over long distances. The front seats have a manual height adjustment that MyRide.com calls "outdated." “The R32's sport seats, borrowed from the GTI, grip well without forcing you to climb into them,” Edmunds says. The VW Rabbit backseat is surprisingly roomy, notes Cars.com, providing "nearly 2 inches of legroom and more than an inch of headroom over the previous model." Edmunds agrees: “A roomy rear seat offers decent room for a pair of adults.” The four-door Rabbit and GTI have a leg up on two-door versions in terms of access: “The main advantage to the four-door GTI is its more accessible rear seat, though the two-door's front seats slide forward quite easily to improve entry and exit.” Likewise, the cargo capacity has grown since previous models, "thanks to a 60/40-split folding rear seat," allowing the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008 to carry long items like skis with the front seat folded flat, states Cars.com. “When flipped down, opens up a massive 43 cubic feet of cargo space,” Edmunds reports. With the seats raised, there’s 15 cubic feet of space, they add. Though the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008 sports a large glove box, according to MyRide.com, they would have liked to see "more creative stowage in the center console" and "taller cupholders to fully secure many of today's larger drinks." Edmunds calls out the "Impressive build quality" of the Volkswagen Rabbit 2008. They also state that the controls feel like they've been taken from a premium-priced Audi. In terms of quality, MyRide.com adds, "A cleanly styled interior takes advantage of Volkswagen's long touted cabin-building competence. Fit-and-finish is impressive for a $15,000 vehicle, and of particular note are the Audi-quality gauges and controls. Other materials, such as the laminated visor and hard plastic door inserts, appear less than top-drawer." Additionally, Cars.com enjoys the "dashboard quality" of this VW Rabbit model. Car and Driver thinks “the seat fabric looks seriously thrifty,” though. While Edmunds calls it "refined" and "noise-free," Car and Driver reports that the "tires read road textures loudly into the interior." ConclusionThe 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is a high-quality car with impressive materials and adult-sized room in back. 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT STYLING | [7 out of 10] MyRide.com: "Small on the outside and big on the inside" Cars.com: "The Rabbit's simple lines and uncluttered face make it look very similar to its Golf predecessor" Edmunds: "A bit too vanilla when compared to sleeker rivals" The 2008 ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

In terms of real competition, the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit faces off against the Saturn Astra, another German import. With 140 horsepower, the Astra isn't as powerful as the VW Rabbit, but the Saturn comes closest, as far as standard horsepower goes. Plus, it has that Germanic thing going for it. The Honda Civic offers more engine choices than the Rabbit, especially if you're leaning toward the green hybrid or natural gas powertrains. The 2009 Toyota Corolla is especially attractive in its top trim level, but the new Corolla looks less nice in the base trim. Domestically, the all-new 2008 Ford Focus matches the Rabbit with coupe and sedan body styles, but buyers tend to be attracted to its powerful SYNC entertainment system rather than its homely new look. The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit also has to compete against the Mazda3, a perennial enthusiast favorite for its handling, but the Mazda can't match the VW's solid feel.

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See the Volkswagen Rabbit in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Parsa #1, Posted: 9/1/2008

    Enginer

    Hello
    Please send to me some 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit Photos
    Thank parsa

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