What’s that saying? Everything old is new again. The hatchback, a design that Volkswagen tenaciously held on to with its Golf model, fell out of favor in the United States though remained popularity in Europe where drivers continued to like its utility and practicality.
Well, the hatchback is back in the States. Witness the success of the Chevrolet Aveo and HHR; the Toyota Yaris and Matrix; the Dodge Caliber and Nitor; Chrysler’s PT Cruiser; and a slew of other 5-doors.
Unfortunately, VW’s persistence in holding on to the hatchback resulted in more competition.Thus its iconRabbit was reborn.
This Rabbit is not like the past Rabbit of the 1970s. That car had a reputation of being of questionable quality.And it’s not an economy car either. The base price for this Rabbit, with automatic transmission, is $18,695.
It’s got plenty of features to make the price okay. For example, it carries antilock disc brakes, traction control, automatic six-speed transmission, 150 horsepower 2.5 liter five cylinder engine, side and side curtain air bags, air conditioning, cruise control, and an audio system with an in-dash six disc CD changer and MP3 capability. Many also may be surprised to discover such atypical equipment as heated cloth front seats and a driver’s seat with manual adjustments for height and lumbar as well as a motorized seat back.
Then there is the hatchback design. Although the cargo area measures about 15 cubic feet, the rear seat backs are divided and fold down nearly flat with the floor. The back of the front passenger seat also folds allowing the car to accommodate long items like surfboards or ladders for transport.
Options to enhance the model include electronic stability control, a motorized sunroof, XM Satellite Radio, and alloy wheels. MSRP is $20,920.
The numbers show that Golf sales totaled 15,690 in 2005. With the Golf and Rabbit together, sales figures for 2006 showed improvement and were at a pace to exceed 28,000.
Our take? Elmer Fudd of Bugs Bunny fame now has another “Crazy wrabbit” to chase after. And consumers looking for a practical hatchback again couldn’t be happier.
Via Washington Times
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