New Volkswagen Rabbit Golf (VW rabbit).. Structural solidity, good control relationships, quality interior, attractive base price.
New Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit with standard stability control, free trial Sirius subscription are new. iPod adapter discontinued.
Volkswagen Rabbit : Essentially a hatchback version of the Jetta sedan, it’s solid, roomy, versatile, and responsive. Power is modest from the 170-hp five-cylinder engine, but it’s still a driver’s car.
The car does well around town and won’t disappoint as you flog it hard, either. We tested the 160-hp, 1.4-liter engine with the TSI twincharger setup, a supercharger and a turbocharger. It is a hugely complex arrangement, designed to do away with any turbo lag. At low rpm, a Roots-type Eaton supercharger provides boost; a turbocharger kicks in soon after. They work in unison up to 3500 rpm, at which point the turbo takes over completely.
The sound is so muted it is almost impossible to detect the frantic activity under the hood. The 160-hp Golf is a quick car, with a 137-mph top speed and instant acceleration on tap, but it’s not fascinating. The twincharger arrangement doesn’t rip the car forward, although 160 horses from 1.4 liters is nothing to sniff at—and we wonder why VW went through all the trouble. Many of today’s turbochargers don’t produce nearly as much lag as they used to, especially if coupled with a modern direct-injection engine as in the company’s own wonderful GTI, a winner of two straight 10Best Cars awards. And the remaining lag can nearly be compensated for by an automatic’s shifting strategy, particularly when that transmission has more than four or five gears.
Next-Gen DSG Sports Seven Gears
The 160-hp TSI we drove was coupled with a new, dry-plate seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission. There’s no word on whether the gearbox will be offered with different engines in the U.S., but the company’s strategy in the States seems to be to save the dual-clutch setups for Audis and high-performance VWs. We’ll be pleasantly surprised if it finds its way into U.S.-spec Golfs.
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)21
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)30
Displacement 2.5L/151
