Fleet of foot, fun to drive, able in snow and sun, it once carried 10 people down a country road after a canoeing trip. My second-generation Rabbit was also frugal
on gas as well as a gas to drive, since I had hopped into it from a cranky Fiat.
I’m happy to say the new sixth-gen Rabbit - err, Golf –is almost as much fun, albeit costing a tad more than my sorta-hot hatch of 1980. So let’s hop into ours and take it for a spin.
*VW visage - Available in three- or five-door models, the 2010 Golf, briefly renamed Rabbit a few years ago, gets a seemingly mild evolutionary redesign that sure keeps it looking like – well, a Golf. The all-new nose gets a more chiseled bumper with wider, double bar grille that blends into upward-angled headlights. The lower air intake is wider, flowing into fake side inlets that wrap around the sides. The front fenders have subtle flat-edged flares framing small-looking Continental 15-inch rubber with silver-spoked wheel covers over black steel wheels on our base Golf. The two-box shape of Rabbit/Golf of the ages is still there, the windshield’s A-pillars gracefully curving off the angled hood, more steeply raked it seems, while the rest of the car is subtly softer in angle, yet visually a bit wider. There’s no chrome here, not even a driver’s door keyhole; just a gloss black B-pillar. In back, wider taillights with round elements over a clear strip of turn signal look nicer, integrated into a classic hatchback with more roundness in the door. Twin red running lights lighten the look of the full body-color bumper, while twin pipes fit in a black lower fascia. The body-color hatch spoiler gets an integrated third brake light. Nice touch – a New Beetle-style VW emblem that tips up to become the unlatch/hatch handle.
Nice details, but as a whole, it still looks like the fifth-gen Golf/Rabbit, which I guess is OK. No one noticed it, while I think the new Jetta redesign last year was a bit more interesting.
*VW livability – On the inside, a padded gray plastic dash top with slimmer gauge package and a touch more silver, again more evolutionary. The main gauges are inset deeper, with silver rims, the 160-mph speedometer hosting an inset gas gauge, the 8,000-rpm tach with an inset temperature gauge, both framing a large white-on-gray LCD trip computer/odometer/trip odometer display. The dash center pod is smoothly integrated into the design, slimmer air vents over a decent 8-speaker AM-FM-CD audio system with good bass and an MP3 input in the center console. Its silver buttons brighten the interior as well as being easy to use. A three-dial single-zone a/c system underneath is set in a gloss black panel for a touch of class. Under that, a rubberized storage nook with 12-volt power outlet.
The black cloth sports buckets up front were very comfortable, with a grippy patterned insert, great side bolstering and manual lumbar and height adjustment, allowing the driver to set up perfectly with the manual tilt/telescope wheel. Our car’s cold weather package added three-position heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles. I would have loved some steering wheel audio controls, but it’s not a problem. I liked the large felt-lined door map pockets with water bottle space, and the dial-a-position sunroof like Audis. Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cellphones was an option we didn’t have, and I would have liked a center armrest.
The 101.5-inch wheelbase is unchanged, but an added inch in width and half-inch in length seems to have expanded the room inside, most noticeable in back. Great head and leg room exist for two adults, with a fold-down center armrest and a ski pass-through to the squared-off cargo area, three cubic feet smaller than the last generation, but at least the rear seatbacks split and fold. There’s a solid security cover and some storage space in the side, too. Nice touch – red button lighting with red LED center console spotlights.
*Golf get-up-and-go – We had the 170-hp, 2.5-liter five-cylinder gas engine hooked to a 6-speed automatic; a 50-state compliant 2-liter turbo-diesel with 140-hp is an option, and a good one for those seeking high fuel mileage, decent power and a bit more sportiness. But our 8,000-mile-old carryover engine felt quite sprightly, especially when set in “sport” gearbox mode to hold onto the gears longer. This 5-banger hit 60-mph in 7.8 seconds with smooth upshifts, an OK exhaust note (and occasional abrupt downshifts). We saw an average 22- to 27-mpg on the trip computer in mixed city/highway driving, despite some spirited use. The solid platform, with independent front suspension with McPherson struts and anti-roll bars, and an independent four-link rear arrangement with a stabilizer bar, gave us an agile Golf that was fun to drive. There was some body roll in turns, but the Golf just hung on and played well with quick steering and a nice controlled suspension that was comfortable yet responsive. Stability control didn’t step in too abruptly either, but was there when needed and could be shut off.
The closest in fun feeling would be a MAZDA3 Sport, which has 28 less horsepower but was a bit more agile and sexy in styling. A Kia Soul is boxier yet cooler in styling too, but has a bit less power and excitement. A Mini Cooper S has two more ponies, a much smaller back seat and a tad more cost, but is just as frugal in fuel. The VW’s power-assisted four wheel disc brakes had decent pedal feel and no fade after hard use. For safety, six airbags (dual front, dual front side thorax, and side curtains).
*Golf dollars – The base three-door, manual gearbox VW Golf is $17,490. Our 5-door test model’s base price was $19,190, which includes remote keyless entry, one-touch up/down power windows and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty. With the $1,000 sunroof and $225 cold weather package, the final price was $21,165. A MAZDA3 is less, a bigger Dodge Caliber SXT or Soul about the same, depending on options. And while it’s technically a subcompact, a 117-hp Honda Fit is less, is lots of fun and fits four adults just as well, as does a compact all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza 2.5i.
*Bottom line – A VW Golf has always been a player in this compact field, especially since VW practically invented the sporty hatchback. The sixth-gen ticks all the boxes – fast enough, fun enough, and frugally roomy and practical – basic fun that can handle commuting and people-carrying. For more fun that’s just as frugal, there are other compact options. But the Golf bags it with initial quality and German solidity.
2010 Volkswagen Golf
Vehicle type - 5-passenger compact 5-door hatchback
Base price $19,190 ($21,165 as tested)
Engine type DOHC, 20-valve in-line five
Displacement – 2.5 liter
Horsepower (net) – 170 @ 5,700 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) – 177 @ 4,250 rpm
Transmission – 6-speed Tiptronic w/manual shift mode
Wheelbase – 101.5 inches
Overall length – 165.4 inches
Overall width – 70.3 inches
Height – 58.3 inches
Front headroom - 39.3 inches
Front legroom – 41.2 inches
Rear headroom – 38.5 inches
Rear legroom – 35.5 inches
Cargo capacity – 12.4 cu. ft.
Curb weight – 3.023 lbs.
Fuel capacity – 14.5 gallons
Mileage rating – 23-mpg city/30-mpg highway
Last word The Rabbit has matured, but still frugal and fun
By Dan Scanlan
MyCarData
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