The new 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit in your choice between a three- or five-door hatchback equipped with a single level of trim, priced a couple thousand dollars higher than some competitors. In the future, it is possible that the Rabbit might be offered in TDI turbodiesel or 2.0T turbocharged guise, but for now just the Rabbit 2.5 comprises the lineup. The GTI is based on the Rabbit, but is considered to be a separate model.

Notable standard equipment for every Volkswagen Rabbit includes air conditioning; cruise control; power windows/locks/mirrors; a telescopic steering wheel; side impact and side curtain airbags; and four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, EBD, and brake assist. Added standard features include a five-cylinder gasoline-powered engine, five-speed manual transmission, dual chrome exhaust tips, green-tinted glass, 15-inch steel wheels with 195/65 tires, a driver’s-side one-touch power window, manually-adjustable front seats, and a 60/40 split rear seat.

Five-door Rabbits add body-color exterior moldings, windshield washer nozzles, a cooled front storage compartment, floor mats, two interior reading lights, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, added front seat adjustment with a power reclining driver’s seat, heated front seats with lumbar support, a fold-flat front passenger’s seat, velour seating material, a rear-seat center armrest/pass through, more interior storage pockets, and rear seat climate vents.

Options for both Rabbits include a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 tires, and stability control. Five-door models maintain exclusive rights to a power glass sunroof, XM or Sirius satellite radio and rear side-impact airbags.