Volkswagen Rabbit MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Rabbit has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1984 to 2009. Across those years its best rated version returned 38 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 24 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Rabbit placed highest in 1984 at #2 of 57, and lowest in 2007 at #29 of 47. It spent 3 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 24 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Rabbit fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit burns 479 to 479 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2009 model year is $2,600 to $2,600 a year in fuel, or $1,750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 24 mpg the Volkswagen Rabbit is exactly at the median.

• All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Volkswagen nameplates

Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.