Verified Performance Tests Updated Apr 2026 · 16 recorded runs

Volkswagen Rabbit 0–60 Times

The Volkswagen Rabbit 0–60 times and quarter mile times below are from 16 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Motor Week and more.

The fastest tested Volkswagen Rabbit is the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 16.00 seconds at 88.0 mph, according to Car and Driver.

The slowest tested Volkswagen Rabbit is the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel Deluxe 5-door Hatchback, which took 22.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 22.40 seconds at 59.5 mph, according to Road & Track.

Out of all the Volkswagen Rabbit tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 11.62 seconds The average quarter mile time is 18.09 seconds at 75.34 mph.

Fastest 0–60 7.6sec 2008 S 3-door Hatchback

Average 0–60 11.62sec Across 16 runs

Avg ¼ Mile 18.09sec @ 75.3 mph trap

Slowest 0–60 22.9sec 1980 Diesel Deluxe

Across 16 verified runs, the Volkswagen Rabbit ranges from 7.6 to 22.9 seconds 0–60, with a 11.62-second average.

Jump to results ↓

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Tests by model year

16 tests · 8 years

▾

Model Year 8

2008

Volkswagen Rabbit · 1 verified run

Avg 0–60 7.60 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 16.00 sec

Recorded Tests 1

#01

2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback

7.6sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

16.00s ¼ mi @ 88.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 7.60 sec

¼ Mile ET 16.00 sec

Trap Speed 88.0 mph

Engine 2.5L I-5

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 22 C / 29 H / 22 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #1 of 16

2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback

2007

Volkswagen Rabbit · 3 verified runs

Avg 0–60 8.33 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 16.30 sec

Recorded Tests 3

#02

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 5-door Hatchback

8.1sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

16.20s ¼ mi @ 86.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 8.10 sec

¼ Mile ET 16.20 sec

Trap Speed 86.0 mph

Engine 2.5L I-5

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 19 C / 28 H / 24 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #2 of 16

#03

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 5-door Hatchback

8.1sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

16.00s ¼ mi @ 86.3 mph

▾

0–60 mph 8.10 sec

¼ Mile ET 16.00 sec

Trap Speed 86.3 mph

Engine 2.5L I-5

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 19 C / 28 H

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Road & Track

Overall Rank #3 of 16

#04

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 5-door Hatchback

8.8sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

16.70s ¼ mi @ 84.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 8.80 sec

¼ Mile ET 16.70 sec

Trap Speed 84.0 mph

Engine 2.5L I-5

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 6A

MPG EPA 19 C / 28 H / 25 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Motor Week

Overall Rank #4 of 16

1983

Volkswagen Rabbit · 4 verified runs

Avg 0–60 9.93 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 17.30 sec

Recorded Tests 4

#05

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback

9.7sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

17.10s ¼ mi @ 76.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 9.70 sec

¼ Mile ET 17.10 sec

Trap Speed 76.0 mph

Engine 1.8L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 21 C / 26 H / 26 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #5 of 16

#06

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback

9.7sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

17.20s ¼ mi @ 74.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 9.70 sec

¼ Mile ET 17.20 sec

Trap Speed 74.0 mph

Engine 1.8L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 21 C / 26 H / 32 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Motor Week

Overall Rank #6 of 16

#07

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback

9.7sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

17.21s ¼ mi @ 78.9 mph

▾

0–60 mph 9.71 sec

¼ Mile ET 17.21 sec

Trap Speed 78.9 mph

Engine 1.8L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 21 C / 26 H

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Motor Trend

Overall Rank #7 of 16

#08

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 3-door Hatchback

10.6sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

17.70s ¼ mi @ 76.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 10.60 sec

¼ Mile ET 17.70 sec

Trap Speed 76.0 mph

Engine 1.8L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 21 C / 26 H

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Road & Track

Overall Rank #8 of 16

1982

Volkswagen Rabbit · 1 verified run

Avg 0–60 11.65 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 18.16 sec

Recorded Tests 1

#10

1982 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback

11.7sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

18.16s ¼ mi @ 72.3 mph

▾

0–60 mph 11.65 sec

¼ Mile ET 18.16 sec

Trap Speed 72.3 mph

Engine 1.7L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Motor Trend

Overall Rank #10 of 16

1982 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback

1981

Volkswagen Rabbit · 2 verified runs

Avg 0–60 12.10 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 18.50 sec

Recorded Tests 2

#09

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit LS 3-door Hatchback

11.6sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

18.30s ¼ mi @ 71.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 11.60 sec

¼ Mile ET 18.30 sec

Trap Speed 71.0 mph

Engine 1.7L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 4M

MPG EPA 27 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #9 of 16

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit LS 3-door Hatchback

#12

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 5-door Hatchback

12.6sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

18.70s ¼ mi @ 71.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 12.60 sec

¼ Mile ET 18.70 sec

Trap Speed 71.0 mph

Engine 1.7L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 4M

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Road & Track

Overall Rank #12 of 16

1980

Volkswagen Rabbit · 3 verified runs

Avg 0–60 15.93 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 20.03 sec

Recorded Tests 3

#11

1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 3-door Hatchback

12.1sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

18.90s ¼ mi @ 73.5 mph

▾

0–60 mph 12.10 sec

¼ Mile ET 18.90 sec

Trap Speed 73.5 mph

Engine 1.6L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 4M

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Road & Track

Overall Rank #11 of 16

#13

1980 Volkswagen Rabbit L Convertible

12.8sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

18.80s ¼ mi @ 71.0 mph

▾

0–60 mph 12.80 sec

¼ Mile ET 18.80 sec

Trap Speed 71.0 mph

Engine 1.6L I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5A

MPG EPA 25 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Convertible

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #13 of 16

#16

1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel Deluxe 5-door Hatchback

22.9sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

22.40s ¼ mi @ 59.5 mph

▾

0–60 mph 22.90 sec

¼ Mile ET 22.40 sec

Trap Speed 59.5 mph

Engine 1.5L Diesel I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 5M

MPG EPA 43 Obs

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Diesel

Test Source Road & Track

Overall Rank #16 of 16

1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel Deluxe 5-door Hatchback

1977

Volkswagen Rabbit · 1 verified run

Avg 0–60 16.80 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 20.50 sec

Recorded Tests 1

#15

1977 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel 5-door Hatchback (Performance Pack)

16.8sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

20.50s ¼ mi @ 65.6 mph

▾

0–60 mph 16.80 sec

¼ Mile ET 20.50 sec

Trap Speed 65.6 mph

Engine 1.5L Diesel I-4

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 4M

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Diesel

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #15 of 16

1977 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel 5-door Hatchback (Performance Pack)

1975

Volkswagen Rabbit · 1 verified run

Avg 0–60 13.10 sec

Avg ¼ Mile 19.60 sec

Recorded Tests 1

#14

1975 Volkswagen Rabbit 3-door Hatchback (Performance Pack)

13.1sec 0–60

0.0s · 0mph 0.0s · 0mph

19.60s ¼ mi @ 72.3 mph

▾

0–60 mph 13.10 sec

¼ Mile ET 19.60 sec

Trap Speed 72.3 mph

Engine 1.5L I-5

Drivetrain FWD

Transmission 3A

Production Vehicle

Body Type Hatchback

Powertrain Gasoline

Test Source Car and Driver

Overall Rank #14 of 16

1975 Volkswagen Rabbit 3-door Hatchback (Performance Pack)

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Performance distribution

0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is faster

Each dot is a recorded test run

0–60 → ¼ mile →

Fastest Recorded run Slowest

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Frequently asked

6 questions

The quickest Volkswagen Rabbit on record is the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit S 3-door Hatchback, which runs 0–60 mph in 7.6 seconds and clears the quarter-mile in 16.00 seconds at 88.0 mph.

The slowest recorded Volkswagen Rabbit is the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel Deluxe 5-door Hatchback, which takes 22.9 seconds to reach 60 mph and runs 22.40 seconds in the quarter.

Averaged across all 16 verified runs, a Volkswagen Rabbit reaches 60 mph in 11.62 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 18.09 seconds at roughly 75.3 mph.

We have verified test data for 8 model years. Each year shows every recorded run, the publication that measured it, and the trim-level details.

Every figure is sourced from published road tests by Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Motor Week and Road & Track. We don't use manufacturer claims — only independently timed runs — so the numbers reflect what the car actually does.

0–60 and quarter-mile results depend on driver technique, ambient temperature, tire condition, road surface, altitude, and testing instrumentation. A published figure is a single sample, not an absolute — which is why we show the range of verified runs rather than one number.

Sources

Car and Driver

Motor Trend

Motor Week

Road & Track

0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Volkswagen Rabbit can do, not a single marketing claim.

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