The Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel, known as the Golf Mk1 in other markets, truly revolutionized the automotive landscape. It wasn’t just another car; it was a paradigm shift, proving that an affordable, compact vehicle could be incredibly fuel-efficient and genuinely enjoyable to drive. Before the Rabbit Diesel, diesel cars were largely perceived as sluggish and uninspiring, but Volkswagen shattered that stereotype.
While its 0-60 mph time of 15.8 seconds might seem leisurely by today’s standards, it was on par with many gasoline-powered small cars of its era. In fact, it outperformed models like the Fiat X1/9, Dodge Colt, Datsun B210, and Chevette in acceleration. However, the Rabbit’s appeal wasn’t solely about speed. Even before the diesel variant, the gasoline Rabbit had earned a reputation for being a fun-to-drive compact car since its 1975 debut. The diesel engine, while slightly tempering the peppiness, amplified the joy of driving a nimble car to its limits. The adage “driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow” perfectly encapsulated the Rabbit Diesel experience. And achieving an impressive 42 mpg while doing so was the cherry on top.
The diesel engine option, a 1.5-liter unit producing 48 horsepower at 5000 rpm, a surprisingly high figure for a diesel at the time, only added a modest $170 to the Rabbit’s price tag. This affordability became particularly significant during the second energy crisis. Demand for the diesel Rabbit surged so dramatically that some individuals were willing to pay as much as $10,000 – nearly double the sticker price – to acquire one. Ingenious aftermarket solutions emerged, such as auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the spare tire well, with the spare relocated or omitted, effectively extending the car’s range to almost 1000 miles between fill-ups.
Road & Track magazine conducted a 24,000-mile long-term test of a Volkswagen Diesel Rabbit, providing valuable insights into the vehicle’s reliability. Considering this was Volkswagen’s inaugural foray into diesel engines and the early Rabbit models (1975-1976) had faced initial reliability challenges, the diesel version performed commendably. The issues encountered were fairly typical for new car models of that era.
While the early Volkswagen diesels weren’t without their imperfections, VW diligently addressed the teething problems. These engines went on to achieve legendary durability, a testament to which is the continued presence of many Diesel Rabbits still running in places like Eugene, Oregon. They have become automotive icons, though in the current shift away from diesel technology, their numbers are inevitably dwindling.
