How ironic that VW resurrected the perky Rabbit moniker for what is, in truth, the most mature and substantial Golf to date. The Gen-5 line-up starts at $19,990 for a two door, the other model choice being a slightly better-equipped four-door.

It's easy to love, whatever it's called.

Rabbits are powered by a 150-hp, 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine that is a lugger, not a revver. The engine can get raspy, but foot-flat performance is fair (0-100 km/h in 8.7 sec with the manual transmission). It's more satisfying to ride the torque, which serves up punchy acceleration. Driven that way it's as smooth as a 6-cylinder.

The manual shifter is a big improvement, but this engine is made for the optional DSG automatic -- which, in this case, is a first-in-segment 6-speed.

Typically of German cars, there's ample room in a Rabbit for big-and-tall drivers, though others may find the driving position rather low. Rear-seat room is respectable, and the trunk's quite big for a hatchback. However the simple flop-down backrests don't create as useful a cargo deck as the old model's flip-and-fold wagon-style arrangement.

Euro-typical is the taut, planted feel of the Rabbit's chassis, and the excellent brakes.

A premium-quality, well-appointed, safe small car

Old Golf's cargo area was more versatile