The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is available as a family coupe or sedan with two or four doors. It can seat five passengers and is available in one trim. The 2008 Rabbit is a carryover from 2007.

The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, in-line 5, 170-horsepower engine. A five-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard and a six-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. Its fuel economy range is 29 miles per gallon on highways and 22 mpg in cities. The Rabbit comes with a powertrain warranty of 60 months or 60,000 miles.

The Volkswagen Rabbit is a quick and perky hatchback with enough power to make it fun to drive. It is one of the top picks in the economy hatchback class, offering impressive interiors, a comfortable ride and solid German engineering. Its two body styles (two- and four-door) share the same wheelbase and overall length. Exterior panel colors are matched with body-color upper bumpers and moldings, door handles, front grille and mirror housings. The Rabbit has crystal-clear halogen headlamps and dual exhaust tips. A CD and MP3-format readable audio system comes standard in the two-door Rabbit, along with a single-disc, in-dash CD player and 10-speaker sound system. Four-door models have an upgraded audio system comprising a six-disc, in-dash CD changer and 10 speakers as standard. Satellite radio is also available and comes with a three-month subscription to Sirius satellite radio service. An iPod adapter and auxiliary audio jack are standard. For comfort and convenience, the 2008 Rabbit comes standard with a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, including height adjustment. The front passenger seat comes with four-way manual adjustment; and both front seats include adjustable lumbar support. A tilt/telescoping steering column; power windows with auto up/down on all windows; and air conditioning with climate control are all standard. A sunroof is also available, but only on the four-door model. Other standard features on the 2008 Rabbit include an anti-theft alarm system with a central, remote locking feature; turn signals built into the outside rear-view mirrors; and heated windshield washer nozzles on four-door models.

Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes and a four-wheel anti-lock braking system. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard. In addition to the advanced ABS system, the Rabbit comes standard with anti-slip regulation traction control and electromechanical steering, which help compensate for lateral forces created by gusty winds or road imperfections. For driver and front passenger safety and comfort, the 2008 Rabbit includes optimized head restraints. Supplemental restraint, dual front air bags; side thorax air bags and side curtain protection are all standard.