How Volkswagen's New City Car Compares To The MK Rabbit

• Volkswagen

It's no secret that Volkswagen isn't in a great spot. The company has been vocal about its shifting focus towards electrification, but delays related to vehicle software, as well as increased competition from abroad, have seen the company lose billions, and now it says it only has a few years to turn things around. Fortunately, it has an ambitious plan to release 9 different models by 2027, with one of the most important being the all-new ID. Every1 concept was just announced.

The entry-level model boasts a small size but big aspirations, with the company aiming for a 20,000 Euro price that would see it become one of the cheapest electric cars on sale today. Although we have serious doubts we'll ever see this model on US roads, its introduction mimics that of the original Golf some 50 years ago, but can the company save itself once again with a budget vehicle? Or will it just be another concept chasing nostalgia that falls flat?

Design: Retro Roots with a Futuristic Twist

Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 Concept Front Quarter

While we take for granted how ubiquitous the Golf has become in our society today, coming up with the now-winning formula was actually quite a difficult process. The company originally envisioned a successor to the Beetle some 20 years before the introduction of the Golf, but the road there was littered with countless prototypes and failed innovations that stalled out time and time again.

It wasn't until some executives visited the Turin Auto Show in 1969 that the answer would present itself by the name of Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had designed nearly every concept the executives had fallen in love with. Working for Italdesign, he was soon hired to commence work on creating the model that would succeed the Type 1, and the result was, according to him, the best work of his career.

The vehicle he came up with was a triumph, with the clean, sharp lines he would become famous for and an upright stance that made it a practical option. Along with the circular headlights, rectangular front grille, and fender flares, the model had a sporty yet approachable appearance.

Fast-forward to the ID. Every1, and it's impossible not to see the influence of the original Golf. The rectangular front grille and circular headlights are there, along with the chunky C-pillar and fender flares, but the grille now has a curve to it, the circular headlines have been cut off, it sports a very modern floating roof design, and the fender flares are wider. Along with the large 19-inch wheels, the model looks wide and low, giving it a strong presence despite actually coming in shorter than the original Golf. The lighting elements on the model are also going to be a standout feature, with illuminated logos and lighting that gives the front of the car the appearance of a smile.

For context, the vehicle is meant to replace the Up! city car only sold in Europe, and slots in-between it and the Polo in exterior size despite offering more interior room, according to VW.

Powertrain: Modest, Efficient, and Ready for the City

Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 Concept 3/4 Exterior

The Mk 1's recipe was simple: make the chassis light, give the car a capable front-wheel drivetrain, and add in modern four-cylinder powertrains with water cooling. It wasn't fancy by any means, with a basic suspension setup and rack-and-pinion steering, but combined, the car offered feedback and a nimbleness that simply can't be found in the cars of today.

Plenty of four-cylinder engines were used over the years, from 1.1 liters to 1.7 liters, and there were even a few diesel options that were particularly popular here in the US, thanks to their frugalness during the Oil Crisis of the 1970s. A four-speed manual and 3-speed auto were standard, with a 5-speed manual being available on later turbodiesel and GTI options. However, no matter what you were working with, the car was never a fast vehicle, topping out at 110 horsepower and going all the way down to a mere 50 horsepower.

While one would think the ID. Every1 would be significantly more modern than a 50-year-old car; that's actually not the case. It joins the ID.2 as only the second car to utilize a FWD version of the brand's MEB platform, but while the larger car has a single 223-horsepower motor, the Every1 only makes do with a paltry 94 horsepower.

While the instant electric torque is going to make it feel peppier than it is, combined with a top speed of just 81 mph and an estimated range of just 155 miles (WLTP), it's definitely a city car that would likely struggle to compete with most everything in our market, but the Fiat 500e, which only boasts 149 EPA-rated miles.

Interior and Tech: Classic Analog to Digital Minimalism

Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 Concept Seats

However, the interior is no contest. With the Golf, regardless of whether you opt for a regular Golf or an upgraded GTI, you're getting a bare-bones vehicle. We're talking cloth seats, hard plastic, and vinyl, with things like A/C and potentially an 8-track player being the fanciest options. It was functional and minimal, but that's something that's been largely lost today, and we have a sinking suspicion many buyers would still love to have options as basic.

While the Every1 is definitely an upgrade in nearly every way, it keeps this simplistic ethos at its core, combining it with improved technology and innovative materials to elevate the car's appeal. First, you'll be surprised just how roomy this car is, something the company says is possible thanks to the FWD powertrain because it says you can comfortably fit four people and still fit 10 cubic feet of things behind the back seat.

Warm, friendly contrasting colors made out of materials like recycled PET bottles give the car a premium look and feel that is characterized by strong horizontal lines. At the front, a touchscreen dominates the center of the dashboard, but it's nice to see there are real buttons on the steering wheel. A small display integrates into the dash in front of the driver, and the center console can be rolled front and back depending on the need. There isn't much more than this, but the car does seem to offer nearly everything you want and nothing you don't.

Can the Rabbit For The Modern Age Live Up to Its Predecessor?

Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 Concept Rear View

This is the big question, and the answer is complicated. Back in the 1970s, cars and the car industry were simpler. Competition has never been as cutthroat as it is now, with new entrants popping up domestically and arriving internationally. A single model isn't likely to save a brand anymore, so companies need a multi-faceted approach to securing their future, and this is precisely what Volkswagen is doing.

It's leveraging its modular platforms to build a whole host of models that will fit into nearly every segment and offer combustion, hybrid, and pure electric offerings. The Every1 fits into its new "Urban Car Family" that will launch with the ID.2 in 2026 before expanding to offer four FWD offerings by the following year. No singular model is going to save Volkswagen this time; they all are, and the company is betting big on Europe to do so.

While the company could probably sell the Every1 here in the US, it isn't likely, particularly now that there are threats of European Tariffs being thrown around that would make what could be a fantastic deal untenable. It's likely the closest we're going to get to a new Golf in the US would be the ID.2, but whether it will resonate with buyers at the scale of the Rabbit or not is anyone's guess.