Like Volkswagen says: The Bunny's Back. With MSRPs falling between $15,890 and $18,990, the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit continues its powerful hop back into a fully-integrated spot in the overall company lineup. It delivers owners 21 miles per gallon of regular unleaded fuel in the cities and 29 on the highways. That's nice for any vehicle these days - even for some of the hybrids.

The Rabbit re-emerged in 2007 to serve as the replacement for the Golf. This German-designed and manufactured hot-seller gives consumers more choices than simply what is presented by the ruling Asian manufactures. Its competitors are the Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra.

The new Rabbit by Volkswagen is a hatchback. That means that it appeals to a lot of people who have needs for increased ease and ability for cargo hauling. Most of the aforementioned competitors are either 2-door or 4-door sedans. That's a definite sales advantage for this 2009 Volkswagen as hatchbacks are becoming very popular again.

There is only one engine available for the 2009 Rabbit - a German-made, American-tuned 2.5L I5 that delivers an impressive 170 horsepower - the most powerful in its class. That engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that together crank out 177 lb-ft of torque at 4250 rpm. Nice. Considering that the gross vehicle weight is only 3138 pounds means that there is more than plenty of power here in this hare. It is quick, responsive and can turn, stop and go on a dime.

4-wheel independent suspension, in addition to the long-for-class wheelbase (101.5 inches), grants drivers and passengers a smooth ride that is surprisingly comfortable even on lengthy trips. The 2009 Rabbit is excellently used for the daily commute. It's very practical and efficient and it also features plenty of interior space. Front and rear head room measurements are 39 inches. The maximum cargo capacity is 45 cubic feet.

Standard safety features include side curtain airbags and ABS braking - again rare for the class. It is rounded and appears little like the Rabbits of the past. Its aerodynamic styling makes it able to deliver the impressive fuel economy and also serves to quiet interior noise levels. Perhaps the most notable feature of the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is that it is the most powerful vehicle in its class. The closest competitor is the Mazda MAZDA3 that pushes only 156 ponies from a 2.3L DOHC I4 engine.