In lane Electric Vehicles
A Small Volkswagen Pickup Could Work, but Used Cars Matter More Now
Description
A modern Rabbit Pickup has appeal, though production costs are a major hurdle. TFL also points used car shoppers to its archive and hands on reviews.
A small Volkswagen truck has a clear appeal. The hard part is making the numbers work.
This week’s questions point to two very different buyer concerns: whether Volkswagen could revive a genuinely compact pickup, and whether used cars deserve more attention when new vehicles feel out of reach. Both come down to value. A small truck would need to stay affordable after development and production costs, while a used car can offer a lower purchase price but calls for careful research into the specific vehicle.
Could the Rabbit Pickup return?
Q (Via Facebook): Volkswagen made mistakes, pulled interesting cars and offered some models that feel too conventional. The I.D. Buzz had weak sales, despite plenty of affection for the idea; its high price may have limited its audience. Why not bring back the small Caddy pickup from the 1980s? Make it electric or hybrid, keep it compact, give it useful range and power, and offer plenty of options at a price that can compete with the SLATE and Ford.
— W. Paulson
A: I’d be glad to see Volkswagen build a small pickup again. The idea has a practical logic: many drivers want a bed for home projects and outdoor gear, but don’t need the size or cost of a full-size truck. A compact model could serve that group if it delivers useful carrying capacity without making everyday parking and driving a chore.
The original Caddy came to the United States as the Rabbit Pickup. It shared its underpinnings with the first-generation Golf, with a two-door cab and a bed about six feet long. Its payload was roughly 1,100 pounds, supported by rear leaf springs. Buyers could choose, depending on model year, a 1.6-liter diesel making about 52 horsepower or a 1.7-liter gasoline engine with about 78 horsepower. The diesel’s fuel economy was a strong point; its noise and leisurely pace were part of the bargain.
A contemporary version would have to meet a different set of expectations. Buyers would want enough power for modern traffic, practical range if it were electric, and a cabin that works for daily use. A hybrid could avoid some charging constraints, while a battery electric model could suit drivers whose trips and home charging fit its range. The source gives no target price, range or power figure, so those remain the questions Volkswagen would have to answer before the concept could be judged as a real alternative.
It also wouldn’t be a simple matter of turning a Taos into a pickup by removing the rear body and adding a bed. A new truck needs a structure and suspension suited to carrying loads, along with the engineering work needed to make it safe and durable. That takes investment. Importing a low-priced light truck would face another cost hurdle: the long-running U.S. tariff on light trucks, often called the Chicken Tax. North American production would likely give a budget model a better chance of reaching its intended price.
Volkswagen already builds the Atlas and ID.4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, so the plant is a natural starting point for that discussion. Its presence doesn’t settle the question. The pickup could use a different platform, and Volkswagen would still need production capacity and enough buyers to justify the expense. Those requirements help explain why a seemingly simple, small truck can become a costly project.
I’d happily drive an affordable electric or hybrid Rabbit Pickup with a useful bed and a broad options list. But enthusiasm from potential buyers doesn’t prove that a manufacturer can build one at a competitive price. I’d like to see Volkswagen try; I’m not counting on a U.S. version soon.
Used cars can fill a real gap, with one important caveat
Q (Via Facebook): New cars may be beyond the budget of many shoppers right now. Could TFL review used cars more often?
— Anonymous
Here’s some vintage TFL…
A: We do cover used vehicles, from auction finds to cars that guests bring in, and we buy them ourselves. Sometimes we may buy more than we should; Roman’s latest acquisition can become a discussion all its own. Some of those conversations make it onto camera.
TFL has published videos since 2009, so its archive may include a road test of a car you’re now considering. That older review can help you understand how the model drove when new, how its cabin worked and what stood out in everyday use. It can’t tell you the condition or future reliability of the particular car for sale today. Age, upkeep and the vehicle’s history all matter, so a past review is a starting point rather than a verdict on an individual example.
Used cars also give reviewers a chance to revisit the tradeoffs that new-car launches can obscure. A model that once felt ordinary may make more sense at a lower used price; a vehicle that impressed when new may be less appealing if its space, comfort or equipment don’t fit a buyer’s needs. The practical question is how the particular car has been cared for and whether its strengths still match the job it needs to do.
Nearly everyone at TFL Studios buys used cars for personal use. The team also buys new trucks and occasional cars for video work and studio needs, generally keeping them for about a year before moving on. The mix of older and newer vehicles is part of why used-car coverage belongs alongside new-model reviews.
For shoppers weighing a used model, the archive can provide useful context about the vehicle’s original character. Pair that with a close look at the car in front of you, and the research becomes more relevant to the purchase. A compact Volkswagen pickup remains an appealing possibility; for buyers who need transportation now, a well-chosen used car is a more immediate option.
— N
