Volkswagen Eos Review

2008 Volkswagen Eos Lux Convertible Shown

The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seat, two-door convertible. Its retractable hardtop design combines the open-air experience of a traditional ragtop with the security and all-season comfort of a coupe's fixed roof. According to Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the sunrise, and is an appropriate name for this smart-looking convertible. Though it is the spiritual successor to the Cabrio, the Volkswagen Eos eschews its predecessor's feminine image in favor of more upscale and sophisticated style, substance and capabilities.

While once the exclusive arena of high-end luxury cars, the availability of a retractable hardtop has trickled down to convertible models that are more in line with what most drop-top shoppers can afford. With the ability to keep errant weather and noise out, retractable hardtops are all the rage, and VW (along with Pontiac and Chrysler) has recognized the value of offering a four-seat retractable hardtop that starts under $30K. However, in typical German car fashion, the price rises quickly as options are added.

Current Volkswagen Eos

Volkswagen offers two engines on the front-wheel-drive Eos. Standard is the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque with nary a hint of turbo lag. It comes mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. The optional transmission is the excellent six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG); it offers the ease of an automatic along with most of the advantages of a manual transmission (while eliminating the need for a clutch pedal). The second available engine is the butter-smooth 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 250 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with the DSG transmission.

Of course, the highlight of the Volkswagen Eos is its retractable hardtop. VW calls it the CSC (coupe-sunroof-convertible) and it employs a unique five-panel roof that transforms the coupe's hardtop into an open-air convertible in just 25 seconds. It includes a surprisingly large sunroof and heated glass rear window. Since a retractable hardtop is still a relative novelty, you are sure to attract attention when you hit the button that sets in motion the choreographed dance of moving windows, sunroof and roof panels. An available Trunk Lid Assistance program integrated with the parking sensors monitors up to 20 inches behind the car and prevents the roof from operating if any object or obstruction is detected.

Intended more as a boulevard cruiser than a sports car, the Volkswagen Eos excels when it comes to occupant comfort and amenities. The base Turbo features leatherette upholstery, a wind blocker, leather-wrapped telescoping steering wheel and a CD stereo with auxiliary audio jack. The Komfort adds a power driver seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a trip computer. The Lux trim adds 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, a power passenger seat and an upgraded stereo. The VR6 adds the six-cylinder engine, 18-inch wheels, sport seats and the Lux trim's additional niceties. Optional extras include navigation, adaptive HID headlights, an upgraded sound system with a CD changer and an iPod adapter.

In road tests, our editors cited the retractable roof, extroverted styling and high-quality cockpit furnishings as the VW Eos' key strengths. Downsides include mediocre handling, a tight backseat and the VR6 model that represents a modest performance advantage over the four-cylinder models despite a sizable price difference.

Past Volkswagen Eos Models

The Eos debuted for the 2007 model year. In that first year, trim levels included the base Eos, the 2.0T and 3.2L. However, they were equipped similar to the current trim choices.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.