2019 Volkswagen Eos Review
The Volkswagen Eos is a two-door, four-seat, retractable hardtop convertible. Even with the top down, the Eos feels tighter than most convertibles of the past, with less cowl shake on rough roads. When it is raised, the hardtop, with its sweeping, panoramic glass roof, gives the Eos a unique appearance. And it's entertaining to watch it go up or down, a feat that can be performed by remote control. Though it's a small car, the Eos seats four, and getting into the back seat is relatively easy. The interior is trimmed nicely, an area where Volkswagen excels. We were more than happy with the feature content of the Eos, which includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission or DSG Tiptronic six-speed automatic, lots of safety features, climate-controlled air conditioning and a decent stereo. The turbo engine delivers brisk acceleration performance and is a smooth companion around town.
For 2009, there are two trim levels available, and all models are powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The Eos represents a good compromise between a sports car and a sedan. It's sporty and practical, and yet offers opportunities for top-down worship of the sun, the moon and the stars. The 2009 Volkswagen Eos comes in Komfort and Lux trim levels. 32,715). Standard equipment includes sport seats with 12-way power for the driver, dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-CD changer with MP3 capability, Sirius Satellite Radio, heated front seats and washer nozzles, trip computer, and ambient interior lighting. 199); and some other trim and convenience items. 35,200) comes with the automatic transmission only. Standard on the Lux are leather upholstery, walnut interior trim, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, multi-function steering wheel, and 17-inch wheels and tires. The Volkswagen Eos solves an age-old styling challenge for convertibles. Generally speaking, a convertible with the soft top up does not look as good as a coupe version of the same car. Even classic greats such as the E-type Jaguar looked much sexier as a coupe.
Of course, once the top is down all is forgiven, as convertibles then look the way they should. When the top is up on the Volkswagen Eos it doesn't look anything like a soft-top convertible. Admittedly it's not eye-poppingly attractive or truly sexy, but it's acceptable. In many ways the Eos is a cross between a Jetta or even a Passat and a GTI. That's appropriate, as it's built off a combination of the three cars. The front of the Eos has the unmistakable VW family look with its in-your-face grille surrounded by plenty of chrome. The sleek covered multifaceted headlights blend into the fender and hood while the edge of the hood continues as a flowing unbroken line back to the rear of the car. The windshield has a low sloping rake to it and, in keeping with the coupe look, there are no B-pillars. Even the C-pillar is not too large. It's certainly way smaller than it would be if Eos were a traditional soft-top convertible.
The glass roof gives the Eos a unique look even with the top up. It provides one of the largest openings for a sunroof available in any car as it covers nearly the full width of the roof, even if it does not slide back as far as most sunroofs. The trunk has a large flat top to it, which is necessary as it has to rise up to accept the whole roof and its mechanism when the top folds down. Watching the roof fold away is enthralling. In just 25 seconds the top of the roof rises up, the trunk lid opens and the rear window folds up. Then the pieces neatly arrange themselves on top of each other and park themselves in the trunk before the lid closes, hiding everything away from prying eyes and giving the Eos a clean flowing look. It's all done by computer-controlled hydraulics. A remote control on the key fob lets the owner raise or lower the roof while standing away from the car.
An optional feature that could prove invaluable is the Park Distance Control sensor that warns if an object is in the way of the roof or trunk when the mechanism starts to open. It looks small outside, but the Volkswagen Eos is roomy inside. Front seat passengers will find the Eos as roomy as a Jetta, with adequate headroom and plenty of hip room. Obviously, with the top down headroom is unlimited, but even with it up rear seat passengers will find it acceptable unless they are near six feet tall. Getting into the back seat is made much easier than usual; not only do the front seatbacks fold down, but the seat moves up to provide easier access. Legroom in the back is tight unless the front occupants move their seats forward. Because part of the folding roof structure has to reside within the side panels when lowered, there is less usable width available for the rear seats, so it's not possible to seat three people in the back seat.
