2019 Volkswagen Eos 103TDI Review
Volkswagen鈥檚 Eos raised the bar for refinement and sophistication for affordable retractable hard-tops when first introduced in 2007. It was then the best of the bunch. Not all of its original competitors remain - it鈥檚 seen off the Focus and Astra contenders - but the Eos soldiers on, and just gets better and better. For 2011 it has scored some specification updates and Volkswagen鈥檚 new front and rear styling. Quality: A new climate-control panel adds class, while everything else remain familiar. The interior is functional and top-notch for quality, but hard door trims and constant top-down squeaks between dash and the front doors hurt initial perceptions. Comfort: Front seats are mildly bolstered and firm but still able to accommodate wider frames. Of course being a coupe, rear seat space is tighter but still acceptable for those up to 170cm tall and there鈥檚 room for feet and knees. There鈥檚 not much width in the back though. Equipment: Eos comes with leather seats, a multi-function leather-bound steering wheel, 17鈥?alloys, sports pedals, LED tail lamps, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, six-CD audio with USB-in, eight speakers and touch-screen controls.
The big selling point of course is the complex folding roof. Fully automatic and constructed in five-sections, it uniquely allows the Eos a sliding glass sunroof as well as the usual open and closed positions. Storage: With the roof up there鈥檚 380 litres of boot space which drops to 205 litres with the roof in place. That鈥檚 tight, but still enough for a weekend-getaway鈥檚 worth of soft bags. In the cabin the centre console is tiny, but remedied by a large glovebox with smaller driver鈥檚-side compartment and long door-pockets. Driveability: Both flexible and thrifty, the 103TDI Eos is a surprisingly rewarding drive. It鈥檚 equally at home slinking around city streets or breezing along a winding coastal road. The benefit of a diesel engine and its low-rev torque peak sees a very handy 320Nm of torque developed from 1750-2500rpm. This gives the Eos brisk acceleration brisk and, even at work, it remains smooth and quiet. Winding the engine out to its power peak of 103kW at 4200 rpm isn鈥檛 unpleasant either but mostly unnecessary.
Top-up handling feels secure, but with the lid folded there鈥檚 more chassis flex apparent. While there is some slight scuttle shimmy, apparent in the windscreen pillars, the rest of the passenger compartment is reassuringly stiff. Refinement: As we鈥檝e noted before, Volkswagen鈥檚 clever DSG gearboxes do their best low-speed work when paired with a diesel, and the Eos confirms that. With the roof up the Eos is serene and hard to pick from a regular hatchback in terms of road and wind noise. Drop the top and even at highway speeds front-seat passengers can maintain a conversation. Naturally enough, it starts to get a bit ragged for rear-seat occupants at anything above 80 km/h. The only refinement glitches show up with the sunroof open, with harsh buffeting and drumming apparent even around town. There鈥檚 also a touch of diesel clatter at idle. Suspension: The all independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a four-link rear end is comfort-biased, but keeps a level cornering attitude.
Handling is initially neutral pushing into controlled but early understeer if pressing on. Braking: Ventilated front discs matched to solid rears provide controlled stopping with a smoothly progressive pedal. Safety features: ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, dual front and side thorax/head airbags, active rollover protection system, three-point seatbelts for all positions with load-limiting pre-tensioners for front seats. Warranty: 3 years/100,00km and 24 hour roadside assist with 12 years anti-corrosion warranty. 1000. Service intervals are set for every 15,000km/12 months. 51,990) - The 308 CC provides some stiff competition to the Eos. The engine provides more power and torque but doesn鈥檛 spin as freely, the dash looks a little more showy, but leather trim is optional. Worst of all, the windscreen reaches so far over the front seats that you never really feel like you鈥檙e in the open air. Renault鈥檚 Dynamique convertible is almost invisible next to the enticing RenaultSport hatches, and for those hoping for a little of that hot-hatch persona, keep looking. The Megane鈥檚 petrol engine feels flat and, coupled to a CVT auto, can drone about town. Note: all prices are Manufacturer鈥檚 List Price and do not include dealer delivery or on-road costs. If you could ever call the purchase of a convertible sensible, then the Eos is a very logical contender. It鈥檚 fun to be in, smart-looking, reasonably fleet-of-foot and a very nice drive. It comes with fewer compromises than its closest competitors and combines the quality-feel of Volkswagen鈥檚 more staid sedans with a liberal dose of sun-seeking adventure. Interested in buying VOLKSWAGEN EOS? Visit our VOLKSWAGEN showroom for more information.
