Overview & Reviews

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 it's an appropriate name for this smart-looking convertible.

As a new car, the Eos' price can seem hard to justify, as it's typically higher than other mainstream convertibles. But the Eos does come with a lot of standard equipment, a hardtop design and a high-quality interior. Used models may be somewhat hard to find, and you'll want to pay extra attention to model years, as VW has altered content over the years in hopes of broadening the Eos' appeal.

Current Volkswagen Eos
There are three trim levels in the Eos family: Komfort, Sport and Executive. All have front-wheel drive and are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The sole transmission is VW's excellent six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), which offers the ease of an automatic along with most of the advantages of a manual transmission.

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. If you don't want the full top-down experience but still want a little wind in your hair, you can leave it up and just power back the built-in sunroof.

Intended more as a boulevard cruiser than a sports car, the Volkswagen Eos excels when it comes to occupant comfort and amenities. Even the base Komfort comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette (vinyl) upholstery, a power driver seat, heated front seats, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an eight-speaker sound system with an iPod interface and a CD changer, a navigation system and VW's Car-Net telematics service. Highlights of the Sport include 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, bi-xenon headlights, a rear spoiler, keyless ignition and entry, and paddle shifters. The Executive model features automatic wipers, parking sensors, a power passenger seat, leather upholstery, an upgraded navigation system with larger display, a rearview camera and an upgraded sound system.

In road tests, our editors have cited the retractable roof, classy styling and high-quality cockpit furnishings as the Eos' key strengths. Downsides include mediocre handling and a tight backseat. As long as you don't expect the Eos to perform like a roadster, it should make for one of the most satisfying convertible experiences at this price point.

Used Volkswagen Eos Models
The Eos debuted for the 2007 model year, and it was initially available with either the turbocharged four or a narrow-angle 3.2-liter V6 engine good for 250 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. Trim levels then included the base Eos, the 2.0T and 3.2L. The base Eos and more luxurious 2.0T had the turbocharged four, matched to either a six-speed manual or the DSG, while the 3.2L sported the V6 matched to the DSG as well as a full array of accoutrements.

For the following year, the trim levels were Turbo, Komfort, Lux and VR6. The Turbo and Komfort were roughly analogous to the previous year's base and 2.0T, respectively, with the Lux adding extra feature content while sticking with the turbocharged-4 under the hood. The VR6 mostly mirrored the previous 3.2L model but added 18-inch wheels and sport seats. On these 2007 and '08 models, a navigation system was optional, but unlike in newer models it was DVD-based. The Turbo and VR6 trims were discontinued for '09 and that year also brought an updated touchscreen navigation system with multimedia inputs.

Things in the Eos world stood pat for a few years until 2012, when the car adopted the Jetta's front-end styling, gained the DSG transmission as standard, received a few new features (such as keyless ignition/entry) and saw updated infotainment and climate controls. The Executive trim level also debuted this year. The following year brought the Sport trim level as well as a shuffling of equipment. These latter Eos models are similar to the current lineup apart from the discontinuation of the Lux trim and the unavailability of the telematics system.

User Reviews:

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  What a disappointment! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By grinchy - July 9 - 11:12 am

  This was my dream car, which quickly became a nightmare. The convertible operation would freeze mid transition, I take it in for service and of course they "can not duplicate the problem". The very next day I take pictures proving that it is stuck, then they miraculously they can find the problem and fix it. Now, it leaks. It burns oil- im told this is normal, and i have to add 1qt per 100 miles. Really?! My transmission was not smooth, or shifting properly, as well- this is normal. After 3 visits, they finally duplicate the problem, AFTER they crash it on a road test. My car was in service for 1 month, and the issues still persist.

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  DO NOT BUY AN EOS!....DO NOT BUY A VOLKSWAGEN! - 2016 Volkswagen EOS
  By Rich - May 15 - 6:06 pm

  If youre thinking of buying a Volkswagen, DONT! Do yourself a HUGE favor and go look at other manufactures. THE WORST car Ive ever had. Between personal cars and company cars Ive driven Pontiac, Chevy, Oldsmobile, Ford, Chrysler and Mazda. And NEVER had problems with them. Enter Volkswagen. Were talking about an EOS Lux. The rear view mirror fell off the windshield shortly after purchasing the car. If only I had recognized the omen. The clear coat started peeling off the hood of the car. Have to replace a headlight bulb every 3 months. They constantly burn out. The passenger seat will not move forward or backwards in cold weather. The passenger side window stopped working and the motor had to be replaced. The car alarm went off and could not stop it. The door lock cylinder, ignition switch and battery were replaced. 2 days later the car alarm went off again and could not stop it. Was told that the drivers side window motor would have to be replaced for the problem because of a "module" thats attached for the alarm system. The intake manifold on the engine got a hole in it and had to be replaced. I was told that while the intake manifold was off the valves should be cleaned of carbon buildup. The convertible top leaks. The convertible top stopped working. Was told the entire roof would have to removed in order to find out what was going on. The car was in the shop for 3 days and a technical expert was called in. I was told the roof was just "out of sync" and there was no real problem with it. And then was charged $1,400 for no problem found. Since they removed the top, the top does nothing but creak. The "exchanger" on the engine had to be replaced. The car started leaking oil. They found not ONE or TWO but THREE places where oil was leaking from. The gasket between the engine and transmission has to be replaced. The gasket for the timing cover has to be replaced. And some part for the turbocharger has to be replaced. I was told by the service manager that the oil leaks are a COMMON problem. But they normally dont all happen at once. So, oil leaks ARE TO BE EXPECTED. Its NORMAL for a Volkswagen. A control arm has a crack in it. One of the rear shocks has a leak. The windshield washer reservoir leaks. I probably forgot some things. I was hoping that the car would burst into flames and Id watch it burn to the ground with a huge smile on my face. No such luck. The car is in the shop having the oil leaks taken care of. ONLY $1,800 more dollars put into the piece of garbage. A total of $5,832 have been put into it since 2/2014. I told them to fix the oil leaks and Im DONE WITH VOLKSWAGEN. The car will be GONE as soon as I get it back. DO NOT BUY A VOLKSWAGEN!

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  Faulty Engine and Transmission - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Tallihessn - January 6 - 10:23 pm

  Buyer beware, the EOS is a faulty model. The 2008 EOS has engine and transmission problems, and VW is hush hush about the problems, with internal bulletins that they do not share with the customer until many "tests" and until the consumer brings it in again and again. This car has serious issues, do not get it. I have had five rental cars since June 09. The problems started with evaporating oil and bringing it in for early oil changes. Then, jumping gears. New seals and the mechatronic repairs did not work. Needs a New engine and who knows what else. BEWARE