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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Loads of Fun - Great Value - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By Old&Crazy - March 29 - 3:46 pmMy Eos is optioned with the sports package, 18 inch wheels/Pirelli P-6s and 6 speed auto. It is great fun to drive. The cabin is quiet with the top up or down. It feels a bit quicker than the stated 0-60 times. It has a nice punch above 40 mph. It also has a nice balance between handling and ride. The handling dynamics are good enough to make the car fun, but not equal to BMW as some other reviewers have written. The engine/transmission set-up very responsive. The leather sports seats are well bolstered and very comfortable. I am taller and larger than average guy and the interior is very comfortable. I also looked at Volvo C70 and the VW is more fun and about $8,000 less expensive when optioned out. The Eos is a great car, great value, and loads of fun to drive.
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A Fun and Practical Car - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By rick - March 8 - 10:03 pmI have been waiting for this one ever since the concept previewed in the auto shows. Last week, I grabbed one of only seven allotted to the dealer until later this year (maybe). The other dealer in town only had five. On my first drive to the bay area, I had three compliments while waiting to pay the bridge toll! Plan on spending about $36,000 out the door on the basic model with the auto stick and about $40,000 for the Sport/Luxury model. The car is quick, rides very quiet with roof down, has great steering, and the 17 inch wheels really help dampen road bump noise. It has a great sunroof too! The standard sound system is plenty and I got 31 mpg on my first tank of gas. All in all, this is a great car!
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Buy It - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
By kenbar - March 4 - 5:26 pmOnly have it a short time. Fuel economy is excellent. 2.0 T engine performs well. This car is fun to drive that turns a lot of heads. Recommended.
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Delightful Ride - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By stan3010 - January 29 - 2:00 amI went to the VW dealer in Denver to check out a Jetta TDI Sportswagen and stumbled on the EOS. That was it. Drove it home that day. The ride is surprisingly comfortable. Very peppy 2.0L Turbo moves this convertible coupe along confidently on the freeway. I get 30+ mpg overall in my daily commutes which are 90% highway miles. In city driving, 27-28 mpg. This is my sole vehicle. My wife loves it. Audio system is suprisingly good & I added a Kenwood Nav deck. Ive owned my CPO EOS for 4 months now. Only problem was the cruise switch repl under CPO warranty. Trunk space is decent with the top up. I have to raise the top to retrieve items under the cargo limit partition.
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Wow - Havin a Blast - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By Tom G - January 14 - 7:46 pmI just bought my Eos five days ago and I am having a great time with it. It is a lot of fun to drive with the stick. The retratable roof is a great conversation starter. It handles great with plenty of power.
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Total Fun Car! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
By Steve - January 2 - 9:06 amIve always wanted a hard-top convertible ever since I saw one two months ago. I generally assumed that it would be way out of my price range, but when I found out that Volkswagen made a hard-top convertible, I was totally hoodlumed. It turned out to be not only very reasonably priced but it drives and handles really well. People will also be very surprised by the roominess of the rear seats. The back is definitely big enough to hold two average sized dwarfs or a couple of medium sized farm animals. My automatic transmission shifts very smoothly and the engine definitely holds its own on the highway. Overall, this car is a pleasure to drive.
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I love this car! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
By Steve - December 10 - 5:30 amEverywhere i go people say how much they love it...WELL MOSTLY with the top down...IT IS kinda boring styling when the top is up.. I have NO problems at all with the car, Mech. or other.. ONE thing i hate I MEAN HATE is when you break IN the sport mode ...the car slams down into 1st gear N tosses U forward.. NOT IN SPORT its a slug U HAVE to put your foot into it or will go no where...
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Lovin this little car - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
By neweosfan - October 20 - 3:56 amIve had my Eos 3 mos and really enjoy this car. Comments: the top is amazing - attention getter - same as on much pricier models - mine works great & used a lot. Moon roof great & huge for the car, handles on mountain roads well. Light car, acceleration to spare, good brakes, fun! Quiet ride (top up), sound system good for the price. Lots of people stop me to compliment/ask about this car - really. And I live in a car lovin town. That was a surprise. Glad I saved that BMW money and got this sweet little ride. Love it - recommend it highly. Fun, good-looking, great convertible top. One thing, got hit in drivers door. No repair parts are avail., so slow to get Euro parts at plant.
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The Car is Fun & that is why you buy it! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
By dano - October 8 - 8:16 pmTook delivery less than 2 weeks ago, great so far, fun every day. Was approached in the parking lot and asked to put the top down by several folks who loved the show. Great interior, radio. Small trunk and small back seat, so if you need room, buy a Suburban.
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Still having fun! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
By kudzu71 - September 22 - 2:56 pmI bought my 2007 Eos Lux used three years ago and have never regretted it. I love the way it feels on the road and the interior looks great and it laid out very well. Considering the car is 5 years old I havent really had any major problems with it. I had the timing belt done at 70K miles which is a bit early because it was in for a recall issue and they had the engine apart already. That saved me some $$$. Roof leaks often come up when talking about the Eos and I experienced them as well. I had a small leak at the A-pillars that turned out to be due to a disconnected drain. It was an easy fix and the car has been dry ever since.
