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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  Why doesnt everyone drive this car? - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Rich - September 25 - 12:53 am

  Ive had my Eos for 6 months now. Its amazing. Like a convertible without the hassle. Im not sure why everyone does not have this car. I have had no problems, and love the car. Its so much fun to drive. The top is perfect, no leaks, and always turns heads when you open and close it. The 6 speed manual trans is great. Much better than the 5 speed I had in my Jetta. The only minus I can think of is that you cant hear the whine of turbo anymore like in the 1.8T. VW needs to fix this. The whine was so cool. Also, with the top down there is too much body flex. They need to stiffen the frame a little.

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  Annoyed - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Kristin - September 11 - 1:10 pm

  I bought my Eos this June and its been in for service three times, twice for leaks. They still have it and have had it for 22 days straight claiming the part is being made in Germany. It’s the summertime and I cant even enjoy my top down. This is the first VW I have ever bought and will most likely be the last. The service department has no idea when my part will come in, I find this ridiculous! I also have a problem with the back drive side window, sometimes when youre closing it, it goes back down. This car has caused me so much problems.

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  Lots of Fun - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Sandi - August 30 - 8:16 pm

  I looked at a lot of convertibles to replace my 2001 Eclipse Spyder but once I test drove the Eos I was hooked. It is a fun little car that has more get up and go than you would think. The top is also great fun and attracts a lot of attention when going up or down. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a mid priced convertible.

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  Problems, Problems - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Bonnie - August 17 - 10:40 am

  Shortly after buying the car it had accelleration problems, it would hesitate and the jump in causing you to be pushed forward in your seat. It was fixed by garage but after it was done the gas mileage was drastically reduced. This has not been fixed.I have leak in trunk which has not been fixed and dealership where I live is not cooperating to fix. With this water leak my vehicle is worthless. I have poblem with trunk release, condenastion or ice on inside windows and the top is rubbing on something becasue paint has been rubbed off. I have squeal in breaks and was told it is normal- really I have had many cars but none had this unless there was abreak problem.

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  Eos Experience to Date - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By spaceinvader - August 4 - 10:03 am

  The 2.0L turbo engine is powerful, but thirsty on fuel. The sports suspension is great on smooth roads, but the car "rattles" and the chassis flexes on other roads that are not flat.. I had a dead battery after two weeks, and the dealer could find no reason as to what caused it. The climate control system failed after three weeks. There was a one week delay in waiting for parts. This car has lots of internal condensation, i.e. window dripping with water. I found the spare wheel well full of water, due to faulty welded joint in the body panels behind the left hand side rear light cluster. My Eos has been off of the road for eight days while the dealer finds / fixes the water problem. VW customer service not interested in my problems.

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  So Far So Good - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Sue in FL - July 27 - 11:03 am

  Im coming up on the 5,000 mile service and I have no complaints about this car. I still am excited every time I put the top down or open the sunroof. One minor issue is that the sunroof is significantly louder than my Jettas, but the roof opening is also much larger.

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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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  Unbelieveable German Engineering - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By BigTexDoug - April 17 - 2:53 pm

  What an awesome car. We have never owned a VW before. Weve owned Honda, Toyota, Nissan and all the Americans. This car is truly a result of fine German craftsmanship at a fraction of the cost of Audi or Mercedes. It turns heads wherever we go.

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  I love Veronica! - 2016 Volkswagen EOS
  By Ellen Elias - April 8 - 4:10 am

  I had to give my shiny red convertible a name because it is adorable and awesome to drive! Havent had this much fun in years. I dont even mind getting stuck in traffic because having the top down keeps me smiling.

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  Great Experience with my Eos! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Jane - April 3 - 12:00 pm

  I was so disappointed to see how many people have had issues with their Eoss - my experience has been fantastic! I love my car so much! Ive had it for 2 years, 30,000 miles, and no repairs needed yet. Retractable roof still works like a dream, and still makes me smile every time I use it. Car is quite speedy, and zips when you need it. The engine is perhaps a bit louder now than it was when it was brand new, but thats to be expected. When the top is up, I feel like Im riding in a luxury sports car - you would never know it was a convertible. No leaking or noise issues here! I get compliments all the time, it was an excellent buy for me.