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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  I Love My Eos - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By danerice - March 9 - 2:26 pm

  I got my Eos in May 2008 and 14 months later, I still smile every time I get behind the wheel! The hardtop/sunroof/convertible roof is brilliant. I get stares and smiles while putting the roof up on a regular basis. With the same 2.0 Turbo engine as the GTI, the car is peppy and fast. The 17-inch wheels are sporty and sharp. The leather and walnut interior is reminiscent of a car much higher priced. The upgraded Dynaudio stereo system rocks. The Ipod adpapter and navigation system would have been nice! My only complaints are the top-up styling isnt as slick as some other competitors, and interior noise can be an issue. Overall, this car is a blast and I would recommend it to anyone!

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  Dream Car - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By Joe - February 25 - 1:50 pm

  I had no idea how fun a car could be, until I bought the Volkswagen Eos. I cant stop driving this thing... It makes driving fun again. I should have purchased this years ago. The Eos has the same solid feel of your typical Volkswagon with the added luxury of being able to put the top down. The car is peppy, gets very good gas mileage and feels good to drive. Excellent sound system. My kids and their friends all beg for rides in the car. It has been a great experience!!!

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  Love it, love, it, love it - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Girl Racer - January 23 - 8:23 pm

  Until a few weeks before I purchased the car, I even didnt know about the car nor seen before. I fell in love with the car right away. Its such a cute car. I get a lot of attention on the road. I really enjoy it. Small car with a lot of power and charm.

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  awesome first car - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By ianm1997 - December 25 - 2:40 pm

  i purchased this used this year as my first car. before this i as driving my moms 2011 toyota highlander. the reason i bought this is because my best friends mom owns one and she let me test drive it. it is defiantly a head turner. it goes fast, is pretty good on gas, and so much fun to drive. my only complaint is that it doesnt have a touch screen radio.

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  Let Down - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By oscarkat01 - December 8 - 1:50 pm

  This car drives great and is a joy. It is great driving with top down or up. This car feels much more luxurious the the price. I have never been more disappointed with a car though. The top has been broken for a month now. I have lost top down time which is seasonal where I live. I probably wont be able to put the top down again until spring now. If I wanted a coupe with a sunroof, I would have bought one. I bought a convertible. It is completely unacceptable to me. It doesnt matter how great the car drives or how comfortable it is if I cant put the top down in good weather. I will not be keeping this car. There are plenty of convertibles that dont have these number of problems.

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  Bad Choice - 2012 Volkswagen EOS
  By bryceba - November 28 - 6:35 pm

  I was dead set on getting a hard top, four seat convertible, and in my price range, there was only this and the Chrysler 200. Ive never owned a Chrysler and dont want to. So that left this. Within two weeks of picking up the brand new 2012, the leaks started. VW wont fix it because they "cant diganose it." The way they "diagnose" it is to run a three inch Home Depot shower head attached to a hose suspended a foot over the center of the top of the car. Turns out when it rains in Rochester, NY, it rains over the entire car, not just a three inch spot over the center. VW America is a nightmare of a company to deal with.

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  Fun to drive, but think before you buy - 2012 Volkswagen EOS
  By greasemonkey12 - November 20 - 11:50 am

  My wife wanted to buy a convertible when we moved to GA from NY. We chose the Eos because of the hard top because our infant son. We also liked the roll over protection that is built into the rear head rests. However with the top down you have little room for cargo. We expected this, however I can barely fit my golf clubs in the trunk, even with the top up. The turbo charged engine is OK and fun at first, however it takes some pedal control to come off the line without slamming yourself back into the seat, when the turbo kicks in.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned or Driven - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Rocket Pilot - October 14 - 10:20 am

  This car is much, much better than I expected. It is very fun to drive. I love the turbo boost! It accelerates from 80 mph faster than from 20-40 mph. Driving at high speeds feels like 40 or 50 mph. This car is an autobahn burner. The handling is sublime. I love the balance, it sure does not feel like a front wheel car until the front tires do a burn out when the turbo kicks in at 40 mph! Wow! The transmission is fantastic: it shifts, its not a slush box. It is reasonably quiet. The Luxury Package gives it a beautiful and classy interior. It is much better than any BMW 3-Series Ive ever driven (I have not driven the latest M3), and more fun. It has better handling than the Audi A4. And nothing can compare to the top!

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  Loving it! - 2014 Volkswagen EOS
  By mtgal1 - October 11 - 10:39 am

  I just purchased my 2014 Executive and am loving it! Im 511 and was worried about leg and head room, but its perfect. Drives great and Im getting better than 30mpg on the highway. (on a 200 mile trip with 50/50 top down/top up I came out with 31.5 mpg over two mountain passes)

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  STOP AND READ BEFORE YOU BUY! - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Karen from CT - September 27 - 11:46 am

  There are several issues with this car. 1. When the key is removed from the ignition, the front windows drop slightly, thus when it is raining you get poured on. You get soaked inside the car whenever it is raining. 2. The radio antenna is in the trunk. The reception for FM and Satellite radio does not hold. While you drive the radio stations fade in and out. 3. The EOS is horrible in snow. We had to add sand bags to the trunk to allow traction when driving. In addition, when it is below 32 degrees the trunk freezes up. I now have to prepare myself when bad weather is approaching and put my snow scrapper in the back seat. Please read this before you buy your EOS, I wish I knew this stuff.