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 used to loved my car - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By ann - September 28 - 11:20 pm

  I choose my car because perfect for me, but after I buyed is trouble after trouble , the seats , the seat belts , the battery, the engine light, the roof leaking, the front glass leaking, and I just think about and make me mad because you buy a new car and you should feel secure well Im not with this one. the car is pretty and fast thats it .

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  Save $10,000 over a Volvo - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By flheat - September 23 - 6:43 pm

  When I orginally was looking for a new car, I also considered the Volvo C70. This car drives so much better, the interior is more luxurious (very much like the Audi A4 cabriolet I traded in). My Eos is equipped the same as the Volvo is about $10,000 less. The design of the car continues to amaze me, from the sunroof, to the gymnasics the roof performs when it goes up and down. I got a manual and I think it pairs up better with the engine than the DSG.

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  dont buy an eos - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By apbtkid - September 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought a brand new (08) EOS and all Ive had is problems!!! I will never buy a VW ever again. VWs oil consumption standards are so low stating that it is "allowable" and "acceptable" for my EOS to burn through .5 quarts every 600 miles (4 qts per 4800) and until it exceeds that, VW and the dealer wont repair or address this issue. My car holds 4.9 quarts of oil, that means that if I were to wait the reccommended 5000 miles in between oil changes my car would be nearly out of oil. It has ran out of oil twice so far and unless I keep oil in the trunk and keep adding it it will continue to burn through oil like crazy. I Never buy a VW!

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  Makes Phoenix A Year Round Event - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By grandlapaloma - September 17 - 6:06 pm

  After a thorough search for the next generation convertible. We traded our beloved 2001 VW Cabrio for the EOS. It does not have a soft top. Dont buy a soft top convertible, period. This multi-function hard top sportster convertible is everything true engineering can offer. We bought the base with the upgraded auto/shift transmission and satellite radio. It was tough to get since supplies are low, wait for it. We tested every car within a $10,000 range of the base price of EOS and its still the best value at full MSRP. The fit and finish, engine, gas mileage, quality, etc make this the best every day car or weekend blaster.

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  Got what I wanted - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By bayesian - August 29 - 9:16 am

  I love the Eos. At 511/ 170#/ 32-33" inseam I fit fine, but if I were over about 61/ 34" or seriously overweight (rather than slightly) Id be running out of room. Seat comfort, support, adjustability range is excellent; control layout mostly excellent. Not _that_ quiet with top up, but OK. Handling with Sport pkg (18") is excellent - ride is firm but not uncomfortable. The 3.2 (which I didnt particularly want, but it was the only way to get Eismeer blue with sport suspension; glad I did) is a rocket with the DSG in sport mode or manual control (in D mode, the DSG has substantial downshift lag; not sure why). Needs more interior storage. No leaks after one month/two rainstorm

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  Love Struck - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By ohiodoc - August 18 - 1:53 am

  HI have owned this car for a month and can not get over how much fun it is to drive. I drive 60 miles per day to and from work, already have over 1,500 miles, and its still as fun to drive as the day I brought it home. The handling is great on both wet and dry roads. The convertable top is a great show piece and conversation starter. The acceleration is fantastic and it feels even at 80 mph that the car has a lot more to give. I have been getting wonderful gas milage to at around 30-32 mpg on the highway. The car looks and acts like an Audi but is $10,000 less and has a hard not a soft top, which is great for Ohio weather.

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  Great Little Convertible - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Cindy - August 8 - 11:13 am

  The design and fit of this EOS is terrific! It handles very smoothly, has enough acceleration when needed, and has interior comforts. The display is fully designed with a compass, mpg ratings, miles to empty, etc. The design of the hardtop convertible/sunroof is amazing and causes everyone to stare when lowered or raised.

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  I Love This Car! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Cindy - July 31 - 10:16 pm

  I traded in my 2001 Cabrio for this car and oh boy am I in love! This car handles like a dream. It is the most responsive car I have ever driven and Ive driven some great cars. If you want to drive a great car, with great gas mileage and still have a ball doing it this is the car for you!

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  its all in the roof - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By ripped off - July 31 - 2:53 am

  Volkswagen put all of their dollars in the roof and put almost nothing in interior finish. My car listed at $34,000 and the leather in the seat ends at the piping on the side of the seat. Im not even sure its leather! The passenger seat has NO electronic controls. And there is no place to put my sunglasses. Its just poorly thought out. I can see paying a premium for the hardtop convertible roof, but give me some place to store my sunglasses. I should have paid attention to the things I thought a great car would offer as standard.

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  Dream Machine - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Alan - July 6 - 11:10 am

  What a Car! Style, Quality, Performance at a good price. Consumer Reports Top Pick. Compared to BMW, Audi, Volvo convertibles (Eos has more options for less money). 0-60 mpg, 7.9 seconds. Good safety & reliability ratings. Spoke to several EOS owners and ALL say they love their car. Pick up is quick, maneuvers great on bends, very little wind noise even with top down. Trunk space small but ample room for groceries. Back seat definitely not for those with small children in car seats. No question that you will get stares if you put the top down at a red light. Not something I normally would do but I just couldnt resist. The guy in the BMW convertible behind me almost cried. Have Fun.