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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  Avoid this Vehicle - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By bswansen - December 20 - 10:51 pm

  I purchased my 2007 2.0L EOS in December of 2006 and have been relatively happy up until now. At 72K miles the cam shaft sheered off and required a replacement of the cylinder head. The VW service rep also recommended a timing chain and water pump replacement. $6000 later I have my car back. The AC unit also "blew up" and I had to replace the entire system (condenser, evaporator, etc...) Another $2000 (not at the dealer this time. After paying 20% of the original purchase price after only 72K miles, what used to be my favorite car ever has become an albatross. BTW, if you do buy one,l dont let VW dealers service it after the warranty expires. My experience with several dealers sucks!

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  Sadly Disappointed - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By KZigg - April 25 - 5:06 am

  I have a 2008 2Turbo Eos for just over 1 year I had to bring into the dealership for service a few times: hard top would not go down, coolant system leak. My car would run low on oil not long after a scheduled maintenance oil change. I was told that I must frequently check the oil in- between recommended oil changes because the car will burn oil fast. This should not be with a "high line car" just over one year old. A recall was recently done "What"? The trunk latch would close back soon after unlocking. Too many problems.

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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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  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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  Poor electrics - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Donny4 - July 24 - 1:20 pm

  The latest news on our EOS is that if we do not lock the car the NEW battery will go flat?? My wife forgot to LOCK the car which sits in the garage on Friday at 6:00 pm and tried to start the car on Monday morning at 7: am and the battery was dead. The dealership told her they cannot find any problem with the car. So for all of you out there with an EOS do not forget to lock this car as it is very hungry and loves to eat the power from the battery. PS My Mercedes is parked out in the snow and the cold is 4 years older than the EOS and has the original battery from new but starts every time plus I leave it unlocked. Go Figure

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  VW Eos Executive........comfortable in its own skin - 2014 Volkswagen EOS
  By jbeloff - May 15 - 10:02 pm

  It is a beautiful understated car that gets it all done. Some say it lacks character and does not hold up to the competition. Havent really figured out what those folks are talking about. It has top shelf quality, modern tech and is a blast to drive. All convertibles lack something. The criticism I read is it not one of the cool kids in its class. Funny though, us owners are having a great time without drawing attention. We enjoy a ride that caters to our needs and not those on the outside. I will own for a very long time. Its a great car.

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  Great Car, but Watch the Options - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Marshall - October 12 - 1:26 am

  I love my new EOS, but the dealer charged list for it. AND, be warned, VW will not let you order Navigation ($1,800) without also ordering Turbo ($2,000) and the Luxury or Sport Package ($3,490 / $3,690). Therefore, Navigation actually costs a minimum of $7,290! And if, for example, you dont want to be part of the animal trade, and prefer the "leatherette" upholstery to leather, you cant have Nav at all. Get lost! (iterally..).

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  My 1st VW and my LAST - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By louloulane - April 17 - 1:26 am

  Beautiful eye catching car. Too bad its not reliable. I have had to have it towed 3 times in 3 months back to the dealership. We bought 2 VWs on the same day, an Eos & a CC. The Eos has been such an unpleasant experience it will be the last time a VW is owned in our family. 1st time and last time for a VW for us. Ignition, electrical,turbo problems.

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  Love the car but lots of issues - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Greg - December 20 - 9:00 am

  I bought my 2008 Eos and it has really been an enjoyable car to drive, when it is not at the dealership. So far I have taken it in at least 4 times, 3 of which for the same issues. Small leakage in the drivers window during a heavy rain, auto roll up windows do not always go back up, and breaks squeal despite the dealership telling me they are fine, it is just the way VW made them. The other issue I had recently was the battery needing to be replaced at about 30K miles (this was causing the trunk latch in the car to not pop the trunk completely open).

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  FUN LITTLE CONVERTIBLE - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By FLORIDA LEN - December 1 - 8:20 am

  I was concerned about buying a hardtop convertible, but I bought the EOS knowing how well VW builds cars. So far, early on in ownership, the car is solid and exhibiting no leaks. The car is a good value for the money. It is not a styling standout, but the design is nice looking. The interior is typically German, all business. What is great about the car is that is overall very solid, handles well and has decent mileage from a very peppy engine. Although, a small car, it feels very safe and secure and I am glad I bought it.