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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  Its all in the details - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Grafixx101 - December 30 - 10:06 pm

  Bought the 3.2 w/ every available option w/ black on black int./ext. color choices. Added a subwoofer, HID foglamps, and 20" wheels. Oddly, adding huge wheels with better tires merited a better ride than the stock 18s with poor tires. All in all, I have loved this car. Unfortunately, VW has a very soft clear-coat on the paint, and after a routine oil-change at the dealer, it is now riddled with swirl marks. Everything else about this car is amazing, considering the amount of tech involved in its production. Im very particular about every detail, so I could nit-pick about little things, but overall Im happy with how this car has served me and would buy another VW.

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  Conversation Starter - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Superdogsteve - November 25 - 2:30 pm

  This is the most fun car I have ever driven! I did not even know VW made this vehicle until a friend bought one, and after the test drive, it even convinced my wife we should get a third car for fun and gas savings. I get looks and questions all the time when I drive it, with the top up or down. I even had a guy follow me home to see what it was that I was driving (that was a little strange). All I can say is FUN. It is fast and handles well. It is well appointed and I definitely suggest getting the dynaudio stereo upgrade, it only adds to the fun! It is perfect for my wife and me, with two car seats in the back. Now my two year old always wants to ride in the "wee car"!

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  Dont Buy One - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Eos - October 25 - 10:13 am

  I have had my eos since jan 2007 and have had a lot of problems that the dealer has not been able to fix. The first was a leaky drivers side window. Which still leaks but not as much as it use to. Then it was the car bucking on acceleration, still have that problem. Everyone that gets in my car feels whip lash and tell me to get my money back if the dealer says they can not fix it. Now winter problems are Frost on the inside of the front and back windshield.. Yes inside the car... And if it not cold enough for Frost I will get condensation on the same front and back windshield. I have to take a credit card to scrap the inside Windows on a brand new car.

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  Problem free for 50K miles! - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By rcboater - October 15 - 8:46 pm

  Bought my car new in May 2009. Car is now five years old, and weve put 50,000 fun-filled miles on it. MPG is pretty good, too. On the highway, I get 32 MPG. In my mixed suburban driving, I will get about 28 if I drive normally, but have gotten as high as 35 on the same route by driving conservatively. My car has never leaked- but I paid heed to the advice on the owner forums to lubricate the roof seals annually, to keep them soft and pliable. (Thats a 20 minute job.) Ive had NO issues with the mechanical aspects of the car-- to date, the only thing outside of regular scheduled fluid changes was new rear brake pads at 31K miles.

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  Problems with the top - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By buyright - October 6 - 10:13 pm

  We wanted to buy a used EOS. The car we looked at had been taken back by the VW company because there was water leakage into the front pillar. It was fixed by VW and then placed for sale. Our friend bought the EOS and has had the car in the shop for 4 weeks. The problem was getting the convertible top to go up.

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  FUN2BEHAD - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By FunFunFun - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I had a 2006 Passat on lease. I had been looking for 6 months for a convertible. VW let me out of my lease for a ridiculous amount and I got a EOS. I had tried the Toyota, Sebring and a few others but loved the handling of the EOS. Its fun, no problems, lots of compliments. Most fun driving ever. The back seat is small, but deep and bigger then the Volvo, Lexus etc.. I always get compliments on the car. Its been so much fun. Great for road trips to the beach.

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  I love this car! - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By Jay - August 11 - 9:26 am

  This is the greatest convertible ever! It feels just as solid as my 2006 GTI 2.0T. Go for the dynaudio and the sport package for the extra goodies!

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  EOS FAN - 2008 Volkswagen EOS
  By Love my EOS - July 28 - 10:13 am

  Since the day that I test drove the car, I had to have it. It is my first Volkswagen experience and, so far, nothing but rave reviews. I love driving it and heads turn when I put the top down. It is quite comfortable, great pick-up and great build quality. I previously owned a 2004 BMW Z4 and, believe it or not, like this car much better. I looked at the Z4 again, but this car offered so much more for 12,000 less!

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  Cheereos - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By RTC - June 20 - 2:13 am

  This car has a very poky 2.0T engine. It likes to sneak over the speed limit. Like on most vehicles, opt for comfort over the sport package and you get a surprisingly together ride, borderline cushy and quieter. My car is averaging 24.8 mpg - and not from cautious driving. So far I have driven it in freezing conditions and have no complaints. I feel as snug as a bug inside with the roof up. It is tight with some small cowl shake on harsh bumps, but so was my former 330Ci. This car is very practical. The Dynaudio MP3 player is amazing. It is definitely a B plus and maybe more for simple unpretentious top up and top down fun.

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  Just perfect - 2009 Volkswagen EOS
  By rulerofthemoon - June 14 - 6:16 pm

  Had the car for about 3 weeks and could not be happier. Its the perfect combination of sporty fun and practical comfort. The convertible hardtop is stunning to watch and will sell you on the car. Interior noise is what youd expect for this car ... unlike the soft-tops I drove that just were too loud with the roof up. Get the upgraded floor mats ... adds a nice touch. The Komfort trim is VERY well equipped. The Lux version is a considerable premium but some items, like steering wheel controls, are useful.