2010 Volkswagen Eos

2010 Volkswagen Eos

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. Though it is the spiritual successor to the Cabrio, the Volkswagen Eos eschews its predecessor's milquetoast image in favor of more upscale and sophisticated style, substance and capabilities.

While once the exclusive province of high-end luxury cars, the availability of a retractable hardtop has trickled down to convertible models that are more in line with what most drop-top shoppers can afford. With the ability to keep errant weather and noise out, retractable hardtops are all the rage, and VW has recognized the value of offering a four-seat retractable hardtop that starts under $30K. However, in typical German car fashion, the price rises quickly as options are added.

Volkswagen offers a single engine on the front-wheel-drive Eos: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque with nary a hint of turbo lag. It comes mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. The optional transmission is the excellent six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), which offers the clutchless 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. It includes a surprisingly large sunroof and heated glass rear window. Since a retractable hardtop is still a relative novelty, you are sure to attract attention when you hit the button that sets in motion the choreographed dance of moving windows, sunroof and roof panels. An available Trunk Lid Assistance program integrated with the parking sensors monitors up to 20 inches behind the car and prevents the roof from operating if any object or obstruction is detected.

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 loaded with a 12-way power driver seat, heated front seats, Bluetooth and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Lux model bumps the wheel size up to 17 inches (optional on the Komfort) and adds burled walnut wood interior trim, leather upholstery and a 12-way power front passenger seat. An optional touchscreen navigation system offers an integrated hard drive, a USB port and an SD card slot, while the available Dynaudio premium sound system on the Lux trim level includes 10 speakers and puts out 600 watts of power. The Lux trim can also be outfitted with bigger wheels and a sport suspension.

In road tests, our editors have cited the retractable roof, extroverted styling and high-quality cockpit furnishings as the VW 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.

source:-edmunds.com