The VW Eos is easily forgotten in the German brand’s line-up, largely down to its popular Golf Cabriolet sibling, which far outsells the Eos, as well as the more eye-catching Beetle Cabriolet. Still, despite its small numbers, the Eos remains a worthwhile model in the range, offering a hard-top convertible, which VW says means it is typically purchased by “older, more mature customers that want fun open-top motoring but with the added security that a hard-top offers”. The car’s been around for a few years now, and is due an update in the not-too-distant future, but the Eos remains a smart, modern-looking car which continues to appeal to a select few. On the downside, it’s an expensive choice and could be better in the efficiency stakes too. Performance 4/5 We had the 2.0-litre TSI with 207bhp, the fastest in the range, hitting the benchmark sprint in a relatively swift 7.8 seconds, in both our tested DSG ‘box and the six-speed manual, with a top speed of 147mph. Put through its paces on plenty of motorways, it’s a comfortable cruiser, while offering smooth get-aways at junctions. The DSG, however, isn’t as effortlessly mated as many VW models, with more notable gear changes. On the roads of the US where we tested the car, this unit makes perfect sense – with plenty of torque for endless miles and dirt-cheap petrol costs – but back to oil-price reality in the UK, the 2.0-litre TDI 2.0 with 138bhp is understandably the bestseller, reaching 62mph in 10.3 seconds with a top speed of 127mph. Then also a 1.4-litre TSI 158bhp powerplant, achieving 62pmh in 8.8 seconds with a maximum speed of 135mph. Ride and handling 4/5 The Eos is a nimble creature, with plenty of grip around bends, while the steering is typically Volkswagen – well-weighted with fairly decent feedback. And, even with the top down, the car remains steady and capable on an array of roads. (An unexpected turn into a field proved its minimal off-roading capabilities too!) Ride, though, is incredibly firm, in part thanks to 18-inch alloys and Sports suspension, which means you’ll need to take it easy over potholes and speed bumps, and expect some body shake for your efforts. Refinement is impressive, though, and with the top down, wind and engine noise is acceptable, with conversations possible at high speed – not something that can be said of many convertible models. Interior 4/5 VW interiors are typically faultless, with high-quality finishes and intuitive controls. And with masses of miles covered in our test car, it proved comfortable, although any backseat passengers would be far less satisfied space-wise. Our Sport trim, which is the only spec available on all engines, with just one higher trim, Exclusive, available, has plenty of kit including DAB radio, rain sensors, heated seats and that Sports suspension. Hard-top cabriolets notoriously mean problematic load space in the boot with the roof down, and the Eos is no exception. There’s an acceptable 380 litres in coupe form, but once the sun’s (hopefully) shining on you, there’ a limiting 205 litres, which means humble packing for any longer trips. Running costs 3.5/5 The Eos range starts at a pricey £27,115, with our 2.0-litre TSI DSG model costing £30,580, which has to be a serious limitation for many interested buyers. Our test car achieves official figures of 37.7mpg and C02 emissions of 174g/km, while the most frugal 2.0-litre TDI offers 53.3mpg and 135g/km for the equivalent DSG iteration. The manual offers 58.9mpg and 125g/km. Residual values on VWs are strong, and the Eos will be no different. Verdict 4/5 Price and running costs are the real barrier here, but archetypal older buyers of the Eos are likely to have fewer financial concerns, and will be thrilled with this good-looking, refined and enjoyable car.
Our Rating
