Anyone who has owned a cabriolet will realise that the dream rarely lives up to the reality. With the roof down, summery city centres lose their appeal as stationary traffic provokes fears of handbag snatchers, and in the winter the canvas roof makes you feel anything but secure. The four-seat Volkswagen Eos coupé-cabriolet, however, aimed to solve at least the latter problem with its ingenious metal folding roof.
Launched in 2006, it was bigger, longer and wider than its Golf hatchback sibling. The extra length provided storage for the metal hard top while ensuring decent levels of legroom for rear-seat passengers. By adopting a five-piece roof rather than the more common three-piece approach, the Eos also avoided the ugly, bulbous rump of many rivals.
VW spent considerable effort in making the Eos’s body sufficiently rigid to ensure a decent drive. Although the effort paid off, it came at a price: the Eos is no lightweight, so it’s vital to choose the right engine if you want to get the most out of the car.
There’s plenty of choice. At launch there was a 115bhp 1.6-litre petrol, a 150bhp 2-litre, a 200bhp 2-litre turbo and a lusty 250bhp 3.2-litre V6. The best bet is the 2-litre turbo, which gives reasonable economy with good performance. Diesel power came in the guise of a single 140bhp 2-litre engine capable of 40mpg-plus in mixed motoring. Although this unit is tempting for its economy, it’s showing its age in terms of mechanical refinement.
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VW ditched the 1.6-litre petrol in 2007 and instead introduced a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit in two states of tune — 122bhp and 160bhp.
On the road, the Eos feels every bit as refined as a traditional fixed-head coupé, with little wind noise and virtually no scuttle shake. Interior fit and finish are clear and well designed with reassuring soft-touch surfaces and good plastics.
The Eos is not flawless, though. Some early examples had leaky roof seals and while most were sorted under warranty, it’s worth keeping the roof seals dirt-free with regular cleaning.
Good looking, reliable and well priced, a used Eos manages to pull off the fine balance between fresh-air motoring and refined coupé comfort — something of a first for cars of its type.
Need to know
Air-conditioning Standard on all, though full climate control is optional
Boot space With roof stowed, luggage capacity is 205 litres, but with it in place it rises to a generous 380 litres
Roof Folding metal roof has a built-in glass sunroof that can be opened
Safety Four Euro NCAP stars for adult and child occupant safety. Front and side airbags, stability control and rollover protection standard on all models
Transmission DSG gearbox has had problems but issues should be resolved by now and warranty is extended on affected cars
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Vital statistics
Model VW Eos 2.0 TSI Sport
Engine 1984cc, four cylinders
Power 200bhp
Transmission Six-speed manual
Acceleration 0-60mph: 7.8sec
Top Speed 144mph
Fuel 36.7mpg (combined)
CO2 178g/km
Road tax band I (£175 a year)
Cost new now £24,585
The one to buy
A 2006 06 VW Eos 2.0 TSI Sport with 20,000 miles on the clock. Pay £14,495 at a franchised Volkswagen dealer or £13,500 privately
Or for similar money
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