Volkswagen's tin-top convertible, the Eos, impresses in many ways. Based on the same platform as the Golf and Jetta family, the Eos may, in fact, be the best of the three.
Offering decent space for four people, good boot space (with the roof up), the security and comfort of a metal roof and the chance to enjoy wind-in-your-hair motoring during the winter months, it's both a practical and a fun car.
The folding roof mechanism is very clever. Uniquely for such a vehicle, integrated into the Eos' hardtop is a fully functional sunroof, so the driver can feel the sun overhead even if he doesn't put down the roof altogether. And as it's a Volkswagen, the Eos comes standard with lots of safety equipment, including electronic stability control, rollover bars for protection when the top is down, and side airbags that provide protection for both head and trunk in side-impact situations.
A top-class performance
Watching the Eos converting itself is a treat, a real mechanical ballet of panels, windows and flaps. The secret to its success is the fact that it comprises five panels, including the glass sunroof, that separate, slide, rotate and glide away at the push of the button on the centre console. Given the sheer amount of metal and glass moving around, it's no surprise that the final closing of the bootlid is accomplished with a thump strong enough to bounce the rear of the car on its springs. Great entertainment for onlookers, the whole process takes just 25 seconds.
As for the lines of the open car, they are very attractive. Better still, even with the roof down, there's a useful 205 litres of space left in the boot. With the top up, that rises to an impressive 380 litres of useable space. And there's a useful safety feature in the Eos called Trunk Lid Assistance. This prevents the roof from going up or down unless there's enough distance behind the car for the clamshell trunk lid to manoeuvre, protecting you from embarrassing scrapes if you're parked too close to the wall behind.
All the kit you could wish for
Our test car was a well-specified sport version, with aluminium pedals and fascia inserts, low tyre pressure indicator, cherry red rear lights and 17-inch alloys as standard. Added to this was the Luxury Pack comprising see-you-home lights, dusk sensor, automatic dimming rear-view and driver's mirrors, folding mirrors, rain sensor and headlight washers, and a folding wind deflector.
In the Middle East, the Eos is supplied with the 200BHP 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged four cylinder engine, and VW's excellent 6-speed DSG transmission, driving the front wheels. Standard features include ESP, a convertible-specific version of the Climatronic air-conditioning system, electric windows, a multi-function display, central locking and numerous other details.
New in this version is second generation parking assist system complete with ParkPilot. This can cope with both right angle and parallel parking. Our car came with the keyless access lock and ignition system, which means the place where you would insert the key is now filled with a ‘Start' button instead.
The best part about the Eos is the way it drives. Top up or top down, there's very little difference, and though there is a significant amount of extra weight due to stiffening work on the chassis, performance is always strong. In fact, it may be due to the extra weight or softer springs, but the Eos rides much better than the closely related Golf. It is more compliant over bumps and rough surfaces, and even on some of the cratered sections of our streets there's no hint of wobble or scuttle shake. It feels every inch a true Volkswagen.
Grip from the front wheels is always impressive, and the steering turns in with real bite when you want to press on. Again, whether due to greater weight or softer springs, the ride is less brittle, and though that translates into slightly more body roll through the bends, the Eos isn't deflected at all by mid-corner bumps or surface changes.
However, that's not its forte. The Eos is much more a comfortable cruiser, a top-down car to be driven as often as possible in open configuration. There's not a lot of buffeting over the top of the windscreen, and what comes from behind is well controlled by the (optional) wind deflector fitted here. Even up to highway speeds you can enjoy a conversation or listen to the stereo in comfort. The simple fact is that if you want to go far and fast, 25 seconds after you push the button you're back in a sleek and quiet coupé, all set for the dash to Abu Dhabi or the East Coast and back.
It's this duality of purpose that makes the Eos such an interesting car. Roof up, it is the epitome of a modern Volkswagen, which is to say that it is solid, reliable, comfortable and extremely well built. But with the top down, it becomes a stylish and entertaining cruiser.
The execution of the roof is an impressive achievement, and the car looks good both open and closed. The complexity of that roof mechanism might give you pause for thought, but the fact that it is built by Volkswagen should mean that it remains reliable and trouble-free. And because it is so easy to use, use it you will.
During our time with the Eos, we enjoyed open-air motoring at almost every opportunity.
