A worthy contender in a fast-growing segment
Everybody would like a convertible in their driveway. Come on, admit it; driving top down in the summer, under the sun, hair flowing in the slipstream, and happy music complimenting the trip, is something anybody would enjoy.
However, you know that the long cold winter pretty much ruins the convertible owning experience. A soft top lets more road noise in the cockpit, is more prone to vandalism, and you got massive blind spots because the windows are smaller. The tradeoff for a few nice days driving alfresco is enduring a convertible top in the dead of the snowy season.
That time might be over. A lot of new models offer power-activated hard tops, which look better and solve many problems.
Fantastic engine and DSG transmission
The only engine available in the Eos is VW's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. Its 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque are more than enough to make this car a thrill ride. What also helps is the DSG automated transmission, which is an excellent gearbox that shifts with lightning speed. I'll take a DSG over a conventional Tiptronic transmission any day, which hesitates irritatingly when you launch the vehicle from a standstill.
My fuel consumption average over the course of the week is 11.4 L/100 km, which is pretty good, considering that the car entices you to drive at a quick pace. The engine requires premium fuel, though, but the performance level and decent appetite for gas makes the tradeoff worthwhile.
The Eos has good moves, too. You can reassuringly toss the car into tight curves, and it responds exactly the way you want it to. The ride is firm, as you might expect from a sports car, but it's well-suited for everyday driving nonetheless.
Everybody would like a convertible in their driveway. Come on, admit it; driving top down in the summer, under the sun, hair flowing in the slipstream, and happy music complimenting the trip, is something anybody would enjoy.
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| The retractable hard top enhances comfort in the cold season. |
However, you know that the long cold winter pretty much ruins the convertible owning experience. A soft top lets more road noise in the cockpit, is more prone to vandalism, and you got massive blind spots because the windows are smaller. The tradeoff for a few nice days driving alfresco is enduring a convertible top in the dead of the snowy season.
That time might be over. A lot of new models offer power-activated hard tops, which look better and solve many problems.
Fantastic engine and DSG transmission
The only engine available in the Eos is VW's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. Its 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque are more than enough to make this car a thrill ride. What also helps is the DSG automated transmission, which is an excellent gearbox that shifts with lightning speed. I'll take a DSG over a conventional Tiptronic transmission any day, which hesitates irritatingly when you launch the vehicle from a standstill.
My fuel consumption average over the course of the week is 11.4 L/100 km, which is pretty good, considering that the car entices you to drive at a quick pace. The engine requires premium fuel, though, but the performance level and decent appetite for gas makes the tradeoff worthwhile.
The Eos has good moves, too. You can reassuringly toss the car into tight curves, and it responds exactly the way you want it to. The ride is firm, as you might expect from a sports car, but it's well-suited for everyday driving nonetheless.
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| The highly efficient 2.0L inline-4 engine. |