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.

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.

The highly efficient 2.0L inline-4 engine.

Sober and functional cockpit
The instrument panel looks like the one in any other Volkswagen: a mix of circles and squares, with silver trim and high-quality materials. Everything is within reach, and you don't have to let go of the wheel to change gears, fiddle with the radio or switch the information center display while driving, since all the necessary controls are located on the steering wheel.

A clean and simple layout.

Front-seat space is good, and the multiple power adjustments make finding a great driving position relatively easy. The windup mechanism of both front seat belts isn't very strong, so you always have to make sure they're not sticking out of the car when you shut the door; that's pretty aggravating. Let's hope this test car is an isolated case.

Rear-seat passengers will be at ease, as there's just enough legroom for average-sized adults. With kids, the task of strapping them in their car seats isn't simple, as the front seatbacks are stubborn to recline forward and set back into place.

Very clever hardtop
In about 20 seconds, the top can be raised and lowered, and the spectacle of the operation is worthwhile; the two sections of the roof dance a close tango as they fold down into the rear of the car. The complex top also cleverly incorporates a glass sunroof that slides out independently. The trunklid has two sets of hinges and opens up backwards to let the roof in, but you must allow about two feet of free space behind the Eos.

With the top down, wind noise is minimal, although in the dead of winter, open-air highway cruising would've been a little ridiculous. There is an optional foldable windblocker in the trunk, but I didn't really have a chance to use it. We'll have to try out the Eos again next summer. By the way, not a drop of water came though the roof in the automatic car wash.

The exterior styling is sober.

Arguably good looks
The exterior styling of the Eos doesn't exactly get the adrenaline pumping in my veins. It looks good, but for a sports car, you'd expect more adventurous sheetmetal. The front of the car bears the unmistakable family resemblance, but the rear portion looks a little awkward with the roof in place. The trunklid has a very large gap with a black rubber seal that spoils the profile of the Eos, but that's the price to pay for the complex operation of the hardtop.

One advantage the trunk offers is a large opening for loading objects. Space is limited when you expect to lower the top, but it's particularly roomy otherwise; I effortlessly fit the box of a 13-inch television in the trunk, something you'll never dream of doing with a Mazda RX-8, for example.

The Eos price range starts at $36,900.

Conclusion
The Volkswagen Eos carries a base price of $36,900 and with the options on this test car, including the Sport Leather Package ($3,855), the 6-speed DSG ($1,400) and the wind deflector ($375), the sticker totaled $42,530. In comparison, a loaded Pontiac G6 GT Convertible costs $40,065, and a fully-equipped Mazda MX-5 GT PRHT costs $38,945. The Volvo C70 is much more expensive, though, starting at $56,495.

There's not much to dislike about the Eos. It's well-equipped, it's fast, it's four-seasons practical, and it's fun to drive. Its hard top allows you to benefit from the summer weather while not having to put up with the sacrifices in winter that a regular convertible requires. It just needs a price that's more in line with its competition.



Fun to drive
Powerful yet efficient engine and transmission
Genius power hard top and trunk


Seat belts don't wind up properly
Annoying front seatbacks when accessing rear seat



High price