Transparent top
Said hard top is the world's first with fully-transparent front section. It not only floods the interior with sunlight but also cools the area thanks to a tilt-sliding power sunroof.
The windshield angle of the VW Eos is neither too raked nor too upright. Unlike the Mustang Cabriolet, the roofline makes entry and exit easier whether the top is up or down.
The cockpit is also much more refined than an American convertible, as evidenced by the overall build quality and material selection. Smarter ergonomics are at work, too. Granted, the dashboard design is not as spectacular as the MINI's, but the instruments and controls are within easy reach of the driver, making the driving experience even more pleasant.
The bucket seats also contribute to the fun-to-drive character of the Eos. They're just snug enough to offer comfortable side support, a much-appreciated element on small winding roads.
The rear seats, however, are pretty much forgettable. Unless you're a young kid, you won't be able to tolerate the extremely limited legroom for more than a couple of seconds, let alone minutes. Anyway, it's pretty clear that these quarters will be used as cargo room most of the time.
Variable trunk
Speaking of cargo, you'd better think twice before going out on a road trip. Trunk capacity varies a lot depending on the position of the roof.
As a coupe, the Eos offers 290 liters of room for your luggage, which is less than what you'll find in the trunk of a Chrysler Sebring Convertible or Toyota Solara Cabriolet (370 and 330 liters, respectively). However, when you drop the top, you wind up with only 60 percent of the aforementioned volume. That's a meager 180 liters -- same for the Sebring... and the tiny Mazda MX-5!
Said hard top is the world's first with fully-transparent front section. It not only floods the interior with sunlight but also cools the area thanks to a tilt-sliding power sunroof.
The windshield angle of the VW Eos is neither too raked nor too upright. Unlike the Mustang Cabriolet, the roofline makes entry and exit easier whether the top is up or down.
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| The dashboard design might not be spectacular, but the layout is functional. |
The cockpit is also much more refined than an American convertible, as evidenced by the overall build quality and material selection. Smarter ergonomics are at work, too. Granted, the dashboard design is not as spectacular as the MINI's, but the instruments and controls are within easy reach of the driver, making the driving experience even more pleasant.
The bucket seats also contribute to the fun-to-drive character of the Eos. They're just snug enough to offer comfortable side support, a much-appreciated element on small winding roads.
The rear seats, however, are pretty much forgettable. Unless you're a young kid, you won't be able to tolerate the extremely limited legroom for more than a couple of seconds, let alone minutes. Anyway, it's pretty clear that these quarters will be used as cargo room most of the time.
Variable trunk
Speaking of cargo, you'd better think twice before going out on a road trip. Trunk capacity varies a lot depending on the position of the roof.
As a coupe, the Eos offers 290 liters of room for your luggage, which is less than what you'll find in the trunk of a Chrysler Sebring Convertible or Toyota Solara Cabriolet (370 and 330 liters, respectively). However, when you drop the top, you wind up with only 60 percent of the aforementioned volume. That's a meager 180 liters -- same for the Sebring... and the tiny Mazda MX-5!
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| The rear seats are basically useless. |