The Eos might be the most obscure model in Volkswagen’s showroom right now. It doesn’t get much attention, and when there’s a Routan parked in front of it and blocking the sun that seeps through the store’s windows, you might not even notice it.
For 2012, the Eos gets the new family face. Gone are the teardrop headlights, replaced by slimmer units with more detailed clusters. The chrome grille is disappearing from VW products, replaced by a conventional bumper and a black three-bar grille with subtle chrome accents.
The car’s hindquarters also got some changes, with a redesigned bumper that incorporates an air diffuser as well as new LED taillights. In general, the Eos now looks more than ever like a Golf, which makes us wonder why VW is selling a Golf convertible in Europe.
Inside, not much has changed, but chrome trim has been added around power window buttons and light switches. Uplevel versions of the Eos get real walnut wood trim as well as Vienna leather upholstery. For 2012, the base model now gets a standard, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, which incorporates trip computer and audio controls. In addition, an intelligent key system will now be offered, as is HD radio in U.S. models.
The engine hasn’t changed, and shouldn’t: you still get the turbocharged 2.0-litre four, which makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The 6-speed manual disappears, probably due to slow sales, leaving the 6-speed double-clutch sequential automatic as the only choice.
Mechanically, everything else is carryover, including the speed-sensitive power steering, the four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Traction and stability control systems are also standard.
A novel and interesting feature of the Eos is the glass sunroof integrated within the power-folding hardtop mechanism. As before, the trunk holds 290 litres with the top up and 180 litres when it’s folded down.
For 2012, the Eos gets the new family face. Gone are the teardrop headlights, replaced by slimmer units with more detailed clusters. The chrome grille is disappearing from VW products, replaced by a conventional bumper and a black three-bar grille with subtle chrome accents.
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| For 2012, the Eos gets the new family face. (Photo: Volkswagen) |
The car’s hindquarters also got some changes, with a redesigned bumper that incorporates an air diffuser as well as new LED taillights. In general, the Eos now looks more than ever like a Golf, which makes us wonder why VW is selling a Golf convertible in Europe.
Inside, not much has changed, but chrome trim has been added around power window buttons and light switches. Uplevel versions of the Eos get real walnut wood trim as well as Vienna leather upholstery. For 2012, the base model now gets a standard, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, which incorporates trip computer and audio controls. In addition, an intelligent key system will now be offered, as is HD radio in U.S. models.
The engine hasn’t changed, and shouldn’t: you still get the turbocharged 2.0-litre four, which makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The 6-speed manual disappears, probably due to slow sales, leaving the 6-speed double-clutch sequential automatic as the only choice.
Mechanically, everything else is carryover, including the speed-sensitive power steering, the four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Traction and stability control systems are also standard.
A novel and interesting feature of the Eos is the glass sunroof integrated within the power-folding hardtop mechanism. As before, the trunk holds 290 litres with the top up and 180 litres when it’s folded down.
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| Uplevel versions of the Eos get real walnut wood trim as well as Vienna leather upholstery. (Photo: Volkswagen) |