Review
Volkswagen's entry to the increasingly busy coupe-cabrio segment can offer good looks and a painless driving experience - although whether it is good enough to justify its hefty pricetag is another matter.
As with rival CCs, the Eos's design has been heavily influenced by the need to find the space necessary to stow the metal hardtop when folded. The advantage of the Eos design is that its roof has five sections rather than two, so it can fold into a much smaller space, giving a less rumpy appearance than the Peugeot 307 CC or Renault Megane CC. However, with the top in place, it looks tall and rather ungainly, especially with over-prominent shutlines emphasising the gawky proportions.
Quality feels high inside the cabin, with familiar components from the Golf and Passat giving off reassuringly expensive vibes, although the dashboard design is unique to the Eos. Front seat accommodation is reasonably spacious and there's a surprisingly amount of passenger space in the back too, although with the roof folded boot capacity is cut to a paltry 205 litres.
Driving behaviour is marred by a less-than-rigid body structure with bumps and undulations in the road surface resulting in some uncomfortable heaving motion. Soft springs and dampers add to the general air of dynamic malaise and the Eos can muster little enthusiasm for corners. On the plus side, it cruises comfortably and quietly with the roof in place.
Three engines are available from launch - a 2.0 litre FSI direct injection petrol motor in both normally aspirated (149 bhp) and turbocharged (198 bhp) flavours. More sensible punters can also opt for VW's familiar 2.0 litre TDI turbodiesel motor. We reckon that the most basic 2.0 FSI petrol is the pick of the range - it gives all the performance a typical Eos driver will expect to call on. 1.6 FSI and 3.2 V6 engines will follow later.