Volkswagen Eos 2011 Review

Volkswagen Eos

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Both as a convertible coupe with a metal/glass folding roof and a sports car, the Eos has won over many fans, but consider that it was launched at the Frankfurt motor show back in 2005; its design was beginning to show its age.

Mechanically the VW Eos was still a match for its many rivals -- drop top versions of the Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, et al. It delivers more power via more advanced transmissions. But it was beginning to look a little tired. As such, the boffins at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg  HQ have given the car a facelift that is just the breath of fresh-air (pun intended) the car needed.

Due to the low uptake of manual transmission models (just 15 per cent), VW has deleted the option locally. Thus both models are now standard with six-speed dual clutch DSG automatic transmission.

What's else is new? Most evident are the updates to the front and rear design, starting with new look headlights, fog lights and a horizontal grille motif and ending with a reprofiled boot whose angular style gives the car a more contemporary look. The first-gen's spherical brake lights have been ditched in favour of stylised LED trapezoids. These give the tail end a more mature look.

The new Eos also gets 17-inch alloy wheels, and our test models were shod with the always impressive Continental ContiSportContact 3 tyres.

Optional xenon headlights with dynamic cornering function will add $2100 to the asking price, but for mine it's money well spent - the xenon projector globes add a prestigious touch to the front end, particularly as they include LED daytime running lights.

Inside the car, three new features have been added as standard - an alarm, Bluetooth telephony, and a media device interface for hooking up your iPhone or iPod.

Befitting a car of this calibre (and price), the Eos comes equipped with a lot of automated systems as standard, so the driver can concentrate on the important things -- such as that wind-in-the-hair feeling, or posing. The windscreen wipers are rain sensing and operate automatically; the headlights are light sensing and switch on by themselves; rear parking sensors ease the stress of reverse parking; while cruise control and one-touch automatic dual zone climate control will maintain your road speed and keep you comfortable respectively.

The six-disc CD stereo is operated via the very pretty RCD510 touch screen display, which also comes with an SD card slot, AUX input and the aforementioned media device interface (read: USB connector cable).

Leather seats are also standard issue on all new Volkswagen Eos models and you can choose beige or black cow hide. The front pews are also nicely contoured sports seats, though adjustment is manual unless you option the 12-way electric seats ($1500).

Other options include metallic paint ($700) and the updated Park Assist 2 ($900), which can almost automatically parallel and reverse park the car (you have to use the throttle and brake, but it steers for you).

Satellite navigation is pricey ($2500) as is the upgraded Dynaudio stereo system ($2000). Lastly there's a Sport Package ($2600) on offer, which adds Adaptive Chassis Control, darkened tail light lenses and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Safety systems are par for the course in this segment: stability control, anti-lock brakes, roll over protection bars and four airbags.

For more information on the Eos' underpinnings check out the original launch review or consult our reams of Golf VI coverage.

In essence, this roof system provides multiple options: fully open, fully closed, and panoramic sunroof open/closed.

Cruising along in coupe mode, it's clear that Volkswagen has engineered the roof (and the car) to exacting levels. I detected no whistles, no creaks, and no errant noises during our test, and we drove the Eos hard over a selection of the Adelaide Hills' best tarmac. In fact, the cabin is so well sealed it's remarkably quiet, so that conversation need only ever be at a casual volume.

Even the diesel engine is surprisingly quiet, so much so that a colleague didn't realise it was diesel at first. Impressive stuff...

Drop the top and Eos offers good wind and weather protection, though I did notice subtle buffeting at 80km and above (with the seat in the lowest position). The standard stereo system also loses some of its impact at these speeds with the top down, but by and large it's a good stereo unit. Does the Dynaudio offer a $2000 better sounds quality? Not in my book. Yeah, it's better, but not by a large margin.

The convertible Volkswagen has a well appointed and very neat interior, with typical VW soft-touch dash plastics and metallic accents adding a premium feel; current owners won't find the view much different from the driver's seat, but that's not a bad thing per se.

Rear seat room is average. Volkswagen claims the Eos is a true four-seater but it depends on how lanky your passengers are. Though I could sit in the back seats, my 186cm frame struggled for leg room and my shoulder was uncomfortably tight up against the side of the car.

Boot space is decent for a car with a metal folding roof, with 205 litres in poseur mode, and a handy 380 litres of cargo space in coupe mode.

Both the petrol and diesel variants are very refined motor vehicles. They are lovely to just cruise around in, conveying a very pleasant driving experience, however, if you feel the need speed taking over, the Eos is happy to oblige -- particularly the petrol model.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit cranks out 155kW at 5300rpm and 280Nm at 1700rpm. With an ultra flat torque curve it'll spin the front wheels through several revolutions when you drop the hammer from standstill, and it feels very rapid both in a straight line and through a corner.

But if the 2.0-litre TSI mill is the producer, then the six-speed DSG transmission is the director - it gets the power down quick smart.

Driven through some snaking sections of the Adelaide hills, there wasn't much difference between the handling characteristics of the petrol and diesel variants, save that the petrol did it all more briskly.

The diesel was not as rapid on initial take-off or mid-gear roll on acceleration as the petrol, but with a 52kW power deficit that's understandable; it outputs 103kW at 4200rpm and 320Nm at 1750rpm. That said, it's far from slow and you'll go a lot further on one tank of diesel than you will of petrol, leaving potential owners with a conundrum -- fast or frugal?

For the record Volkswagen has also improved the fuel economy of both models slightly, thanks to the re-sculpted body panels which improves aerodynamics. The TDI drops from 6.1 to 5.9L/100km, and the petrol from 7.9 to 7.7L/100km.

While the Eos is a delightful car to drive at regular speeds, the firm suspension tune provides so-so ride quality on rougher roads. The steering is light, a little lifeless at times, and chatters over bumps due to the stiff front end suspension, which skipped and jounced in the face of pot holes on more than one occasion, rather than riding smoothly over them. Indeed, the Portuguese-built vehicle will track cleanly through bends but on lower quality roads mid corner bumps upset the car's composure.

Thankfully torque steer wasn't noticeable under full throttle and the Continental ContiSportContact 3 tyres provided excellent grip.

The brakes felt strong and pulled the car up with haste, while the sizeable seat bolsters did a good job of keeping driver and passenger snug through fast corners.

The Eos is a sporty car, but one with limitations. If the road is billiard-table smooth, you'll feel like an F1 driver, but rougher roads will make the experience more like a World Rally Championship drive.

For what it's worth, a lot of buyers won't want to thrash their Eos, and if that's the case the car will be hard to fault. It does most things well and with a mature new look, it'll do wonders for your ego.

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