2015 Volkswagen Eos Review

It's had numerous upgrades and one big facelift, but before was able to net a second generation, it received a death sentence: the eight-year-old Volkswagen Eos will be decommissioned in 2015. The Final Edition seen here subs for the Sport in the model's three-trim lineup (as of this writing, the Sport is still on VW USA's website), slotting in between Komfort and Executive. After a jaunt through Virginia horse country, we found this Volkswagen to be a smart and capable little convertible that has run out of reasons to live.

Driving Notes

• It began life as the only folding hardtop convertible in the US with a built-in power sunroof, and it ends life as the only guest to show up at that party, but it's still a neat trick. The large, tinted panel overhead keeps the cabin light and cool; tilt the panel up and you can add "airy" to the ambience. The roof retracts in 25 seconds, which feels like an epoch, especially since the car must be stationary while doing it. That's one of those spoiled-children nitpicks we almost feel guilty bringing up, but the Mini Cooper Convertible, 2014 Ford Mustang Mustang – the one with two manual latches – and the (admittedly, much more expensive) Mercedes-Benz SL550 can beat that time by nine to 11 seconds.
• The Final Edition upgrades the Komfort with larger, 18-inch Vicenza wheels, two-tone leather seats in Cornsilk Beige and black with contrasting stitching, keyless go, interior accents in Silver Net, a rearview camera, rain-sensing wipers and bi-xenon headlights with adaptive beams. As with the Executive trim above it, the suspension is lowered and the springs and dampers are stiffer.
• The Eos is from the European lobe of VW's split personality: small, solid, premium features and feeling... for a premium price. We still like the styling, even if it's a bit too 'gray flannel suit.' Everything is included, and if we read the brochure correctly, there are no substantive options, only fripperies like a Snakey Headrest Hanger. The cabin still feels and looks good. We're a sucker for a thick steering wheel, there's plenty of room up front and the bodyshell doesn't flex unduly.
• Good luck getting fullsize adults in all four seats, but on the other hand, the trunk has more room with the roof down than the much smaller convertible Mini does with the roof up – 6.6 cubic feet compared to 6.0 cubic feet. The Eos makes 10.5 cubic feet available with the roof up.
• The 2.0T with 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque is bolted to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. All its twist reports for duty at 1,700 rpm, and power delivery and shifts are smooth. However, while it feels peppy when you hit the accelerator, after an initial downshift and squat, the engine labors to scoot the 3,508-pound car around. There's a Sport mode, and buttons on the back of the steering wheel, but using either is like using a Chanel purse as a gym bag – you can do it, but it's not made for that. We got a creamy VW ride on a variety of rural Virginia road surfaces, and even though we thought there was a fair amount of wind noise at 55 miles per hour with the top up, it's a really tidy little droptop on a brilliant country day.
• Why should it disappear? In 2007, the Eos started at $28,810, got to 60 miles per hour in roughly seven seconds and returned around 22 city, 30 highway miles per gallon from its 200-hp 2.0T engine. Today's Eos gets 200 hp from a 2.0T and nearly the same 0-60 time and gas mileage, but starts at $36,460. The Final Edition is $40,030. This is from a 2007 review on Edmunds: "Equipped with the 2.0T, the 2007 Volkswagen Eos offers stiff competition for convertibles like the Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, Pontiac G6, Toyota Camry Solara and Volvo C70." Yeah, exactly. Even in VW's current press materials, two-thirds of the listed competitive set is dead: the BMW 135i, Chrysler 200 and Mini Cooper Convertible.

Volkswagen says the Beetle Convertible will take over the role the Eos played, which makes a lot more sense considering its price – the Beetle is less expensive, and when speaking of character, the Beetle (like its Mini competition) actually has some. The Eos is plenty pleasant and fine doing what it does, but not good enough that there's a reason for VW to continue doing it.