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Volkswagen Eos 2011 road test report

2011

Always one of the classiest contenders in the CC cabrio market, the Volkswagen Eos now comes with sharper looks. The refreshed styling brings the Eos into line with VW’s current styling tend, so it has front and rear lights that mimic those of the Passat, while other updates include leather seats capable of reflecting sunlight to help keep its occupants’ bums cooler.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volkswagen Eos 2011

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ALISDAIR SUTTIE SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The engines for the Eos come from the usual stores warehouse most VWs choose their engines from. So, we have a pair of 1.4-litre petrols, a 2.0-litre turbo petrol borrowed from the Golf GTI and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that offers punch and economy. The 120bhp 1.4 turbo petrol that is the starting point of the Eos range may have a small capacity but it has a big heart and works surprisingly well in a car that tips the scales at 1.5 tonnes. Acceleration from 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds is acceptable rather than astonishing, but the 120bhp is smooth and never feels out of its depth, even on the motorway. For more oomph, the turbo- and supercharged 1.4 petrol is a better bet thanks to 158bhp that helps it see off 0-62mphin 8.8 seconds. This engine uses the same six-speed manual gearbox as the less potent 1.4 and it works just fine. Buyers of the 2.0-litre 207bhp turbo petrol engine have a choice of six-speed manual or DSG twin-clutch gearboxes. Either works well and both deliver 0-62mph in an identical 7.8 seconds, which is not that much swifter than the brawnier of the two 1.4s, so it’s hard to see where the 2.0-litre offers a serious increase in driving pleasure. This rings true in every driving situation, where the 2.0-litre is good but the 158bhp 1.4 is more fun and satisfying to use. Those looking for the best fuel economy will be well served by the 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel that’s ubiquitous across the VW range. It performs well through the gears of its six-speed manual or double-clutch gearboxes and cruises comfortably, but its 0-62mph of 10.3 seconds is not as brisk as the, you’ve guessed it, 158bhp 1.4 petrol.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

If there’s one area where convertibles often lose out to their full coupe counterparts, it’s their resistance to body shimmy on Britain’s less than billiard table smooth roads. The Eos does not fall into this trap, even with its folding metal roof lowered. It exhibits an impressive solidity and shake-free drive while also offering stable, controlled and composed handling. The Eos is not the most exciting car to pilot down a country road, but it will look after the less adept driver while offering spot-on refinement and comfort. As a cruiser rather than a sporting bruiser, the Eos works stupendously well is more than able to be driven at motorway speeds with the roof lowered and the front two occupants conversing without resorting to raised voices. At higher speeds, those in the spacious two rear seats will experience a fair degree of wind ship, but around town the Eos is a pleasant and able four-seat drop-top. Roof up, the Eos remains a calm and cosy place to spend any journey. It takes 25 seconds to raise or lower the roof, so sunshine or rain, there’s no excuse for not taking the Eos along. Wind, road and engine noise and pleasantly distant murmurs in the Eos when the roof is raised.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

The Eos is one of the most complete cars in its class and this is reflected in the quality of construction. In most respects, the Eos is much the same as a Golf or Passat in the way it is put together, so it benefits from the same high levels of fit and finish. The one big difference is, of course, the folding metal and glass roof. There have a been some reports of problems with this roof, the mechanism failing to operate on rare occasions. However, the VW has not suffered to anything like the degree many of its rivals have, so this should not be a problem or cause fear for any potential buyer. As for the rest of the Eos’ mechanical parts, it’s as sturdy as any car in the VW range.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Like all coupe-convertibles, the Eos does not have curtain airbags as it’s impossible to fit these to a car with folding roof. However, the side airbags act as curtain ’bags for the front seat occupants in the event of an accident. Rear seat passengers are not so well protected, but there are pop-up roll bars built in behind the rear bench that deploy if the car senses the possibility of it rolling over. Driver and front passenger airbags are also fitted, along with ABS anti-lock brakes and ESP traction and stability control on all Eos models. There are also Isofix child seat mounts, while security is good thanks to a separate boot, deadlocks, alarm and immobiliser. The metal and glass roof of the Eos also offers great protection from thieves than the fabric hoods of some rivals’.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

In the front, the Eos is every bit as generous and accommodating as a Passat saloon for passenger space and driver comfort. The driving position is easily adjusted thanks to a two-way movable steering column and height adjustable driver’s seat. Roof up, there’s good all-round vision for the driver, which is not usually the case for this type of car, while the dash is typically stylish and logically laid out as we expect from VW. The rear seats are easy to access, even with the roof raised, and a pair of adults can fit in there in comfort. Again, this is not the norm for this class of car, so the Eos is easily one of the most practical cars in its sector. It even offers a large boot when the roof is in the raised position, but it is much more limited when the roof is lowered and taking up much of the space previously given over to luggage.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

The Eos has an electrically operated folding roof as standard on all models, so there’s no fiddling with latches and levers or hoisting the roof up in the wet. From fully up to lowered, or vice versa, takes 25 seconds, so the Eos’ roof is not one of the quickest in its class but it is one of the most effective at sealing out rain and noise – not something every folding metal-roofed competitor can claim. Volkswagen also provides air conditioning, CD stereo, electric windows, MP3 connection and rear parking sensors as standard across the board. Sport models gain slightly firmer suspension and larger alloy wheels, while the Exclusive comes with leather upholstery as standard. This leather has been treated to help it reflect the sun’s rays more effectively, which means the leather does not heat up as much as normal hide and this helps keep the seats cooler when the car is parked. It’s a small touch but one that shows VW’s attention to detail when it comes to cabrios. Company car drivers will prefer the 125g/km carbon dioxide emissions of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel model with manual gearbox, which offers the lowest emissions in the Eos range as well as the best economy of 58.9mpg. This car comes with the Bluemotion badge of efficiency, which means it also has Start/Stop as standard. The 120bhp 1.4 petrol engine also has Start/Stop fitted and offers 45.6mpg and 144g/km emissions, while its more potent sister 1.4 provides 41.5mpg and 157g/km to just creep under the magic 160g/km barrier. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol gives 39.8mpg and 165g/km with the standard manual gearbox r 37.7mpg and 174g/km with the DSG double-clutch ’box, so this model is really only for those private buyers who desire the most powerful engine for the sake of kudos. We’d stick with the smaller petrol engines for their greater fun factor, expected better residual values and cheaper new prices.

Submitted: 30/09/2011 08:42:57

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