2015 Volkswagen Eos

2015 Volkswagen Eos

The 2015 Volkswagen Eos is a niche player in the market–and while some may accuse it of lacking focus–we’d say that it also presents itself as a very well-rounded convertible with performance, practicality, comfort, and relative affordability in a way that other convertibles simply don’t. Its exterior might not suggest that there’s much going on here, but if you’ll take the time to look inside and take a spin, we think you’ll find that the Eos is one of the best-designed convertibles on the market.

Interior comfort is superb–especially if you’re a larger adult and if you’re sitting in the front seats. Compared to Volkswagen’s hatchbacks like the Golf–and even the Beetle–the driving position is a bit more laid back, and the seats feel a little more plush and better bolstered, as if this were truly making a play for the luxury-coupe market. The back seat is tight–more like that of a cozy 2+2–but it’s easier to get into and out of than in most rival models, and that itself makes it quite usable for an evening cruise with the kids. Cargo space is limited–in part because of the neat folding top–but you can carve out a few extra cubic feet by flipping up a movable trunk liner and leaving the top up.

Design-wise, the 2015 Volkswagen Eos is about as conservative as you can get with a convertible. It’s handsome and straightforward, but inoffensive almost to an extreme. Inside, the swoopier cabin look and high-quality trims and materials add up to a much more charming impression.


Transitioning from coupe to convertible is really one of the things the Eos does best. Its retractable hardtop arrangement is tight, quick, and nearly flawless. In less than 25 seconds, a total of eight electric motors work in conjunction, unlatching the roof from the windshield header, flipping, folding, and tucking it neatly under the metal trunklid. The design looks neat, and it results in a handsome side profile up or down. We have noticed that wind turbulence isn’t as great as it could be at speed, and the wind deflector itself is quite noisy.


There’s also way more charm from the driver’s seat than you might expect, given the exterior. Every Eos sports a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (2.0T), paired with a dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). The DSG changes gears smoothly yet very quickly, doubling down on the engine’s robust torque curve and bringing out a zippy, responsive feel. Handling is light and responsive, and overall this is a fun-to-drive small coupe.


For 2015, the Sport model has been replaced by the Final Edition trim, which includes 18-inch Vicenza wheels, unique Cornsilk Beige and black two-tone Vienna leather seating surfaces, contrast stitching, silver net interior trim, a rearview camera and rain-sensing wipers. That leaves the base Komfort and the top-of-the-line Executive models also in the lineup. Executive equipment includes a rearview camera system, a navigation system, a different ‘Kansas’ alloy wheel design, and 600-watt Dynaudio premium audio with ten speakers and HD Radio. VW’s Car-Net telematics service is newly available, and Komfort and Sport trims have a new (and much-improved) navigation ssytem.
Pricing may prove a sticking point for some shoppers, though; as the base Eos starts just a few thousand dollars higher than where you’d think it might be in the market. For 2015, it starts at around $35k, and the Executive tops $42k–which puts it just a couple grand below the more prestigious Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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