The convertible enthusiasts at TheCarConnection.com studied a wide range of road tests to write this definitive review of the 2008 Volkswagen Eos. TheCarConnection.com's editors also drove the 2008 Volkswagen Eos to help you decide which reviews to trust where opinions differ, as well as to add more impressions and details and to provide you with the best information.
Likes:
- Room for four
- Folding hardtop
- Brilliant dual-clutch gearbox
- High-quality interior
- Deft handling
Dislikes:
- Not sexy enough
- Smallish trunk room
- Wind blocker makes its own noise
The 2008 Volkswagen Eos is a four-seat, folding-hardtop convertible that's named for the Greek goddess of the dawn. While its body isn't quite as sexy as "goddess" implies, the Eos has a dynamic look to it, especially with the top down. It's a little too matronly for its capabilities. Inside, though, the Eos's cabin sports GTI style and enviable Volkswagen materials, and room enough even for adult males in back.
Two engine choices are available in the 2008 Volkswagen Eos: a 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder with plenty of available torque, ample thrust, and a 0-60 mph time of 6.4 seconds with a six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen's brilliant dual-clutch automatic is available--it can be shifted like a manual without the clutch pedal. There's also a 250-hp 3.2-liter V-6, with a choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmissions. Fuel economy is strong at 21/30 mpg with the four, to 19/26 mpg with the dual-clutch V-6. Handling is one of the Eos's best features; it's relaxed enough so that you enjoy the convertible experience, but firm enough to charge around your favorite roads.
The convertible roof in the 2008 Volkswagen Eos uses eight electric motors to unlatch from the windshield header and flip and fold under the metal trunklid in 25 seconds. The cargo area is a manageable 6.6 cubic feet with the top stowed, larger than that in the Pontiac G6 and Volvo C70 hardtop convertibles, but it's still kind of small. The convertible roof also has a setting that opens the front section like a sunroof.
Sixteen-inch wheels and an active, pop-up roll bar are among the standard features on the 2008 Volkswagen Eos. Options include a navigation system and an upmarket audio system.
Stability and traction control are standard on all Eos convertibles, as are head/thorax airbags that deploy from the front seats. The 2008 Volkswagen Eos gets a rating of "good" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front and for side impacts.
The Bottom Line:
The 2008 Volkswagen Eos has a sunny disposition and four real seats, along with great handling and VW's dual-clutch gearbox.
Other Choices:
If you like the 2008 Volkswagen Eos, also consider:
Pontiac G6 Convertible
Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Toyota Camry Solara Convertible
Volvo C70
Reason why
The 2008 Volkswagen Eos and its well-executed convertible top have made it a primo choice for the editors of Consumer Reports as well as the editors at TheCarConnection.com. Other four-seat convertibles like the Pontiac G6 and Chrysler Sebring offer folding hardtops, but their fit and finish fall far below the standard set by the Eos. The Volvo C70 is more tightly and handsomely built, but its high-strung turbo engines aren't as relaxed as the Eos. The four-seat Toyota Camry Solara convertible has a fabric roof and a creamy ride, but handling suffers.
Buying Tip:
The 2008 Volkswagen Eos has as an option the clever dual-clutch transmission. It lacks a manual clutch pedal, but uses electronics to shift its clutches faster than a manual can--while still allowing the driver to choose gears manually. It's a new type of transmission that's also going to be offered on some Dodge, Mercedes, and BMW products, and it's everything it's hyped to be.
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Review was originally published at TheCarConnection.com
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