Volkswagen EOS 2.0 TSI (DSG) Review: Market Forces

What we like:

Well-proportioned looks

strong performance

efficient gearbox

quality interior

What we dislike:

Some scuttle shake

not exactly exciting to drive or look at

The Eos is unique among coupe-convertibles thanks to its sophisticated five-piece folding roof that incorporates a sliding panoramic glass sunroof. Press the ‘door open' button on the key fob or pull the lever on the centre console in between the front seats and the Eos's folding roof will hide under the rear rump in just 25 seconds. It's a graceful transformation indeed from a coupe to a convertible for the Eos. Unlike in some other coupe convertible models, the Eos's roof mechanism offers a well-damped and quiet action as well. On the move, the Eos's cabin is free from wind draft at up to expressway speeds so you need not worry about your expensive hair-dos. With the roof down, boot volume is reduced from 300 litres to 190 litres while access to the boot area itself is limited by the folded roof.

Inside, the new model retains the basic cabin architecture as the old car's, which means the dashboard will be very familiar to Scirocco drivers. There are some minor trim and detail changes to the cabin though. There are new matt chrome trimmings on the doors and dashboard, Volkswagen's RNS 510 touchscreen radio navigation system takes centrestage on the dashboard, there's a new gear lever for the DSG transmission, new steering wheel, the instruments are now backlit in white instead of the previous blue, new climate control switches, a KESSY engine start/stop button replaces the keyhole for the ignition key on the side of the steering column while the seats are now wrapped in new Nappa leather in ‘cool leather' form that is said to reflect the sun's rays and hence will not heat up as much as normal leather. Despite the age of the basic interior design, the Eos's cabin manages to feel and look pretty much contemporary and is right up there when it comes to quality and perceived luxury when compared to the competition.

The Eos seats two at the rear but like most coupe-convertible models, room in the rear is just average. Both leg and headroom are reasonably OK but larger adults might not like being seated at the rear on long drives. Access to the rear is a breeze thanks to the long doors and a ‘slide forward' button on the front seats.

The new Eos is better equipped than the old model. It comes standard with keyless entry and operation, bi-Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, sat nav, touch screen head unit, ESP, hill hold, rear parking sensors and so on.

Keen drivers will find that the Eos lacks sportiness and is a tad uninspiring to drive but spirited driving is not the point of the Eos. For those who are looking for an all-rounded four-seater coupe-convertible that offers strong performance, elegant looks and well thought out features, the Eos package is certainly hard to surpass.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Yang and Raymond Lai