2007 Volkswagen Eos First Steer
March 13, 2007 by Paul Maric
A convertible with a sunroof, it almost defies logic. But – in a world first – the new Volkswagen Eos features a five-section hard top with an integrated sliding/tilting sunroof. The idea is that the sunroof is used when it’s not hot enough for the roof to be down – these are the hard decisions that convertible drivers are dealt, it’s a hard life isn’t it?
Launching the new Volkswagen Eos was reserved for one of the most picturesque parts of Australia – The Great Ocean Road. Lorne housed Volkswagen’s media launch which contained over 40 vehicles and an array of Volkswagen paraphernalia.
Despite dreary and wet weather on the second day of the launch, there was ample time to test out the new Volkswagen Eos in a range of conditions. One thing that all drivers agreed on was the impressive level of grip available. The Eos remained on its best behaviour when punted through several corners on the test route, proving that the Eos isn’t simply a Golf with its roof chopped off. The Eos was developed from the ground up as a convertible, and it certainly shows.
The Eos range is available with two engines. Potential buyers face a hard task choosing as both engines offer exhilarating performance and satisfying agility. Leading the torque line-up is the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-Diesel engine. The oil burner produces 103kW and a mighty 320Nm of torque.
The other engine is the fire-breather of the bunch. The ever popular Golf GTI engine is a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder Turbo FSI. With 147kW of power on tap, the engine produces a spritely 280Nm of torque.
The two transmissions on offer are the 6-speed manual cog box and the awesome 6-speed DSG (Dual Clutch) gearbox. Fuel consumption is extremely modest – especially in the Diesel model. The manual Diesel achieves 6.0-litres/100km, whilst the DSG Diesel achieves 6.9-litres/100km. The petrol powered manual on the other hand sips 8.4-litres/100km, whilst the DSG achieves a meagre 8.2-litres/100km.
Aside from firing an airbag and deploying the rollover protection bars, Volkswagen assured the constituent of journalists that the convertible roof had been tested through 10,000 cycles in varying heat conditions, ranging from freezing cold, right through to boiling hot.
Pricing begins at $47,990 for the 6-speed manual turbo-Diesel, whilst the Turbo FSI model is available from $49,990 in 6-speed manual form. The DSG gearbox is available at a $2,300 premium. An array of options are available, ranging from active Bi-xenon headlights, right through to an “Eos Individual” kit which comprises of 18” alloy wheels, lowered suspension, black and beige Nappa leather upholstery and a flurry of additional inserts and stitching.
The Volkswagen Eos bucks the trend of convertibles designed around sedans. After experiencing equally exhilarating power, torque and agility from both engines, it was honestly difficult to pick a preferred engine variant. If you’re a fuel-miser, go for the Diesel. If, on the other hand, you enjoy the sound of a spooling turbo and rev-happy engine, head for the Turbo FSI. Either way, you’re sure to be damn impressed with the new Volkswagen Eos. With over 200 orders already placed (even prior to official release), be sure to check out the VW Eos before queues start building.
- Paul Maric
CarAdvice Rating (out of 5): 
Tech Specs:
| Technical Specifications | |||||
|
2.0 TDI |
2.0T FSI |
||||
| Engine | |||||
| Type |
4 cylinder inline turbo diesel |
4 cylinder inline turbo petrol |
|||
| Installation |
Front transverse |
Front transverse |
|||
| Cubic capacity, litres/cc |
2.0 / 1968 |
2.0 / 1984 |
|||
| Bore/stoke, mm |
81.0 / 95.5 |
82.5 / 92.8 |
|||
| Max power, kW @ rpm |
103 @ 4000 |
147 @ 5100 – 6000 |
|||
| Max torque, Nm @ rpm |
320 @ 1750 – 2500 |
280 @ 1800 – 5000 |
|||
| Compression ratio |
18:1 |
10.3:1 |
|||
| Fuel system |
Bosch EDC 16 with unit injectors (Pumpe Düse) |
Bosch Motronic MED 9.1 FSI injection system |
|||
| Ignition system |
Compression |
Electronic |
|||
| Exhaust emission control |
Exhaust gas recirculation and oxidising catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter |
Two 3 way Catalytic Converter with Lambda Probe |
|||
| Emission level |
EU IV |
EU IV |
|||
| Fuel type (Recommended) |
Diesel 51CZ |
Premium unleaded 98 RON |
|||
| Transmission |
6 Speed Man |
6 Speed DSG |
6 Speed Man |
6 Speed DSG |
|
| Driven wheels |
Front wheel drive |
Front wheel drive |
|||
| Performance | |||||
| 0 – 100km/h, seconds |
10.3 |
10.3 |
7.8 |
7.9 |
|
| Top speed, km/h |
206 |
203 |
232 |
229 |
|
| Fuel consumption* | |||||
| Combined, L / 100km |
6.0 |
6.9 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
|
| CO2 emission g/km |
158 |
182 |
200 |
194 |
|
| Fuel tank capacity, litres |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
|
| * Fuel consumption figures according to Australian Design Rule (ADR) 81/01.The driving style, road and traffic conditions, environmental influences and vehicle condition can in practice lead to consumption figures which may differ from those calculated with these standards. | |||||
| Further Technical Specifications | |||||||||||||||
|
2.0 TDI |
2.0 Turbo FSI |
||||||||||||||
| Running Gear | |||||||||||||||
| Suspension | Front axle |
Independent, MacPherson struts with lower A-arms. Anti-roll bar. |
|||||||||||||
| Rear axle |
Independent, four-link with coil springs. Anti-roll bar. |
||||||||||||||
| Steering |
Electro-mechanical power assisted rack & pinion steering |
||||||||||||||
| Brake systems |
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist |
||||||||||||||
| Brakes | Front |
Ventilated Discs |
|||||||||||||
| Rear |
Discs |
||||||||||||||
| Turning circle (m) |
10.9 |
||||||||||||||
| Weights |
6 Speed Man |
6 Speed DSG |
6 Speed Man |
6 Speed DSG |
|||||||||||
| Tare Mass Kg |
1556 |
1581 |
1546 |
1571 |
|||||||||||
| Towing Capacity kg | Braked |
1500 |
1500 |
1500 |
1500 |
||||||||||
| Unbraked |
750 |
750 |
750 |
750 |
|||||||||||
| Drawbar load limit kg |
75 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
|||||||||||
| Interior Dimensions | |||||||||||||||
| Number of seats |
4 |
||||||||||||||
| Front entry, width/height mm |
1109 / 1287 |
||||||||||||||
| Legroom front mm |
703 / 1013 |
||||||||||||||
| Elbow width at front/rear mm |
1435 / 1070 |
||||||||||||||
| Exterior Dimensions | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length mm |
4407 |
||||||||||||||
| Width mm |
1791 |
||||||||||||||
| Height mm |
1443 |
||||||||||||||
| Wheelbase mm |
2578 |
||||||||||||||
| Track mm | Front |
1545 |
|||||||||||||
| Rear |
1553 |
||||||||||||||
| Luggage Area Dimensions | |||||||||||||||
| Volume L | Roof raised |
380 |
|||||||||||||
| Roof folded |
205 |
||||||||||||||
| Floor length mm |
839 |
||||||||||||||
| Maximum width mm |
1373 |
||||||||||||||
| Width between wheel arches mm |
792 |
||||||||||||||
| Height mm |
537 |
||||||||||||||
A convertible sunroof is good for style. This Volkswagen Eos has a captivating design owing to its convertible sunroof. Aside from this, it also has excellent features.
“that the Eos isn’t simply a Golf with its roof chopped off. The Eos was developed from the ground up as a convertible,”
get off the grass.
IT IS simply a Golf with its roof chopped off.
the development might have been from the door handles up but even they’re the same as on a Golf.
Hi Rick :),
The Eos actually has Passat rear suspension and Golf front suspension, so it actually is an all new platform that fits between the two mentioned above.
Read this thread it describes the Eos platform in more detail http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2244583
I agree it’s a good car and I have bought one already. Unfortunately, I need to bring the car back to the work shop on the 2nd May because the whole roof is rattling.
Quality and refinement seem to vary on individual cars.
PS. OMG.. I still have’t got my car back yet
I have ordred an eos in February after seeing the car for the first time at the Sydney motor show. After reading the comments in various articles it seems that the eos could be destined for a semi cult staus in years to come – what do you think?
Krusty
Hi Peter,
Hi Peter,
When are you going to take the delivery of your new car? I wish all the best with your new Eos.
My car is still in the workshop. It seems like no one can fix the roof in Australia.
what’s this about the roof shaking????
i’ve just ordered a car for my wife after seeing it at a motor show and i couldn’t even test drive it as the dealerships in my city have none???
i seriously hope i don’t get a lemon or else i’ve just been duped.
can anyone out there let me know if this has been a common dilemma.
stressed out!
Greg, if u r in syd, dun go to chatswood classic..
my new eos has run out of engine oil after recall from Volkswagen relating to the software update. That’s terrible, isn’t it..?
Maybe they did in purpose.. who knows….
Guys, Is there anyone who believes its a good car as I am planning to buy one soon from Denlo Parramatta. I have been driving Golf and its great car which makes me a big believer in VW’s. I would appriciate if anyone out there would like to share there issues like rooftop problems about the car.
Cheers
Mani
a better VW you will not find, i have worked for volkswagen for 5 years, just changed brands, and love the EOS, you will love it.
VW sorted all the roof probs before they come out here
The Eos on the road is a good looking car for VW, as opposed to the rest of their bland range. Even the dash looks more interesting than the ustere offerings in the Golf and Passat.
Denlo & Chatswood Classic are the same company. All the best to you, Mani.
Tonyn, I don’t agree with you. End up my Eos was handed back to the dealer for more than a week (just to fix the roof). They need a guy from Audi to fix it.
Luke, the dash in the Eos looks almost identical to Golf.
I am an Eos owner and find that it is a great car to drive with exceptional and eye catching styling. One problem I have encountered, however, is that the front seat belts develop a twist. I have returned my vehicle to have this rectified on 5 occasions as it is practically impossible to easily untwist without removing the inside trim. I have reason to believe this is not an uncommon fault that Volkswagen at this stage are reluctant to concede is a design or engineering problem. Rather a shame as this reduces the driving and ownership
pleasure. I wonder if many others are experiencing this problem?
Hi All
Looking for a convertible in this price range. Is there anything besides the Eos and the Holden Twintop?
Is this car as much a man’s car as a woman’s – styling etc as I have not yet seen one in person but keen to buy a cabrio before spring !
Thanks !
DL