Abu Dhabi Week gets behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s facelifted hardtop convertible coupe

Volkswagen’s Eos, named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, has received somewhat mixed reviews since it was introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Golf Cabriolet. But with the Middle East launch of the facelifted model in May this year, the German company is looking to change people’s perceptions.

With prices starting from about AED 120,000 it’s not exactly cheap, but when you compare it to the considerably more expensive BMW 3-series convertible, Mercedes CLK or even the Lexus IS droptop then it certainly starts to become a more attractive proposition.

Let's start with the looks. Although the Eos often divides opinion, we’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for it – especially in the pearlescent white of our test car. You can see hints of Volkswagen's Golf-based Cabriolet from years ago, as well as some styling cues taken from the sophisticated Scirocco on which it's based, in particular the straight lines across the grille and the sharper Xenon lights.

Yes, the Eos can look a little ungainly from some angles, especially the way its proportions fit together with the top up. However, whether you like the neat, straightforward styling or not, there’s no denying that in the metal this car does have presence. And that’s before you put the roof down – then it becomes a whole different story, as the car metamorphoses into a sleek and svelte two-door drop-top.

Cars with folding metal roofs like the Eos aren’t exactly new, but we still get transfixed by them when they’re transforming from coupe to cabriolet. The whole ultra-complex electronic and hydraulic party trick is a joy to watch, and quite a feat of engineering and packaging.

The Eos’ roof actually has three stages – coupe, sunroof and convertible (which VW have imaginatively called the CSC roof) and is made up of five pieces which form a convoluted piece of mechanical origami at the touch of a button. The whole process takes 25 seconds and is protected by the Trunk Lid Assistance system, cleverly integrated with the parking sensors, which can judge distances of up to 20 inches behind the car and stop the roof in its tracks if any object is detected.

Whatever your opinion of the exterior styling, inside there’s no such discussion - the interior feels a step above most other Volkswagen models, with a streamlined look, superior materials and a generally Teutonic feeling of solidity.

If you're in the front seat, the new Eos is a very comfortable place to be – the seating and driving position is just a little more laid-back than in VW's other cars. The Nappa leather-clad seats themselves are reassuringly supportive, while the tactile switchgear, dual-zone automatic climate control and burled walnut wood interior just add to the general feeling of quality.

The back seat, while more spacious than that of many other convertible models, is still basically just a 2+2 – there's very little legroom for those in back, and adults, if they can wedge in, will only want to be there for the shortest of journeys.

Another nice little touch is the way the front windows drop 5mm when the remote’s unlock button is pressed. As the doors are frameless, the windows form a seal with the roof edge, therefore have to drop before the door opens to avoid damaging the rubber.
Yes, there are a lot of good things about this car – not least that it is actually a lot of fun to drive. The power is sent to the front wheels only but this doesn’t mean that the Eos doesn’t handle well – it’s firm enough to push through tricky corners, planted in higher-speed sweepers, and remarkably secure-feeling for a front-driver.

Weighing in at 1,620kg (200kg of which is the roof mechanism) it’s not exactly a lightweight sports car but, as we drive along Airport Road and onto the Corniche, it certainly feels eager enough with its quick steering, strong, reassuring brakes and the responsive dual clutch transmission.

Engaging sports mode as we pull onto the Zayed Highway and make our way over Saadiyat Island really puts a smile on our face – the engine revs higher before changing gear, allowing the exhaust to burble happily and really growl at the upper end of the rev range.
Volkswagen says it will hit 100kmh in just under eight seconds, but it feels quicker than that. It's also got a claimed top speed of 229kmh, but we’ll just have to take VW's word for that.

Impressively for a drop-top, the Eos is almost totally resistant to body shake with the roof up. This gives you excellent ride comfort, even if you opt for the Sport models with their firmer suspension and larger alloy wheels. The tin-top also does a better job of cutting out exterior noise than some rivals with fabric hoods, however there is a little wind noise at motorway speed.

Although it’s not really the right time of year, we just can’t resist pulling over as we come onto Yas Island and press the magic button that turns the car from a coupe into a convertible.

Things suffer a little bit when you lower the roof, but not by much. There’s very little buffeting from the wind, no scuttle shake and the steering remains responsive and well weighted. In fact the handling is much like the Golf hatch's – grippy, predictable and safe.
Of course, it’s not perfect. Whilst fun to drive, in terms of pure performance it’s no match for its more muscular Golf R sibling and with the roof stowed you’ll be lucky to get anything more than a briefcase and a couple of shopping bags in the boot.

But that’s not really the point. What the boffins from Wolfsburg have done is build a highly polished, desirable and dynamically sound machine whose appeal – and, in all probability, sales – will rely almost entirely on the novelty of its hood. Will that party trick be enough to move the metal? Absolutely!

The Stats:

• Two-door cabriolet/coupe
• Front-wheel drive
• Six-speed dual-clutch
• DSG transmission
• 2.0-litre four-cylinder
• turbo-charged engine
• 205bhp at 5,300rpm
• 280Nm of torque at 1,700rpm
• 0-100kmh in 7.8 seconds
• Top speed 229kmh

Jon Muller