2011 Volkswagen Eos Review
Price
RM249,888
Installment
RM2,383/mth
2011 Volkswagen Eos at a glance
Having a strong image, excellent on-road abilities, and a classy, four-seater cabin, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos is more than competent to justify its asking price, and seems like great value under comparison.
2011 Volkswagen Eos quick specs
| Body Style | Convertible |
| Class | Compact Luxury |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 4 |
2011 Volkswagen Eos ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
The 2011 Volkswagen Eos is a handsome car with the roof down. The more coherent looks than for, say, the Renault Megane CC is partly due to a less awkward rear section, thanks to the five-section metal roof requiring less space to store. But with the roof up, the resulting tall stance gives the 2011 Volkswagen Eos a gawky stance, which is not helped by the five-section roof's over-prominent shutlines.
Handling
Based on the Volkswagen Golf's mechanical underpinnings, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos handles competently while riding without any hint of scuttle shake. With good body control and a grippy chassis, the Volkswagen Eos musters reasonable enthusiasm for twisty roads. Its substantial weight does eat away some nimbleness, but overall the 2011 Volkswagen Eos strikes a fine balance between sportiness and comfort.
Comfort
The 2011 Volkswagen Eos exhibits little or none of the much dreaded scuttle shake, riding comfortably over all road surfaces. Although the metal roof blocks out noise better than fabric roofs, wind noise is still quite noticeable at cruising speeds. Wind buffeting is not much of an issue when the roof is down, though. There are plenty of seating and steering column adjustments for drivers to get comfortable. Visibility is decent with the roof in place, while the controls are intuitively placed.
Quality + Reliability
The 2011 Volkswagen Eos' cabin feels and looks classy enough to compete at this level. High-quality materials are put together with brilliant fit-and-finish. Many switchgear and cabin components are shared with the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat, so everything work with precision and tactility. Moreover, the underlying mechanicals are shared with the Golf and Passat, although the five-piece folding metal roof is new. Given Volkswagen's track record, we expect little problems of any kind over the longer term.
Performance
Sharing the same in-line four-cylinder turbocharged FSI 2.0-litre engine and six-speed direct shift gearbox with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos drives with verve thanks to the 197 bhp from 5100-6000 rpm and 280 Nm from 1800-5000 rpm. Strong throughout the rev range, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos faces no problems at all overtaking or reaching cruising speeds.
Roominess
At the push of a button, the five-section metal roof retracts automatically, transforming the 2011 Volkswagen Eos from a coupe into a convertible in 25 seconds, or vice-versa. Roof up or down, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos makes for a genuine four-seater, providing good room for the front and decent room for the rear. Access to the rear is easy, too. Boot capacity is understandably not great, especially with the roof folded, but the same can be said about the Volkswagen Eos' rivals.
Running Costs
Employing direct injection technology means the turbo FSI 2.0-litre is more efficient than before, returning 12.2 km/litre. Servicing and repair costs are comparable to direct rivals'. Depreciation should be mitigated by the Volkswagen badge, although the limited demand for cars like the Volkswagen Eos in the resale market will soften prices.
Value for Money
There are not many metal-roof rivals in Malaysia, with the BMW 3-Series Convertible and Volvo C70 being the only two. Both are significantly more expensive, and even the soft-top Saab 9-3 Convertible costs much more. By that reasoning, the 2011 Volkswagen Eos seems like great value, especially when it brings a strong image, excellent on-road abilities, and a classy, four-seater cabin.
Equipment
The 2011 Volkswagen Eos is comprehensively equipped, getting standard items such as bi-xenon headlights, dual-zone air conditioning, fog lights, cruise control, power windows, ParkPilot, 6-disc CD/MP3/radio player with 8 speakers, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather multi-function steering wheel, leather upholstery and electric adjustment for the front seats. Standard safety equipments include Anti-locking Brake System (ABS), brake assist, Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), active roll-over protection plus a host of airbags.
Environment
The 2011 Volkswagen Eos is not “green”, but then neither are rivals. However, credit to Volkswagen for using the direct injection technology as the engine now emits a lower 194 grams/km of carbon dioxide. In addition to lowering emissions, FSI also improves fuel economy.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Excellent ride and handling
Classy cabin
Genuine room for four
Tall stance with roof in place
Noticeable wind noise
Not great boot capacity
