Best premium four-seat convertible 2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible *Est. $44550
Best premium roadster 2009 Porsche Boxster *Est. $46600
Bargain four-seat convertible 2009 Mini Cooper convertible *Est. $23900
Best roadster value 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata *Est. $21750

See All Convertibles

2009 Volkswagen Eos

*Est. $31,615 to $35,200

Reviewed August 2009

Retractable hardtop with glass sunroof
Fuel efficiency
Punchy turbocharged engine
Nice interior
Little wind buffeting (with top down)
Top crash-test scores

Nonsporty handling
Wind noise (with top up)
Small rear seat and trunk
Costs nearly as much as an entry luxury car
Poor reliability ratings

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Our Analysis

Plenty of reviewers ignore the Volkswagen Eos convertible's dismal reliability ratings and recommend it anyway. They say it's the least expensive retractable-hardtop convertible with a usable backseat, good fuel economy and excellent crash protection.

Other critics recommend spending a few grand extra for the Volvo C70 convertible (*Est. $39,800) instead -- it offers all of the same benefits, plus it's roomier, more refined and more reliable. Neither the Volvo nor the Volkswagen front-wheel-drive convertibles are particularly speedy or nimble in tests, unlike the top-rated BMW 3 Series convertible (*Est. $44,550 to $50,700), but they're both rated safer in a crash. Despite its drawbacks, reviews say the VW Eos is a much better car than the only other similarly sized, retractable-hardtop convertibles in its price range: the Pontiac G6 convertible (*Est. $31,870 to $32,300) and the critical piñata, the Chrysler Sebring convertible (*Est. $27,790 to $35,125).

Reviewers particularly like the Volkswagen Eos's power folding hardtop because it has a built-in sunroof. Top down, testers say wind buffeting is minor, but they notice a lot of wind noise with the top up. Inside, reviews say the cabin is nicely finished, although the backseat and trunk are both smaller than the Volvo C70's: "While front passengers will most likely find the Eos spacious enough, adults in the backseat might feel cramped," Edmunds.com says.

The VW Eos's 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is peppy and fuel-efficient in tests, delivering 25 mpg in combined driving (21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the six-speed manual transmission, 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the six-speed automatic). The base Eos Komfort trim (*Est. $31,615) includes cruise control, a lockable cooling glove box, a pollen and odor filter, power heated mirrors and a removable wind blocker. The Eos Lux trim (*Est. $35,200) comes only with the automatic transmission and adds more upscale touches such as dual-zone climate control, heatable seats, a trip computer, an upgraded stereo and walnut interior trim. A short options list includes a $1,990 navigation system and a $1,000 sound system that adjusts itself when the top is up or down, but leather seats aren't available (seats are made of V-Tex leatherette (read: imitation leather) instead). The Volkswagen Eos hardtop convertible carries three-year, 36,000-mile basic and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranties.

ConsumerReports.org and Edmunds.com offer the most complete reviews of the Volkswagen Eos, based on expert tests. MSNAutos.com and Automobile Magazine don't provide full, test-based reviews, but they do help explain where the Volkswagen Eos fits in the marketplace. Although the U.S. government has not crash tested the Eos, we found crash-test scores at the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. FuelEconomy.gov posts official fuel-economy estimates, and J.D. Power and Associates provides reliability ratings.

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Volkswagen Eos

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Experts here test the Volkswagen Eos and rate it among its peers. Unlike many review sources, ConsumerReports.org emphasizes practical considerations like reliability and fuel economy.

Review: Volkswagen Eos, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Edmunds.com

Editors put the VW Eos on their Top Recommended Convertibles list for 2009. They find a lot to like, especially for the price, although they note the Eos's "not-so-sporty handling."

Review: 2009 Volkswagen Eos Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

3. MSN Autos

MSN Autos chooses the Volkswagen Eos as one of "10 standouts from across all price categories" in the convertible segment. A brief write-up summarizes why reviewer Marc Lachapelle believes the Eos is the best four-seat, retractable-hardtop convertible out there.

Review: Top 10 Convertibles for 2009, Marc Lachapelle

4. Automobile Magazine Details/Subscribe

Automobile Magazine picks five fuel-efficient convertibles, including the Volkswagen Eos, which ties with the Audi A4 Cabriolet for fourth-place fuel efficiency. This article provides only a brief summary of each car, and Automobile Magazine has not fully reviewed the Eos.

Review: Five Fuel-Sipping Convertibles for Summer, Jason Cammisa, May 30, 2008

5. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Volkswagen Eos is a Top Safety Pick here, thanks to "good" ratings in front, side and rear crash tests and standard electronic stability control. This chart shows how the Eos's safety compares with nine other midsize convertibles'.

Review: Midsize Convertibles, Editors of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

6. Environmental Protection Agency

This chart shows official fuel-economy estimates for the Volkswagen Eos and dozens of other subcompact cars. This website is where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posts fuel economy estimates for most cars on the market.

Review: 2009 Subcompact Cars, Editors of the Environmental Protection Agency

7. J.D. Power and Associates

The Volkswagen Eos is not a very dependable car, according to owner surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. This page lists all J.D. Power and Associates ratings for the Volkswagen Eos, including those for performance and design and initial quality.

Review: 2009 Volkswagen Eos Convertible, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates