VW Eos SE BlueMotion 1.4 litre TSI03 | 01 | 2012Scotcars rating

    With the taste of sea salt thick in the air, we take the VW Eos to Whitby for a grand day out!

    Overview

    The North Yorkshire town of Whitby is renowned for several things. It provided the inspiration for Bram Stoker to write his spine-tingling stories about his creation Dracula; the long-established Trenchers restaurant near the harbour serves some of the best fish teas on the planet; and the fresh air rushing straight in from the North Sea certainly helps clear the tubes. I have no personal experience of vampires, but I can vouch for the quality of the other two.

    On my way to a plateful of the finest cod and chips, I headed down the coast from the industrial north east of England and with the roof down on this latest version of the Eos from Volkswagen I was able to take in lung-fulls of the freshest salt-filled air straight from the sea. The other delights of open top motoring – the sounds and smells of the countryside — are often forgotten in the over-riding appeal of being open to the elements. But for me they are the icing on the cake of driving a cabrio and fully experiencing the environment around you and coming out from your glass and steel compartment. For me, the Eos is one of the best around combining VW quality with comfort and performance. The latest model has a softer and more appealing look than the original.   

    On the Road

    The Eos – it’s named after the Greek Goddess of the Dawn — has been around since 2006 and it has a loyal following amongst a small and exclusive bunch of owners. In 2011, fewer than 2000 models took to British roads and they’re not a common sight around Europe, possibly because they appeal to discerning buyers who’re looking for quality and sophistication rather than superficial appeal.

    Although it is similar in size to the Golf and Passat, it is far more than a saloon with its roof removed. It was designed from the base up as a convertible coupe, which means it is much more rigid with less of the notorious scuttle-shake common in many drop tops, and it feels better to drive with increased refinement and safety.

    The five-part folding roof is a delight to behold as it drops or rises, and what’s significant is that the car looks just as good either up or down. The test car came with a wind deflector, which seemed expensive as a £255 option, but when installed over the rear seats, reduced the buffeting in the cockpit. The 1.4 litre petrol engine – the smallest of the four available – came with BlueMotion technology, VW’s system of combining economy and efficiency with performance and practicality. It certainly felt lively and very much up to the job.  

    Comfort and Safety

    As in every VW, the interior is clean and efficient and the controls and displays are in just the right place, getting on with their work without any effort on your part. Interior space is generous  and although no one got the opportunity to use the rear seats while I had the car, I’m told that two full size adults can be accommodated comfortably.

    The North Sea air can be fresh, to say the least, but I found the heating system was well able to counter the exterior chill as I made my way back up the coast. On the face of it, the car is at the upper end of the price bracket but you do get a lot for your money and as with every VW, you know everything will work, and continue to work, for a long time to come.  

    Would I buy one?

    For a fresh outlook on your motoring and individual style, this would be a good choice.

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    Alan Douglas

    Quick Stats
    Price OTR/As Tested £23,130 / £27,045
    Engine / Power: 1390cc / 120bhp
    How fast?: 0-62mph 10.9s / Max 123 mph
    How big/heavy?: L4423mm W2009mm H1444mm / Weight 1920kg
    How thirsty/CO2?: 45.6mpg combined / CO2 144g/km
    InsGP/Road tax: 18E / Band F £130
    Alternatives: Audi A3 Cabrio; BMW1 Cabrio; Ford Focus Cabrio; Peugeot 308CC

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