Dawn of a new era

7:30pm Monday 4th February 2008

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Remember when having a cabriolet was a challenge?

The fun of having wind in your hair on a nice day was tempered by billowing canvas on the other 360 days a year when wind and rain made it anything but exotic.

Things have changed, though. Today's soft-tops are, in fact, anything but soft. Most now have hard-tops which fold away gracefully.

Volkswagen is one of the latest manufacturers to follow this trend with the Eos, a large cabriolet which seems to have a market to itself.

It's bigger than the likes of Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Renault Megane coupe-cabriolets, yet smaller and cheaper than the premium versions such as Audi and BMW.

Eos (the name, by the way, us from the Greek goddess of the dawn), is VW's first coupe-cabriolet but open-top motoring is nothing new to this manufacturer which used to sell Golf cabriolets by the shipload.

The Eos is being referred to as a CSC - coupe, sunroof and convertible - to distinguish it from the many couple-cabriolets (CCs). Like some of its rivals, the Eos has a glass panel in its roof structure, allowing much more light into the cabin, but uniquely it can slide this panel back like a regular sunroof. Press the button the other way and the whole roof stows in the boot.

Sun worshippers will love it, as will the fashion conscious. Although sharing some of its bones with the Golf, it looks quite distinct from its hatchback brother, and seems much bigger.

Roof up or down, the Eos is understated but attractive, and in the right colour will set heads turning on the high street. Like many modern cars with a strong styling theme, wheel choice is vital, but the Sport version tested here comes with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Inside the Eos is as sturdy and appealing as every other VW. The dashboard layout is clear and simple, and with a wide choice of fabrics and trim options, its easy to create a cabin as attractive as the exterior. For once, the wood trim and leather option looks just right.

Space, often an issue in convertibles, presents few problems here. Those up front can relax, while only the tallest of passengers confined to the rear will lack head or legroom. Boot space is a useful 380 litres, dropping to 200 with the roof down.

Out on the road, Eos has a level of sophistication that will win it many fans. Striking an excellent compromise between comfort and handling, everyday driving causes little disturbance in the cabin - bumps are well smothered, and noise levels are kept in check.

Start pressing on, and the Eos is happy to join in. The steering is accurate, the suspension composed and body shake is hard to induce, giving it a solid feel. It may feel a step down in terms of dynamics from a Golf GTi, but its more than enough to satisfy its buyers. Performance suffers a little as a result of the weight - the 2.0-litre 197bhp T-FSI engine delivers 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, yet it feels almost leisurely in comparison to other applications of the same engine.

There's a great deal to recommend the Eos. It is as rounded and capable as any coupe-convertible can be, and the style factor is sufficient to attract a number of buyers on looks alone.

Volkswagen Eos 2.0 FSI Sport

PRICE: £22,087. What Car? says you can pick one up for £21,553

ENGINE: A 2.0 litre unit generating 148bhp

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 130mph, 0 to 60mph in 9.8 seconds

COSTS: Average 34mpg

INSURANCE: Group 12

EMISSIONS: 189g/km

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles