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VW Eos review: The convertible Jetta

CNET reviews the 2012 Volkswagen Eos, a car that shares much with the Jetta, except its price tag.

Wayne Cunningham Managing Editor / Roadshow
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
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Wayne Cunningham

2012 Volkswagen Eos
Wayne Cunningham/CNET

With its updated Volkswagen-standard grille, the 2012 Eos looks very similar to the new Jetta. The models are about the same size. But the Eos comes with a retractable hardtop, a Transformers-like piece of engineering that takes the car from a solid roof to an open-air cabin at the push of a button.

The Eos' engine is the same as used in the GTI, offering much more power than the Jetta. And the dual-clutch transmission would seem to indicate some sports car DNA in the Eos. But with the retractable hardtop taking weight off the front drive wheels and a suspension that isn't exactly sport-tuned, the Eos isn't going to shine at autocross events.

Standard navigation is a nice feature, but the cabin tech suite is straight from the Jetta. That wouldn't be so bad, if the Eos didn't cost about $15K more.

Check out our full review of the 2012 Volkswagen Eos.