2011 Volkswagen Eos

The Volkswagen Eos is a two-door, four-seat, retractable hardtop convertible.Press a button and the hard roof rises up, the trunk lid opens, the rear window folds, then the pieces neatly stack themselves into the trunk before the lid closes, hiding everything and giving the Eos the clean look of a convertible.Press the button again and the glass-paneled roof rises, unfolds, and firmly latches in place.Eos is now a sanctuary, tight and quiet as a coupe.Previously the domain of more expensive cars, the Volkswagen Eos delivers a high-tech folding metal roof at an affordable price.

Even with the top down, the Eos feels tighter than most convertibles of the past, with less cowl shake on rough roads.When it is raised, the hardtop, with its sweeping, panoramic glass roof, gives the Eos a unique appearance.And it's entertaining to watch it go up or down, a feat that can be performed by remote control.

Though it's a small car, the Eos seats four, and getting into the back seat is relatively easy.The interior is trimmed nicely, an area where Volkswagen excels.