Perhaps it’s a German thing. Just like the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec we tested a couple weeks back, the Volkswagen Eos features a navigation system devoid of touch-screen controls. C’mon people – even the 2008 Saturn Vue we’ve got in the office this week has a touch-screen nav system. At least the VW’s setup is easy to use, offers a high-resolution map, and includes a clearly-marked button for switching between day and night brightness settings. Most of the radio controls are buried in the navigation system with the exception of equalizer, band, and mute buttons. We’d prefer controls that could be accessed quickly, along with larger dials than those provided for volume and tuning. However, the illuminated steering wheel audio controls are a welcome feature.

Climate Controls
Controlling the climate settings within the Volkswagen Eos is generally a straight-forward affair, with a few quirks thrown in for good measure. Three dials address driver temperature, passenger temperature, and fan speed, while buttons take care of fan direction, defrost, and other secondary functions. There are even small digital screens that display the different temperature settings for driver and passenger. So far, so good. Then there are the knobs for the front heated seats. They’re a must-have in convertibles, and the availability of five settings makes sure each body is kept comfortable. But the “on” light isn’t distinguishable in daylight and blends in with all the other dash lights at night, leaving one to question whether the seats are being heated or if too many beans were consumed with last night’s dinner.

Secondary Controls
There was only one button that temporary eluded us, and coincidentally, it was tied to a feature that is seldom associated with convertibles. We’re talking about the power sunroof, which as we discovered, requires use of a switch below the center armrest. It’s integrated with the power retractable hard top switch, a coupling that makes complete sense. Once you find them, that is. All of the typical power functions feature buttons where we’ve all come to expect, and the ESP (stability control) off button is clearly labeled in the center console. The front power windows include and auto up/down function, and all four windows can be raised or lowered with one handy button.