Volkswagen Eos gets an update

Bluetooth and media connectivity are notable absences in the current car. They weren't a big deal when the car launched here in 2007, but the take-up of both technologies in the intervening years means they are now expected as standard features.

So they're in, along with a facelift to give the Eos the wide horizontal grille that marks the latest VW look, a sharper edge to the bootlid and new LED tail lights.

The extra features come at a $500 premium to the existing models, putting the 103kW/320Nm turbodiesel at $49,990 and the 155kW/280Nm petrol engine at $51,990.

Fuel consumption on both engines is down by 200ml to 5.9 litres/100km for the diesel and 7.7 litres/100km for the petrol.

There is no manual gearbox with either engine. VW spokesman Karl Gehling said the uptake of manuals on the 5500 cars sold here since launch showed only 15 per cent of buyers opted for a clutch, so it was deleted for the update.

That makes the six-speed DSG semi-automated transmission the only choice, but it's not a bad one.

The five-piece hardtop roof includes a sunroof so owners can choose between a coupe look, coupe with the sunroof open or pure open-air convertible. The opening/closing process takes around 25 seconds.

There's a 205-litre "chute" in the centre of the boot that is spacious enough to take soft baggage, providing they can be squeezed through the fairly narrow opening.

Options run from metallic paint at $700, to $900 for the self-parking software, $1500 for electric front seats, $2000 for a premium 600W sound system, $2100 for bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering mode and $2500 to add satnav.