How to go topless: the newly released 2007 Volkswagen Eos convertible combines the amenities of luxury hardtops with a price everybody can love.

Anyone who has owned a convertible know it's no fun to put the top up. The interior instantly transforms from big sky to little cabin. That is, unless you drive the Volkswagen Eos. Named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, the ear's most distinguishing feature is its fully automatic five-panel retractable hardtop--outfitted with an integrated glass sunroof.

Eos marries a no-nonsense German body to a treasure trove of amenities to become VW's newest everyman fun ride. With a price tag in the $30,000 range, you've got a good shot at one of the best hardtop convertible experiences yet.

EXTERIOR: A lot like the new Golf, but topless. It takes about 25 seconds to lower the hardtop, which isn't bad, but you'll need to pack light because it takes up the majority of the trunk when it gets there. An Adaptive Front Lighting System turns the headlights on, calibrates them, and continually moves them into optimum position. For an added touch, the heated exterior mirrors feature LED turn signals.

INTERIOR: Leather, plastic, metal, and wood are integrated into an interior design that curves upward, which gives a sense of spaciousness where room is limited. The dashboard is beautifully lit with red and blue instrumentation, and the center console is illuminated from above by LED lights. And no fighting over temperature: Dual-zone climate controls adjust the interior temperature depending on whether the top is up or down, and front seats have their own electric warmers.

SAFETY: Standard air bags and a rollover protection system that deploys safety bars from behind the backseat. Antilock hydraulic brakes and the Electronic Stabilization Program come standard. For the rest, don't worry about it: There's a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance for four years.

TRANSMISSION: Our tester was mated to the 6-speed automatic transmission with VW's Tiptronic shifting. The extra gear means better gas mileage and smoother shifting, though there were slight hesitations off the mark that caused jumpy starts.

ENGINE: There are two options--a very peppy 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo or a 250-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 engine.

GAS MILEAGE: Expect 23 miles per gallon in town and 32 on the highway.

GADGETS: The onboard DVD navigation was, um, quirky. I wound up phoning the folks at my destination instead of fighting over "street" versus "avenue." The 600-watt 10-speaker stereo has Sirius Satellite Radio and an MP3 connector in the glove box.