SOME drivers demand the best of both worlds. Powerful engine, rakish good looks and wind-in-the hair freedom, combined with four-seater versatility, the security of a hard-top and even a decent amount of luggage space.

The answer, of course, is the coupé-convertible and car makers have been quick to deliver. Everyone from Peugeot to Vauxhall, Renault to Ford has raced to fill demand.

Volkswagen's offering, the Eos, named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, slots sizewise into the range between the Golf and the Passat.

And it is unique in its class, being the only convertible with a tilt-and-slide sunroof fitted as standard.

The piece of cleverness is delivered thanks to a mind-bogglingly complex hard-top roof.

All coupé-cabriolets have clever folding roofs, but this one is an intricate, five-piece, steel and glass creation that automatically tucks itself away in the boot, at the touch of a button, in just 25 seconds.

As you would expect from Volkswagen, the Portugese-built car, which is priced from under £20,000 to more than £28,000, is well-made and equally well-equipped.

Everything possible has been done to maintain the smooth lines of the car and even the radio and satellite navigation antennae have been built into the bootlid.

Inside, the switchgear and dials will be familiar to any Volkswagen driver and optional on all, except the entry-level model, are 12-way, electrically-operated, easy-entry sliding seats for access to the rear.

These are particularly useful if you frequently carry passengers in the back, as they not only allow easier access to the rear, they also return the front seat to the original position set by the driver.

To add to the practicality, a lockable hatch is integrated into the Eos's rear seats, allowing the transport of skis and other long or bulky items.

With apparently no fewer than 470 separate components in the roof alone, some rattling is probably inevitable, though it is only noticeable with the roof up on uneven roads.

The Eos is offered with a choice of five engines: four petrol units ranging from 1.6-litre to a blisteringly-quick 3.2-litre V6 and a 2.0-litre 140 horsepower diesel.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while the 200 horsepower petrol and the TDI are offered with Volkswagen's semi-automatic gearbox, which is standard with the V6 engine.

With that sort of choice, even the most demanding driver should be able to find something to suit.

Auto facts Volkswagen Eos 2.0 T-FSI

  • Price: £23,640
  • Ins group: 15
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 33.6mpg
  • Top speed: 144mph
  • Length: 440.7cm/173.5in
  • Width: 179.1cm/70.5in
  • Luggage capacity: 7.2 cu ft (roof open)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 12.1 gallons/55 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 202g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles