Introduced in 2006, the Volkswagen Eos was meant to be a new and appealing option for those wanting a hard top convertible. It’s also the only hard-top convertible in the United States to have a built-in power sunroof, which is perfect for these cooler Fall days. Although 2015 will be the last year of production for the Eos, it’s going out with some style and a commemorative “Final Edition” trim.

The Final Edition replaces the Sport trim for 2015 and they’ve also introduced two new colors—Flash Red and Pure White. Our tester arrived in Black Oak Brown Metallic exterior with 18-inch Vicenza wheels. The wheels offer a distinctive style that makes a great alternative to black wheels, which seem to be growing in popularity. While the top is up it has smooth, continuous line. It’s when the top is down that the Eos really shines. The interior and exterior flow in and out of each other—especially with our tester’s color scheme: Black Oak Brown Metallic and the beige and black two-tone interior. The U shape LED daytime running light design brings the Eos in line with the current VW lineup. The Eos is also equipped with bright LED taillights sharing a similar design to other Volkswagen models.

VW includes rain-sensing windshield wipers and a rearview camera in the Final Edition Eos. The camera is a definite necessity since rear visibility is lacking when the roof is closed. The two-tone Vienna leather interior and contrast stitching added an element of class. In about 25 seconds, you can go from top up to top down. Just watching it transition from one state to the other is mesmerizing. It’s a perfectly-timed mechanized ballet of panels and pivots. There’s also a handy switch on the driver door that controls all four windows at once. The Eos’ touch-screen infotainment system is one of the most basic in the business with minimal graphics. However, just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it lacks features like Bluetooth connectivity and Media Device Interface (MDI) with iPod cable.

The Eos offers a fun drive in a Golf-inspired package. VW’s 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft torque. Paired with the peppy engine is a superb six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and sport suspension. It’s a winning combination. You can be serious in the Eos or relax and enjoy the ride. As you change gears on the open road, the Eos fires small retorts from the dual exhaust. It’s enough to make you want to accelerate just a little more than you need to so you can hear it again. Even with the sport suspension, standard on the Final Edition, it maintained a comfortable ride. Overall, the fuel economy was favorable, hitting the EPA average of 25 mpg combined city and highway.

This final Eos is certainly worthy of its “Final Edition” name. Although it hasn’t been a popular vehicle—selling a little over 4,000 units in the US for 2013, it’s a great car with something different to offer. Just remember, we’re losing a unique configuration. Some may consider $40k to be expensive, but for what you get, the Eos is worth it. And as with most things, nobody misses it until it’s gone.

-Danielle Assenheimer