Insurance Group: 18
MPG: 49.6
CO2: 149
0-62 Mph: 10.9 secs
BHP: 138 BHP
Range: 764 miles
PROS: Roomy and versatile cabin, ability to carry seven in comfort, classy and durable cabin interior, fine handling, very useful sliding doors, excellent reliability, clean and eco-friendly engine.
CONS: It doesn’t come cheap, equipment level is not as generous as some competitors, higher servicing costs than some rivals.
Inside the cabin, the driver’s seat and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustment, so anyone can get comfortable. Visibility all round is good thanks to the high-up driving position. The dash is well designed and clearly laid out. Most of the controls and switches are borrowed from other VW models.
This model is fitted with VW’s 2.0-litre 138bhp turbocharged diesel engine, which has plenty of mid-range muscle, producing maximum torque of 236lb-ft. It has a top speed of 119mph and is capable of propelling the MPV from 0-62mph in a very respectable 10.9 seconds. It’s a strong engine and a six-speed semi-automatic DSG gearbox is fitted as standard.
The new Sharan has come a long way from its previous boxy van styling. Now it’s sleeker and sits 12mm lower, and the 30kg of weight that has been shed makes it much more agile and car-like when cornering. On the motorway it’s smooth and fuss-free, and it now rides well enough to contend with the likes of Ford’s Galaxy.
There’s little engine noise inside the cabin, and wind and road noise are also hushed. There is a substantial amount of wind-noise from around the door mirrors at speed, however.
The new Sharan has been totally redesigned from the ground up and it now looks much sleeker and stylish than before. It sits lower than the previous version - making it look less like a van and more like a big car. The interior has also been revamped and is much more upmarket than before.
The Sharan SEL is well equipped for an MPV and includes all the usual kit you’d expect such as power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, climate control, electric mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, stability control, rear parking sensor, Alcantara seats, alarm, immobiliser, CD+MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth.
Volkswagen also offers a range of optional extras such as metallic paint (£495) and satellite navigation (£380).
The Sharan SEL 2.0 TDI (140ps) DSG is a real seven-seater with plenty of space to travel in comfort. With its sliding doors, it’s easy to get in and out, even in tight parking spaces. The five rear seats all fold down giving you access to an impressive 2,297-litres of space and even with the rear seats in position, you get a very decent 375-litres of boot space to use.
EuroNCAP awarded the Sharan its maximum five-star rating overall for safety in its crash-tests. All Sharan models come with seven airbags, with curtain airbags covering the entire cabin, and stability control as standard.
Anti-theft measures include an alarm, immobiliser, deadlocks, security-etched components and locking wheel nuts.
The quality materials used in the Sharan look and feel solid and durable and the finish is excellent. The mechanicals are well tried and tested, so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about reliability. Volkswagen has an enviable reputation for reliability and scores above average consistently in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey.
The Sharan comes covered by VW’s three-year 60,000 mile warranty.
At £31,610 the Sharan SEL 2.0 TDI DSG five-door MPV is a similar price to the Ford Galaxy. However, the VW is nearly £4k more expensive than the equivalent Seat Alhambra, a car that offers identical performance and economy figures and a similar range of kit.
The Sharan SEL 2.0 TDI (140ps) DSG's average fuel economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km are very competitive, and the Sharan’s residual value after three years will be very good. While there are cheaper and smaller MPV options that will suit many people’s needs, if you really do need seven-seater capacity then the Sharan is an excellent choice.
Insurance is in group 18 and Road Tax is in VED band F which are typical in this class, but you can expect VW servicing costs to be more than you’d pay for the Ford Galaxy.
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