It’s hard to believe that Volkswagen Sharan is now pushing 15-years old, yet here we are with only the third generation of the full-size people carrier. Volkswagen’s ‘don’t fix what ain’t broken’ approach means the new Sharan is not radically altered from the previous model, but there are plenty of new practical touches to help the Sharan stay on terms with its key rivals, including a surprisingly small and able 1.4-litre petrol engine.
The VW badge on the front of the Sharan is a reassuring symbol for many MPV buyers, so the Sharan is guaranteed solid residual values. This is just as well as it’s not the cheapest car in its class to buy new. The entry-level S model may come with an electric parking brake, electric windows front and rear, air conditioning and a CDF stereo, but no alloy wheels seems mean. The SE model is set to be the most popular and includes alloy wheels, height adjustment for both front seats, front and rear parking sensors and Bluetooth connectivity. Go for the SEL and you get Alcantara-covered seats, rear privacy glass, cruise control, larger alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof. The Executive version has all of the SEL’s features but has six seats instead of seven and full leather upholstery. The 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel is the most likely choice of Sharan buyers and offers 52.3mpg combined economy and 143g/km to be cost effective for private and company drivers. The 1.4 TSI is the pick of the petrols with average economy of 38.1mpg and 172g/km carbon dioxide emissions.
Read the full 2010 Volkswagen Sharan road test
