Thinking of buying a used Volkswagen Sharan?
The style of the car
The Sharan is a large and practical seven-seat MPV with brilliant build quality. It has a huge interior, with wide-opening sliding rear doors providing easy access. Big windows create a bright and airy interior coupled with excellent all-round road visibility.
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How it drives
Soft suspension and supportive seats make the Sharan a comfortable choice, particularly for long journeys. Precise steering and excellent visibility mean it feels compact on the move and it’s easy to drive around town, especially with the optional DSG automatic gearbox. The petrol and diesel engines are smooth and responsive, even when the Volkswagen is carrying a full load of passengers and luggage. It also makes a good choice for towing, particularly the diesel versions.
The interior
The seven-seat Sharan’s interior is particularly spacious, making it one of the best family cars you can buy. Those sitting in the back get plenty of head and legroom thanks to seats that slide and recline, plus there are handy features such as fold out picnic tables. The third row seats fold easily out of the boot floor and are comfortable for adults even on long journeys. There are lots of family-friendly storage compartments, while the boot is huge and will hold three medium sized suitcases even with all seven seats in place. With all the seats folded down there’s a van-like 2,297-litres of capacity.
Lots of standard equipment adds to the appeal, with S trim getting air con and touchscreen infotainment with Bluetooth connectivity. SE Nav adds sat nav and automatic headlamps and wipers, while the SE L also has half leather trim, a panoramic glass roof and heated seats.
Running costs and reliability
The large and well equipped Sharan is a great value family car choice. Good fuel economy and low annual tax bills make it cost-effective to run, while the frugal diesels are particularly good for high mileage drivers. Volkswagen offers affordable pre-paid servicing plans and insurance premiums are competitive. Volkswagen is famed for the durability and dependability of its cars. Safety is excellent too and the Sharan was awarded five stars by Euro NCAP.
How it compares with similar cars
The Sharan is Volkwagen’s mid-size MPV. It’s bigger than the Volkswagen Touran and smaller than the eight-seat Volkswagen Caravelle. It’s bigger and has a more premium finish than both the Ford Galaxy and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso/Spacetourer.
