Volkswagen SHARAN RANGE
Volkswagens Second Generation Sharan Claims To Add A Touch Of Quality To Full-Sized Family MPV Motoring. Jonathan Crouch Checks It Out
Arguably,
Volkswagen's Sharan People Carrier is in a class of its own. All right, so it shares its design with
SEAT's Alhambra and
Ford's Galaxy - but neither has such a wide range of high-tech engines. And no other rival full-sized MPV design can match its ability to make such a large package feel and handle like such a small one. Now with a restyled rear and more equipment as standard, its an appealing proposition.
Not that the original design was perfect. The interior was a little plasticky and the cabin could have been a little more user friendly. These are small but significant niggles in an age when the market share for large People Carriers is constantly being eroded by smaller but arguably more versatile
mini-MPVs like
Renault's Scenic and
Vauxhall's Zafira. Hence the second generation Sharan featured here with a series of improvements made for the 2004 model year. Early Sharan owners who havent yet tried the second generation version will find a package that smacks of much greater quality, crammed with features to please family users. The first and most obvious improvement that buyers of the original Sharan will notice is the smarter dashboard, which could have been lifted from a Volkswagen Passat.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
This includes lovely touches like silver-ringed instruments, backlit at light with the familiar
Volkswagen blue glow. There's also a restyled centre console with space for the optional satellite navigation system and a chunky four-spoke steering wheel. More practical improvements include retractable cupholders, extra map pockets in the doors and a pair of useful lidded cubbyholes on top of the dash.
"A package that smacks of much greater quality, crammed with features to please family users"
The latest exterior styling revisions have brought a fresher look to the Sharan but alterations are confined to the complex rear light clusters and subtle changes to other lines around the cars tailgate. Further to this, the side indicators are now built into the wing mirror housings but thats as far as the visual changes go. For the most part this Sharan looks similar to the origional second generation model and thats no bad thing. These days, all models feature a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.
If that doesn't suit, there's the option of a 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic override that allows you flip manually between the cogs if you're in the mood. Which might often be the case thanks to the range of engines on offer. Many buyers opt for the entry-level 115bhp 2.0-litre petrol, or the base 115hp 1.
9-litre turbodiesel variants that were reduced in price following the introduction of 130bhp turbo diesel models. Theres also a potent 150bhp 1.8-litre 20v petrol turbo. Above these sits a 204bhp petrol V6, good for 135mph.
Theres also a 4Motion all-wheel drive option but only for V6 customers. The V6 engine has already proved its worth in Golf and Passat models but its torquey characteristics should really suit the heavier Sharan even better. It pulls from very low speeds, reducing the need for the usual constant gearchanging that's normally so irritating in stop-start urban motoring. It's potent too, enough to make the unfortunately optional traction control system well worth buying - yet still frugal at the pumps. An ideal family package. Seven seats are standard on all models and as far as their layout is concerned, things are pretty familiar though early Sharan buyers should find that the removable chairs themselves should feel a lot more comfortable in this current model. Sadly, they're no lighter, so lugging them in and out remains a job not to be undertaken by the weak or faint-hearted. The two front seats can be swivelled round completely to face the rear - which is great for picnics and business meetings if you're stationary and there's only four in the car. It's annoying however, that you still can't do the same with the middle set so that occupants behind the driver can face each other and talk on longer journeys. As suggested earlier, the Sharan's roadgoing behaviour was already unsurpassed in its class and a series of suspension tweaks for the second generation models improved things still further. The German engineers concentrated particularly on improving the ride over poor surfaces - the kind of thing you notice around town - and they've largely succeeded without compromising the higher speed handling that makes this car the rewarding drive it is. Despite the most recent improvement in standard specifications (curtain airbags, 16" alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors), prices remain competitive, ranging from £17,495 to £27,285 across four trim levels S, SE, Sport and Carat. As before, air-conditioning and the reassurance of a three-year warranty is standard across the range. As for other items of equipment, even the entry-level model gets security remote central locking, roof rails, an alarm, a trip computer, four airbags, ABS, an electronic engine immobiliser, electric front windows, power steering and a good quality radio cassette player. The second generation Sharan corrected most of what was wrong with the original and this facelift has made the whole package more competitive.
If the Spanish factory can now continue to produce cars as well screwed together as those from Volkswagens base in Wolfsburg, then this car should also continue to lead its class.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volkswagen Sharan range
PRICES: £17,495 -£27,285 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 178-288g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0] Max Speed 110mph / 0-60mph 15.0s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0] (urban) 23.7mpg / (constant 56mph) 41.5mpg/ (constant 75mph) 32.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 182/84/69"
<< Back to Volkswagen car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Volkswagen Cars For Sale UK
