Volkswagen Sharan SEL 2.0-litre TDR SCR 184PS 6spd DSG

IF a people carrier could be called ‘high-end’ then the latest incarnation of the Volkswagen Sharan is the executive’s best choice.

Far from being just a van-with-windows, the Sharan offers an opulent cabin environment backed up with a surprising turn of speed thanks to a healthy 184PS to call on despite its seven-seat configuration.

Yet, with its diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology it boasts a claim to green credentials backed-up by a benefit-in-kind tax-busting combined fuel economy of a claimed 53.3mpg.

The Volkswagen Sharan SEL review car is the refreshed version of the second generation Sharan boasting new electronics and improved handling over previous versions of the do-anything family and business people bus.

What’s hot?

• In range-topping SEL trim, both driver and passengers would easily forget they are in a MPV instead of an executive high-speed cruiser thanks to VW’s fabled quality build, cosseting upholstery, and classy electronics and instruments displays.
• Naturally, there’s internal space that could almost be measured in acreage with tons of rooms for passengers and luggage plus ample leg and elbow room. Even with all seven seats in place, the boot still offers a very useful 375 litres of stowage. Drop the two rear rows and the car becomes a proper van with 2,297-litres capacity plus a totally flat loading area.
• With the range-topping 184PS 2.0-litre TDI, the Sharan is a seriously quick mover covering the 0-62mph sprint in just 8.9secs up to a top speed of 132mph (for those German business trips, naturally!)
• Despite the pace, the big ‘bus’ weighs in with a creditable 27% BIK rating thanks to claimed C02 emissions of just 139g/km and a combined fuel economy of 53.3mpg. Urban conscious drivers will also appreciate its ‘clean air’ technology in the shape of diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
• Comfort is supreme and yet handling is good for such a big craft, helped by the optional dynamic chassis control costing an extra £835 and providing three drive modes of sport, comfort and normal. Other bolt-ons worth considering are electric rear sliding doors (£625), keyless entry with remote activation of sliding doors and tailgate (£810), an integrated child seat (£210) and, for towers, the swivelling tuck-away tow bar (£860).

• A healthy list of standard kit includes electronic stability control with differential lock and traction control, front radar assist with city emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, full Bluetooth connectivity, 17-inch alloys, Panoramic glass roof, and a wealth of storage compartments in dashboard, roof console, footwells in the second row.

What’s not?

• While carmakers get their fuel economy claims from near laboratory testing, in the real world you will pay for all that grunt and I saw a genuine average of 39mpg on a 600-mile city and motorway test.
• Happy with high-speed cruising, the car does suffer from a bit too much wind noise inside the otherwise serene cabin environment.
• While the Sharan has avoided the latest trend to minimise cupholder provision in some vehicles recently driven, the second row ‘airplane’ fold down tables don’t grip items enough for the driver’s natural exuberance testing the car’s cornering abilities.
• The lack of VW’s full parking assist system is surprising in vehicle with a starting price of £36,600 for the SEL with the excellent six-speed DSG gearbox and would be perfect for ease of use in such a big car.
• While the standard Discover Navigation satnav infotainment system is polished in operation and easy to use, I could not find a setting for it to recognise postcodes (which, apparently is behind the ‘City’ button) when in other VW models I’ve tested the setting is very obvious.
• Its £125 connectivity option of Car-Net ‘App Connect’ which links your Apple or Android to the car’s display screen means you have to use that screen for all phone calls, for example, because the steering wheel phone button is only for the Bluetooth connect which gets disabled in CarPlay or Android Auto.

Volkswagen Sharan SEL review verdict

The Volkswagen Sharan is not the cheapest full-size MPV you can buy but it must be among the classiest offering a blend of comfort and style that few of its rivals can match.

If you need huge amounts of space that can be configured in several different ways but still want that executive feel to your driving experience, the Sharan is hard to beat, except… if only its sat-nav had a postcode setting!

The Low Down…..

…..and what it costs