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Volkswagen Sharan (2000 - 2010)

SHARAN SHARE ALIKE (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 160

MPV buyers tend to be a conservative bunch. Rarely interested in way out styling or ridiculous engines, the key demands are practicality, reliability, and quality all underlined by manageable costs. Perhaps that's why the Volkswagen Sharan has been such a consistently high performer in the UK sales charts. Although buyers know that under the skin the mechanicals are much the same as a SEAT Alhambra or a Ford Galaxy, the badge on the bonnet tends to plump up the Sharan's resale values to such an extent that it usually overcomes the premium you'd have paid for the Wolfsburg product from new. All of which is great news for the smugly smiling vendor but not such a happy story for the used buyer out to shave a few pounds off the deal. Demand for good, late Sharans runs high so although there may not be many outrageous bargains out there, at least you know you'll be driving home a quality MPV.

Modelsword count: 22

Models Covered: 5dr MPV, 1.8 turbo, 2.0, 2.8 V6, 2.8 V6 4WD, 1.9TD 115,130bhp PD [SL, SE, BlueMotion, Sport, Carat, 4Motion Carat]

Historyword count: 230

Sharan history dates back to the early nineties when Volkswagen and Ford jointly funded the design programme and built a new factory in Portugal to handle production. The Sharan, Alhambra and Galaxy carved the market up nicely between them, giving Renault's fat and complacent Espace a good kick in the pants. By 2000, however, the MPV landscape had changed significantly. Cars like the Renault Scenic and the Citroen Xsara Picasso had proved that many customers really did think that good things came in small packages. Volkswagen responded by improving the Sharan, giving it more of its own identity with an all-new nose and tail styling. More importantly in the face of clever-clogs upstarts such as the Vauxhall Zafira, the Sharan featured seven seats as standard. A 115bhp 'Pump Duse' turbo diesel engine was introduced which was mated to the 4Motion all-wheel drive system in late 2001 although this model was deleted shortly thereafter. Value-packed Sharan SL entry-level models appeared in 2002, and in early 2003 the powerful 130bhp Pump Duse diesel engine was plumbed into Volkswagen's MPV. 2004 then saw a restyle to the rear end and wing mirror-mounted side indicators added. Front and rear parking sensors also became standard across the range. The BlueMotion model arrived early in 2008. Based around the 2.0-litre TDI engine, it brought a series of modifications designed to lower emissions and boost fuel economy.

What You Getword count: 399

Early Sharan owners who haven't 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. 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. Since they were going to all this trouble, the German designers couldn't resist also tinkering with the exterior to create a more distinctive look that would distance the Sharan from its Ford and SEAT clones. Hence a new set of Golf-style clear-lens headlamps and a Bora-look bonnet and front grille. At the back, there's a slightly bigger rear window and restyled light clusters. 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. 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. This current Sharan corrects most of what was wrong with the original. If the Spanish factory can now continue to produce cars as well screwed together as those from Volkswagen's base in Wolfsburg, then this car should also continue to lead its class.

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Pictures (high res disabled)

Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: MPV People Carriers

Performance
70%
Handling
60%
Comfort
60%
Space
80%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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