Review
Once one of the best people-carriers, the Sharan now feels very dated by the standards set by more modern rivals. Not only does it look old, but the interior feels downmarket and the optional seven-seat layout isn't particularly easy to use.
Space is good for five occupants sitting in the front and middle row, but the third row seats are cramped for anybody except small children and they are awkward to fold or remove. Running as a five-seater, bootspace is good, but with all seven seats in use luggage space is very limited.
The Sharan drives with an unpretentious competence. Handling is safe and roadholding is assured up to the relatively modest limits of the chassis. Motorway cruising refinement is relatively poor, though, with lots of wind and road noise getting into the cabin at speed.
A simplified range of engines includes just one petrol powerplant, a desperately underpowered 2.0 litre unit. The two diesel motors are far better, although both the 1.9 and 2.0 litre TDIs are loud by modern standards.