Summary
Once large MPVs were loved by families needing to transport several children around. Then along came seven-seat SUVs, and buyers were encouraged to fall out of love with MPVs. The Volkswagen Sharan was one of few remaining contenders chasing a much smaller market of mainly executive private travel operators, and fighting principally the Ford Galaxy for sales.
Not for much longer, however. VW has now stopped making Sharans, and currently there appears to be no replacement model on the horizon as the market shifts towards seven-seat SUVs instead of MPV people carriers.
This Sharan model dates all the way back to 2010 – an eternity in new car terms. It was given a major update in 2015 and enjoyed several tweaks and minor improvements towards the end of its lifespan.
The Sharan was always a leading player in the market, especially with private hire firms. If you live in London, you’ve probably seen thousands of black Sharans ferrying passengers to and from airports. It received plenty of praise for its generous space – The Telegraph commented that the seven seats, in three rows, are all full size and with them all in place there is still a usable boot. It also praised the fit and finish of the interior, saying that to criticise the vast dash “would be splitting hairs.”
Others believe the Volkswagen is a complete package; “You can always rely on Volkswagen’s Sharan to give you build quality, performance, quality and no little style,” says The Sun. “While some MPVs can look and feel heavy, the Sharan is surprisingly nimble and neat.”
The final Sharan models offered just one engine, a 1.4-litre petrol unit of 150hp. Diesels used to dominate for this model, but all three diesel engines were discontinued earlier in the MPV’s lifetime. Testers found the petrol unit to be lively, though they add that its fuel economy does not match up to more recent powertrains.
The Telegraph praised this MPV’s road manners; “slow, consistent steering, a light clutch and progressive brakes make the Sharan incredibly easy to drive, despite its size.”
The interior finish also ticked boxes – Carbuyer called it “imaginative” and Autocar “first rate”, though several testers concluded that overall the Sharan is quite expensive for what it is.
At the time it was taken off sale, the Volkswagen Sharan held an Expert Rating of 66% based on 14 reviews. That’s about four points behind the similarly-sized Ford Galaxy.
Sharan highlights
- Lots of space
- Seven full-size seats, and a boot
- Versatile middle row
- Electric sliding doors
Sharan lowlights
- Low-speed ride a bit jittery
- Engine note can be intrusive
- Interior could be brighter
- It’s due for the chop
Key specifications
Body style: Large MPV
Engines: petrol
Price: From £34,720 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2010
Last updated: Autumn 2015
Production ended: Spring 2021
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The seven-seat VW Sharan is a great all-round family car, with a flexible interior and grown-up driving experience.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is an enormous seven-seat MPV. MPVs don’t come much bigger – or better.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is a refined, flexible and spacious seven-seat MPV, albeit one that is more expensive than its Seat Alhambra sister car.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Sharan is a thoroughly good car at taking large numbers of people or large amounts of stuff, but others are either cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, or both.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is a sensible, practical and capable seven-seat MPV, but it feels expensive compared to newer rivals.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The VW Sharan is one of the best all-round seven-seater MPVs on the market but it isn’t as funky as a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso or as sharp to drive as a Ford Galaxy.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan soldiers on as one of the few proper seven-seat MPVs left on sale in the UK. It might be old, but it offers a level of flexibility that a seven-seat SUV cannot hope to achieve.”
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Motors.co.uk
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan has a spacious cabin, practical layout, and solid build quality.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is better looking than its predecessor, and frugal with eco-friendly engines.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed:
“The Ford Galaxy may still be the level that most MPVs aspire to, but you would be seriously blundering if you did not check out the VW Sharan.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 2016
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is one of the best large MPVs.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Sharan is very good at what it sets out to do, but the Seat Alhambra does those things for considerably less.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s big, expensive and not especially clever, but it is really, really good at ferrying lots of people about. Really, really quietly.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Sharan is a spacious seven-seat MPV that’s well equipped and good to drive.”
Read review
Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
“Despite showing its age in terms of styling, the Volkswagen Sharan remains a competent and comfortable large MPV. Few models offer such space for passengers; if that’s your main priority, the Sharan is worth close consideration.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: December 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 78%
Vulnerable road users: 59%
Safety assist: 62%
This generation of Volkswagen Sharan was tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 and was awarded a four-star rating.
It scored well across the test protocols but was penalised for its rear-seat passenger protection in one of the tests, and for the rear door becoming detached during the side pole impact test. It does have autonomous emergency braking as standard.
Eco rating
The Volkswagen Sharan has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.
This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. Given that the Sharan is now a retired model, it’s highly unlikely to be put through the Green NCAP testing process.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 17
Average repair cost: £420.08
Last updated: January 2023
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
The Volkswagen Sharan has a reliability score that’s better than average, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy.
Faults are reportedly cheap to fix across the board for Sharan owners. Keep an eye out for potential gearbox problems though – repairs of that nature can cost around £1,000.
If you’re looking at a used Volkswagen Sharan, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volkswagen Sharan, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer | Citroën SpaceTourer | Ford Galaxy | Ford S-Max | Ford Tourneo Custom | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | Peugeot Traveller | Toyota Proace Verso | Vauxhall Vivaro Life | Volkswagen Caravelle
The Volkswagen Sharan has outlasted most large MPV rivals, with private buyers turning to seven-seat SUVs and car companies relying on van-based people carriers to serve private hire fleets. The Ford Galaxy remains its major challenger, while the smaller Ford S-Max and Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer are about the only other car-based MPVs still around.
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