Road Test: Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI S 140 5dr

In today’s world of funky coupe-crossover-SUV-MPVs, the traditional Big-Box people carrier looks like a Neanderthal at an art gallery opening. So where does it leave this all-new Volkswagen Sharan?

We’ll come to that later. First – and be honest – you looked at that picture and wondered which Photoshop prodigy conjured up a mutated Polo, right? You’re nearly there, because the new Sharan gets Volkswagen’s DNA styling, which
we broadly understand as ‘Ctrl+C’.

This MutantPolo also gets sliding rear doors, up to seven seats and between 885 and 2,430 litres of space to store Stuff. This is important, because not only does it trump the Ford Galaxy’s max loadspace by more than 100 litres, the flat, van-like rear dimensions mean those numbers are actually usable.

You can fold the Transformers-spec middle seats flush into the floor, plus they tilt and slide forward enough to make rear access very easy indeed. The final row is sufficiently commodious to prevent adults from making a Human Rights violation claim, and there are up to 33 storage compartments dotted around the cabin that, in Volkswagen’s usual fashion, look like every dash they build but use materials NASA engineers would be familiar with.

Four VW group engines are offered at launch; the ‘twincharged’ 150bhp 1.4 TSI, the 200bhp Golf GTI four-pot and two 2.0-litre diesels in 140bhp and 170bhp flavours.

We sampled the two lesser-powered units, and while the 1.4 TSI might be a little marvel in other VWs less burdened by weight, it struggles to pull the Sharan’s bulky frame with any zest, so instead, head for the base-level diesel. Sure, it’s only got 140bhp and will hit 62mph in 10.9s, but it packs 236lb ft of torque and returns a whopping 51.4mpg. It’s an easy, punchy little unit that perfectly suits a car of this type. By which we actually mean, a car you’re unlikely to go powersliding/donuting/dab-of-oppo-ing in.

The supple, controlled and rather lovely ride comfort comes courtesy of optional £650 adaptive dampers, which you should definitely specify. When suddenly in need of extra pace, you can hotfoot in the Sharan, but Stiggify it too much, and you’ll quickly learn the physics behind a big, heavy box being bullied by gravity. Understeer and roll through the corners, you will.

That’s not the point of an MPV, though, or the Sharan. For moving lots of people and Stuff in comfort, it’s perfect, nearly as good as a Galaxy. But do you need it? Sales of both MPVs (down) and crossovers (up) suggests, ‘Nein.’ The people have spoken.