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<p dir="ltr">The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.</p>

<p dir="ltr">However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.</p>


VOLKSWAGEN

SHARAN

<p>The Volkswagen Sharan is a comfortable, roomy seven-seater that's rewarding to drive</p>


Used Volkswagen Sharan MPV 1995 - 2011

<p>The VW Sharan is dearer to buy than its siblings, but it will hold its value pretty well - the snob value of its badge helps - and you shouldn't have to give your plastic a beating to keep it on the road.</p>

<p>It's pretty reliable, too, so unscheduled maintenance is likely to be kept to a minimum, and routine service costs are in line with those of most of its rivals, including the Galaxy and Alhambra.</p>

<p>Insurance is also reasonable. Reckon on paying for group 22-27 whichever you buy, unless you've gone for the group 29 V6 petrol. If you have, you'll be getting low to mid-20s to the gallon. However, the diesels hover around the 40mpg mark - very good given the Sharan's size and weight. The 2.0 and 1.8 T petrols drop that to about 30mpg, but that's still far from bad.</p>

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The Volkswagen Sharan is a comfortable, roomy seven-seater that's rewarding to drive

<p>The low-down muscle of the 1.9 TDI turbodiesel suits the Sharan best, and you can take your pick from 90, 110, 115 and 130bhp versions. All are smooth, reasonably quiet and strong, and sip their fuel at a gentle rate.</p>

<p>There's also a 138bhp 2.0 TDI turbodiesel available on newer Sharans, but overall we prefer the 110bhp and 115bhp engines.</p>

<p>Alternatively, there are three petrols and the best of them is the 150bhp turbocharged 1.8T. The 113bhp 2.0 feels underpowered with a load on board, whereas the 201bhp 2.8-litre V6 - also available with four-wheel drive - is rapid and sweet, but too thirsty for most pockets.</p>

<p>As is so often the case, the later the car the better. A facelift in 2000 brought slightly smarter looks and better equipment levels, which were improved again in 2002. All have plenty of safety kit, air-con, electric front windows and alloy wheels as standard, but if you want the full-on luxury treatment go for Carat or SE trim.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

<p>Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.</p>

<p>Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.</p>

<p>But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.</p>

<p>Electrical gremlins can strike the Sharan - faulty electric windows, alarms, immobilisers, central locking, and so on - so give everything operated by a button or switch a thorough going over. On early cars, leaks through the ventilation can cause the electrics to go haywire, although this was cured on later models.</p>

<p>Pay particular attention to the air-con, which is one of the most trouble-prone features of the Sharan - and one of the most expensive to fix (a four-figure sum isn't uncommon). A separate fault can prevent the wipers from being switched off.</p>

<p>Watch out for worn or knocking suspension, and not just on cars that have had a hard life. Ensure the car goes and stops straight and that tyre wear is consistent.</p>

<p>The interior is pretty robust but check for signs of abuse from over-ambitious cargo shifters and, more likely, bored young children on the school run.</p>

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<p>If you've driven a Ford Galaxy or Seat Alhambra, you've driven a Volkswagen Sharan. They're identical apart from differing levels of equipment and gentle corporate identity kits.</p>

<p>They're also pretty good to drive. Like its brothers, the Sharan is tidy around corners, and while the ride is firm, it's never uncomfortably so, and becomes smoother at higher speeds.</p>

<p>Cruising suits the Sharan well. All the engines are muted and the cabin is free from other intrusive noise. The seats are comfortable on long hauls, while the good driving position and fine all-round vision help shrink the miles, too.</p>

<p>Last, but very definitely not least, the Sharan's practicality is very good. All seven seats can be folded and slid, while the five rearmost ones can be removed, given enough muscle and patience. Cargo space is huge when you do, but (in common with many other MPVs) it's very limited with all seven seats in place.</p>

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Used Volkswagen Sharan MPV 1995 - 2011 reliability

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Used Volkswagen Sharan MPV 1995 - 2011 review

Electrical gremlins can strike the Sharan - faulty electric windows, alarms, immobilisers, central locking, and so on - so give everything operated by a button or switch a thorough going over. On early cars, leaks through the ventilation can cause the electrics to go haywire, although this was cured on later models.,Pay particular attention to the air-con, which is one of the most trouble-prone features of the Sharan - and one of the most expensive to fix (a four-figure sum isn't uncommon). A separate fault can prevent the wipers from being switched off.,Watch out for worn or knocking suspension, and not just on cars that have had a hard life. Ensure the car goes and stops straight and that tyre wear is consistent.The interior is pretty robust but check for signs of abuse from over-ambitious cargo shifters and, more likely, bored young children on the school run. 

What to look for when buying a Volkswagen Sharan 1995 - 2011, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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