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Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TSI (A) Review
15 Nov 2011|56,590 views
The MPV market in Singapore has been rather quiet this year, with the people carrier brigade having only a handful of facelifted models introduced in the early half of this year to show for 2011.
(That said, this is the sixth MPV I've reviewed this year. Maybe I seem to have an attraction for these mini vans somehow)
The segment received a sudden injection of life in September though, with the introduction of not one, but two MPVs, almost concurrently, to delight the family men once again.
The Chevrolet Orlando has been covered in a separate article, but probably the one that will garner the most interest will be the Volkswagen Sharan. Most notably because of Volkswagen's strong presence this year with their numerous car launches, but also because the Sharan fills a gap that it has not had a presence in for a long time, namely the full-size MPV sector.
The Sharan is designed to compete with the aforementioned Orlando, fellow Continental rivals like the Ford S-Max and Galaxy, as well as traditional Japanese favourites like the Toyota ia and Honda Odyssey. But will typically conservative family men be the latest converts to the Wolfsburg revolution?
Exterior
The Sharan bears the usual Volkswagen family look that is now all too familiar on our roads. With its chiselled Teutonic style, consisting of the horizontal slatted front grille, smooth lines and chunky, Touran-style taillights, the Sharan comes across as quite a handsome little beast.
(That said, this is the sixth MPV I've reviewed this year. Maybe I seem to have an attraction for these mini vans somehow)
The segment received a sudden injection of life in September though, with the introduction of not one, but two MPVs, almost concurrently, to delight the family men once again.
The Chevrolet Orlando has been covered in a separate article, but probably the one that will garner the most interest will be the Volkswagen Sharan. Most notably because of Volkswagen's strong presence this year with their numerous car launches, but also because the Sharan fills a gap that it has not had a presence in for a long time, namely the full-size MPV sector.
The Sharan is designed to compete with the aforementioned Orlando, fellow Continental rivals like the Ford S-Max and Galaxy, as well as traditional Japanese favourites like the Toyota ia and Honda Odyssey. But will typically conservative family men be the latest converts to the Wolfsburg revolution?
Exterior
The Sharan bears the usual Volkswagen family look that is now all too familiar on our roads. With its chiselled Teutonic style, consisting of the horizontal slatted front grille, smooth lines and chunky, Touran-style taillights, the Sharan comes across as quite a handsome little beast.
 |
Although, actually, it isn't little at all. Standing at over 4.8m long and 1.9m wide, the Sharan is a big car. But somehow, perhaps because of its design, it doesn't look ridiculously massive. Until you slot it in a parking lot and realise how it barely fits, that is.
The sloping front nose contributes a little to that deception, but that means that the front is all but invisible to the driver, which can be a bit tricky when it comes to manoeuvring this vehicle. Similarly, the wing mirrors are a tad too small for a car of the Sharan's size.
But those are really very minor niggles that can be easily overlooked, especially when you get a lovely panoramic full-length sunroof, as well as those very convenient sliding doors, which are automated for your pleasure and convenience.
 |
Interior
Those automatic sliding doors lead into an interior that is classically Volkswagen, with its simple yet effective setup. Passengers are treated to masses of room, as well as lots of storage compartments, which are perfect for storing kids' knick-knacks around the cabin.
The Sharan is also very kid-friendly, with its fold-up tables at the back of the front seats giving kids a place to place their toys or in-journey meals. The aforementioned automatic sliding doors also have a detection system whereby it stops closing if it encounters an object (like a wayward child's hand) in its way. The same applies to the rear windows. The doors can also be opened or closed using the remote key fob, or via buttons located on the centre console or on the inside of the B-pillars.
Up front, the Sharan's dashboard is built to Volkswagen's usual high quality, with nice soft touch plastics and discreet Titanium Silver metal inserts that do not come across as too garish, laid out in a standard intuitive Volkswagen manner.
Those automatic sliding doors lead into an interior that is classically Volkswagen, with its simple yet effective setup. Passengers are treated to masses of room, as well as lots of storage compartments, which are perfect for storing kids' knick-knacks around the cabin.
The Sharan is also very kid-friendly, with its fold-up tables at the back of the front seats giving kids a place to place their toys or in-journey meals. The aforementioned automatic sliding doors also have a detection system whereby it stops closing if it encounters an object (like a wayward child's hand) in its way. The same applies to the rear windows. The doors can also be opened or closed using the remote key fob, or via buttons located on the centre console or on the inside of the B-pillars.
Up front, the Sharan's dashboard is built to Volkswagen's usual high quality, with nice soft touch plastics and discreet Titanium Silver metal inserts that do not come across as too garish, laid out in a standard intuitive Volkswagen manner.
Equipment levels are also impressive, with features such as 3-zone climate control, reverse camera, panoramic sunroof all available as standard. An interesting option, and one which would be very useful for a car of the Sharan's ilk, is the Park Assist, which basically uses a series of sensors to help the Sharan park itself. We reckon it would be well worth the money to have this feature specified, if only to remove the headache out of parking in congested Singapore.
Like all MPVs, the rear seats can be folded in various configurations for optimum versatility. The second row tilts forward and allows for Easy Entry into the third row, and all of them can be Easy Fold (Volkswagen's term) to provide a luggage capacity of a massive 2,297 litres. With the seats up, the Sharan offers 375 litres of boot capacity, which is still reasonably decent. More versatility can be had with an extra cargo management system, which consists of two movable telescopic rails anchored at the sides, and allows for a net to be stretched between them, to accommodate loose items securely .
Like all MPVs, the rear seats can be folded in various configurations for optimum versatility. The second row tilts forward and allows for Easy Entry into the third row, and all of them can be Easy Fold (Volkswagen's term) to provide a luggage capacity of a massive 2,297 litres. With the seats up, the Sharan offers 375 litres of boot capacity, which is still reasonably decent. More versatility can be had with an extra cargo management system, which consists of two movable telescopic rails anchored at the sides, and allows for a net to be stretched between them, to accommodate loose items securely .
 |
The Drive
Looking at the Sharan's girth, one would expect it to drive like a typical MPV, i.e. clumsy and unwieldy.
Clearly, the folks at Volkswagen have not read the script.
The first thing you note upon moving off is that the Sharan is extremely composed, with its well-damped ride and utterly smooth operation. It feels as slick as German engineering can be, and provides for a fuss-free ride for the family.
Under the bonnet, the Sharan is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which churns out 200bhp and 280Nm of torque. The powerplant provides for an impressive amount of go, especially for a car of the Sharan's size, and the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a mere 8.3 seconds, effortlessly dismissing more than a few sedans along the way.
It is the way that the power is delivered as well that impresses the most, with its linear delivery ensuring that occupants are not unduly perturbed as you reach triple digit speeds. The Sharan's solid engineering also means that the large MPV feels stable and planted at speed.
More surprises are in store when you chuck the Sharan into the corners, as the car gamely hangs on despite its physical size. There is a tinge of body roll, because it can only defy physics so much, but otherwise, the Sharan feels decidedly un-MPV-like in its handling demeanour. It most certainly is the best driving MPV this side of a Ford S-Max, and that is saying something.
Looking at the Sharan's girth, one would expect it to drive like a typical MPV, i.e. clumsy and unwieldy.
Clearly, the folks at Volkswagen have not read the script.
The first thing you note upon moving off is that the Sharan is extremely composed, with its well-damped ride and utterly smooth operation. It feels as slick as German engineering can be, and provides for a fuss-free ride for the family.
Under the bonnet, the Sharan is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which churns out 200bhp and 280Nm of torque. The powerplant provides for an impressive amount of go, especially for a car of the Sharan's size, and the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a mere 8.3 seconds, effortlessly dismissing more than a few sedans along the way.
It is the way that the power is delivered as well that impresses the most, with its linear delivery ensuring that occupants are not unduly perturbed as you reach triple digit speeds. The Sharan's solid engineering also means that the large MPV feels stable and planted at speed.
More surprises are in store when you chuck the Sharan into the corners, as the car gamely hangs on despite its physical size. There is a tinge of body roll, because it can only defy physics so much, but otherwise, the Sharan feels decidedly un-MPV-like in its handling demeanour. It most certainly is the best driving MPV this side of a Ford S-Max, and that is saying something.
Conclusion
Volkswagen has been on hyper drive in 2011, launching numerous new models and staking its claim in every conceivable market segment in Singapore this year.
The Sharan marks the Wolfsburg carmaker's entry into the full-size MPV sector, and on this form, it looks to have another winner on its hands.
It is not just the fact that the Sharan is dynamically sound, even for an MPV, but also that, with the Sharan, Volkswagen has surpassed itself with its solid engineering and attention to detail, coming up with a product that satisfies both drivers and families.
The fact that most reviews of the Sharan so far have only found minor, nit-picking flaws (which aren't really flaws at all) with the car, is testament to Volkswagen's commitment to meeting the demanding standards of its customers. And that is reason to be appreciative.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Volkswagen has been on hyper drive in 2011, launching numerous new models and staking its claim in every conceivable market segment in Singapore this year.
The Sharan marks the Wolfsburg carmaker's entry into the full-size MPV sector, and on this form, it looks to have another winner on its hands.
It is not just the fact that the Sharan is dynamically sound, even for an MPV, but also that, with the Sharan, Volkswagen has surpassed itself with its solid engineering and attention to detail, coming up with a product that satisfies both drivers and families.
The fact that most reviews of the Sharan so far have only found minor, nit-picking flaws (which aren't really flaws at all) with the car, is testament to Volkswagen's commitment to meeting the demanding standards of its customers. And that is reason to be appreciative.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
The MPV market in Singapore has been rather quiet this year, with the people carrier brigade having only a handful of facelifted models introduced in the early half of this year to show for 2011.
(That said, this is the sixth MPV I've reviewed this year. Maybe I seem to have an attraction for these mini vans somehow)
The segment received a sudden injection of life in September though, with the introduction of not one, but two MPVs, almost concurrently, to delight the family men once again.
The Chevrolet Orlando has been covered in a separate article, but probably the one that will garner the most interest will be the Volkswagen Sharan. Most notably because of Volkswagen's strong presence this year with their numerous car launches, but also because the Sharan fills a gap that it has not had a presence in for a long time, namely the full-size MPV sector.
The Sharan is designed to compete with the aforementioned Orlando, fellow Continental rivals like the Ford S-Max and Galaxy, as well as traditional Japanese favourites like the Toyota ia and Honda Odyssey. But will typically conservative family men be the latest converts to the Wolfsburg revolution?
Exterior
The Sharan bears the usual Volkswagen family look that is now all too familiar on our roads. With its chiselled Teutonic style, consisting of the horizontal slatted front grille, smooth lines and chunky, Touran-style taillights, the Sharan comes across as quite a handsome little beast.
(That said, this is the sixth MPV I've reviewed this year. Maybe I seem to have an attraction for these mini vans somehow)
The segment received a sudden injection of life in September though, with the introduction of not one, but two MPVs, almost concurrently, to delight the family men once again.
The Chevrolet Orlando has been covered in a separate article, but probably the one that will garner the most interest will be the Volkswagen Sharan. Most notably because of Volkswagen's strong presence this year with their numerous car launches, but also because the Sharan fills a gap that it has not had a presence in for a long time, namely the full-size MPV sector.
The Sharan is designed to compete with the aforementioned Orlando, fellow Continental rivals like the Ford S-Max and Galaxy, as well as traditional Japanese favourites like the Toyota ia and Honda Odyssey. But will typically conservative family men be the latest converts to the Wolfsburg revolution?
Exterior
The Sharan bears the usual Volkswagen family look that is now all too familiar on our roads. With its chiselled Teutonic style, consisting of the horizontal slatted front grille, smooth lines and chunky, Touran-style taillights, the Sharan comes across as quite a handsome little beast.
|
Although, actually, it isn't little at all. Standing at over 4.8m long and 1.9m wide, the Sharan is a big car. But somehow, perhaps because of its design, it doesn't look ridiculously massive. Until you slot it in a parking lot and realise how it barely fits, that is.
The sloping front nose contributes a little to that deception, but that means that the front is all but invisible to the driver, which can be a bit tricky when it comes to manoeuvring this vehicle. Similarly, the wing mirrors are a tad too small for a car of the Sharan's size.
But those are really very minor niggles that can be easily overlooked, especially when you get a lovely panoramic full-length sunroof, as well as those very convenient sliding doors, which are automated for your pleasure and convenience.
|
Interior
Those automatic sliding doors lead into an interior that is classically Volkswagen, with its simple yet effective setup. Passengers are treated to masses of room, as well as lots of storage compartments, which are perfect for storing kids' knick-knacks around the cabin.
The Sharan is also very kid-friendly, with its fold-up tables at the back of the front seats giving kids a place to place their toys or in-journey meals. The aforementioned automatic sliding doors also have a detection system whereby it stops closing if it encounters an object (like a wayward child's hand) in its way. The same applies to the rear windows. The doors can also be opened or closed using the remote key fob, or via buttons located on the centre console or on the inside of the B-pillars.
Up front, the Sharan's dashboard is built to Volkswagen's usual high quality, with nice soft touch plastics and discreet Titanium Silver metal inserts that do not come across as too garish, laid out in a standard intuitive Volkswagen manner.
Those automatic sliding doors lead into an interior that is classically Volkswagen, with its simple yet effective setup. Passengers are treated to masses of room, as well as lots of storage compartments, which are perfect for storing kids' knick-knacks around the cabin.
The Sharan is also very kid-friendly, with its fold-up tables at the back of the front seats giving kids a place to place their toys or in-journey meals. The aforementioned automatic sliding doors also have a detection system whereby it stops closing if it encounters an object (like a wayward child's hand) in its way. The same applies to the rear windows. The doors can also be opened or closed using the remote key fob, or via buttons located on the centre console or on the inside of the B-pillars.
Up front, the Sharan's dashboard is built to Volkswagen's usual high quality, with nice soft touch plastics and discreet Titanium Silver metal inserts that do not come across as too garish, laid out in a standard intuitive Volkswagen manner.
Equipment levels are also impressive, with features such as 3-zone climate control, reverse camera, panoramic sunroof all available as standard. An interesting option, and one which would be very useful for a car of the Sharan's ilk, is the Park Assist, which basically uses a series of sensors to help the Sharan park itself. We reckon it would be well worth the money to have this feature specified, if only to remove the headache out of parking in congested Singapore.
Like all MPVs, the rear seats can be folded in various configurations for optimum versatility. The second row tilts forward and allows for Easy Entry into the third row, and all of them can be Easy Fold (Volkswagen's term) to provide a luggage capacity of a massive 2,297 litres. With the seats up, the Sharan offers 375 litres of boot capacity, which is still reasonably decent. More versatility can be had with an extra cargo management system, which consists of two movable telescopic rails anchored at the sides, and allows for a net to be stretched between them, to accommodate loose items securely .
Like all MPVs, the rear seats can be folded in various configurations for optimum versatility. The second row tilts forward and allows for Easy Entry into the third row, and all of them can be Easy Fold (Volkswagen's term) to provide a luggage capacity of a massive 2,297 litres. With the seats up, the Sharan offers 375 litres of boot capacity, which is still reasonably decent. More versatility can be had with an extra cargo management system, which consists of two movable telescopic rails anchored at the sides, and allows for a net to be stretched between them, to accommodate loose items securely .
|
The Drive
Looking at the Sharan's girth, one would expect it to drive like a typical MPV, i.e. clumsy and unwieldy.
Clearly, the folks at Volkswagen have not read the script.
The first thing you note upon moving off is that the Sharan is extremely composed, with its well-damped ride and utterly smooth operation. It feels as slick as German engineering can be, and provides for a fuss-free ride for the family.
Under the bonnet, the Sharan is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which churns out 200bhp and 280Nm of torque. The powerplant provides for an impressive amount of go, especially for a car of the Sharan's size, and the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a mere 8.3 seconds, effortlessly dismissing more than a few sedans along the way.
It is the way that the power is delivered as well that impresses the most, with its linear delivery ensuring that occupants are not unduly perturbed as you reach triple digit speeds. The Sharan's solid engineering also means that the large MPV feels stable and planted at speed.
More surprises are in store when you chuck the Sharan into the corners, as the car gamely hangs on despite its physical size. There is a tinge of body roll, because it can only defy physics so much, but otherwise, the Sharan feels decidedly un-MPV-like in its handling demeanour. It most certainly is the best driving MPV this side of a Ford S-Max, and that is saying something.
Looking at the Sharan's girth, one would expect it to drive like a typical MPV, i.e. clumsy and unwieldy.
Clearly, the folks at Volkswagen have not read the script.
The first thing you note upon moving off is that the Sharan is extremely composed, with its well-damped ride and utterly smooth operation. It feels as slick as German engineering can be, and provides for a fuss-free ride for the family.
Under the bonnet, the Sharan is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which churns out 200bhp and 280Nm of torque. The powerplant provides for an impressive amount of go, especially for a car of the Sharan's size, and the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a mere 8.3 seconds, effortlessly dismissing more than a few sedans along the way.
It is the way that the power is delivered as well that impresses the most, with its linear delivery ensuring that occupants are not unduly perturbed as you reach triple digit speeds. The Sharan's solid engineering also means that the large MPV feels stable and planted at speed.
More surprises are in store when you chuck the Sharan into the corners, as the car gamely hangs on despite its physical size. There is a tinge of body roll, because it can only defy physics so much, but otherwise, the Sharan feels decidedly un-MPV-like in its handling demeanour. It most certainly is the best driving MPV this side of a Ford S-Max, and that is saying something.
Conclusion
Volkswagen has been on hyper drive in 2011, launching numerous new models and staking its claim in every conceivable market segment in Singapore this year.
The Sharan marks the Wolfsburg carmaker's entry into the full-size MPV sector, and on this form, it looks to have another winner on its hands.
It is not just the fact that the Sharan is dynamically sound, even for an MPV, but also that, with the Sharan, Volkswagen has surpassed itself with its solid engineering and attention to detail, coming up with a product that satisfies both drivers and families.
The fact that most reviews of the Sharan so far have only found minor, nit-picking flaws (which aren't really flaws at all) with the car, is testament to Volkswagen's commitment to meeting the demanding standards of its customers. And that is reason to be appreciative.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Volkswagen has been on hyper drive in 2011, launching numerous new models and staking its claim in every conceivable market segment in Singapore this year.
The Sharan marks the Wolfsburg carmaker's entry into the full-size MPV sector, and on this form, it looks to have another winner on its hands.
It is not just the fact that the Sharan is dynamically sound, even for an MPV, but also that, with the Sharan, Volkswagen has surpassed itself with its solid engineering and attention to detail, coming up with a product that satisfies both drivers and families.
The fact that most reviews of the Sharan so far have only found minor, nit-picking flaws (which aren't really flaws at all) with the car, is testament to Volkswagen's commitment to meeting the demanding standards of its customers. And that is reason to be appreciative.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Zachary Lau
Car Information
Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TSI DSG (A)
CAT B|Petrol|13.7km/L
Horsepower
162kW (217 bhp)
Torque
350 Nm
Acceleration
7.8sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Volkswagen Sharan
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