04 May 00 00:00
Volkswagen has facelifted its Sharan people carrier. The revised Sharan gets a new interior, a mild exterior restyle, new engines and more safety features. All versions now get anti-lock brakes, four airbags, a six speed gearbox and seven seats. Despite today's price-cutting climate, VW has raised the price of the cheapest Sharan by £1000 to £18,645, though it claims that the specification enhancements mean it now offers better value for money than before.
The Sharan arrives at much the same time as Ford's facelifted, best-selling Galaxy. Both cars are produced in the same VW owned plant in Portugal, alongside the Seat Alhambra, which is little changed compared to its brothers. The VW and the Ford now have different dashboards (they previously shared this component), both items being of notably better quality. Satellite navigation is now a Sharan option, and it also features new stowage areas in the dashboard and the doors.
Outside, the changes are limited to new headlamps, a restyled bonnet and grille, and new light clusters at the rear. More significant are the new engines, of which there are three. These include a 90bhp 1.9 turbodiesel and the excellent new 115bhp PD turbodiesel, as well as an improved version of the 2.8 litre V6, which now produces 204 bhp rather than 174bhp, and can be had with four wheel drive and a five speed Tiptronic automatic. VW claims the Sharan V6 as the fastest People carrier in Europe, with a top speed of 135 mph. Prices range from £18,645 for the 2.0 S petrol, to £26,955 for the Carat V6 4Motion. The cheapest diesel, expected to be the best sellers, starts at £19,640.
