Used Volkswagen Sharan for sale: everything you need to know

The Volkswagen Sharan is another MPV or ‘people-carrier’ to have bitten the dust in recent years, as the market moves away from box-like seven-seaters and towards SUVs - though these days, Volkswagen will happily up-sell you into a Transporter-based Multivan if you need more seats.

Before it disappeared though, the Sharan was just as sensible as every other MPV from the past few decades. It wasn’t anything special to drive, but a large, spacious and adaptable interior made it a compelling family car, and Volkswagen updated it several times over the years with more efficient engines and better equipment levels.

The used market is still awash with MPVs, most notably from the Sharan’s sister model, the SEAT Alhambra, the Ford S-Max and Galaxy, and the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. You may also find a new seven-seat Dacia Jogger is in budget if you’re shopping for a nearly-new Sharan, while both the van-based VW Caravelle and Multivan and Ford Tourneo Custom seat even more.

Should you buy a Volkswagen Sharan?

The Volkswagen Sharan has been a core part of VW’s range since 1995. Back then, MPVs were all the rage, with virtually every manufacturer offering one at the time. But over time their numbers have dwindled, and even Volkswagen finally pulled the plug on the Sharan in 2021 - so the newest models you find on the used market will already be a couple of years old.

Falling out of fashion doesn’t mean the Sharan has lost any of its abilities though. In fact, it’s simply got better over the years. That original model lasted until 2010 - a run of 15 years - and since then, the second generation model served the needs of families, with hefty updates in 2015 and 2019 keeping it fresh.

In practicality terms there isn’t much to choose between earlier and later cars. All are spacious, and have seven seats - five proper individual seats, and an extra pair that conveniently fold into the boot floor, but are still just about large enough for housing adults. There are cubbies everywhere, child booster seats that can be folded out of the centres of the third row, and the driver isn’t left wanting for adjustment either, so there’s a good, elevated driving position.

On the road it’s certainly more of a car than a van, despite appearances, with a good ride and neat handling. The engines do the job too, with the turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol and the 2.0-litre diesels being smooth and offering plenty of torque to keep you moving along even with several passengers on board. The manual transmission is slick, and the DSG auto naturally makes things very easy indeed.

There weren’t many proper MPVs around by the time the Sharan went off sale, but you’ll still find a decent selection of rivals on the used market. The SEAT Alhambra is effectively the same car with a different badge (with minor specification differences), while the Ford S-Max and larger Galaxy are both worthy of your attention, driving better but not feeling quite as high-quality as the VW. For proper van-based (but more expensive) alternatives, the Volkswagen Caravelle/Multivan and the Ford Tourneo Custom can seat up to nine - while you may find a brand new Dacia Jogger is also in budget, with a full warranty, for nearly-new Sharan money.

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What’s the best used Volkswagen Sharan model to buy?

Volkswagen updated the Sharan in 2019, giving it more equipment (which you can read more about below), and these are the models we’d aim for if you’ve got the budget. Versions from SE trim upwards are all worth a look, though SE Nav isn’t as desirable now as it might have been a few years ago, as older infotainment systems (and outdated navigation maps) begin to lose their appeal.

Post-2015 engines are the ones to go for, as Volkswagen updated both its TSI petrol and TDI diesels at this point - all, including the diesels, conform to Euro 6 emissions standards, so for the time being they won’t fall foul of London’s ULEZ, if that’s a concern. They’re all punchy and smooth though, with the petrol being the pick if you primarily drive around town, and the TDIs making more sense the more miles you drive.

Used Volkswagen Sharan fuel economy and performance

• Volkswagen Sharan 1.4 TSI: The only engine offered in the Sharan’s final year (but also for several years before that) was a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG automatic, and a 150PS output. Economy was up to 35.8mpg with the manual (33.2mpg for the DSG) while the DSG was the quicker of the pair, with 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds, to the manual’s 10.4sec.
• Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI 115: VW dropped its diesel engines before the Sharan went off sale but they’re among the most commonplace on the market. All three use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel design, the entry-level model making 115PS, and only available with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Economy was 56mpg, and 0-62mph took 12.2 seconds.
• Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI 150: Next up is another 2.0-litre diesel, this time making 150PS and offered with either the 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG auto gearboxes. Claimed economy was 44.8mpg with the manual and 42.2mpg with the DSG, with 0-62mph in 10 seconds for both.
• Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI 177: At the top of the range and offered with the DSG auto only, was a 177PS variant of the 2.0-litre TDI. Combined economy of up to 40.9mpg paired with a 0-62mph time of 9 seconds flat.

What used Volkswagen Sharan trim levels are available?

Before the Volkswagen Sharan went off sale it was offered only in SE Nav trim with the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, but for several years prior to this the range was a little broader, with the engines listed above and the four trim levels below. The structure couldn’t be simpler - basically, the more letters, the higher the trim level, and the only difference between SE and SE Nav is a navigation system. For that reason, you probably shouldn’t go out of your way or pay over the odds for an SE Nav, given most drivers will likely use their smartphones for up-to-date navigation now anyway.

• The Volkswagen Sharan S specification came with 16-inch steel wheels with trims, a leather steering wheel, fabric seats, a simple 6.5-inch colour touchscreen media system with Bluetooth, USB, DAB and a CD player, climate control, heated door mirrors, and stop-start.
• The Volkswagen Sharan SE traded out the steel wheels for a set of 16-inch alloys, had privacy glass from the B-pillar backwards, adaptive cruise control, and DSG models came with gearshift paddles.
• The Volkswagen Sharan SE Nav received much the same equipment you’d find in the SE, but unsurprisingly given the name, also got navigation for the touchscreen media system
• The Volkswagen Sharan SEL was the best equipped. It came with 17-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, Alcantara and leather-trimmed seats, a differential lock on the more powerful diesels, heated washer jets, and the same navigation system as the SE Nav.

Used Volkswagen Sharan dimensions and boot size

The Volkswagen Sharan’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4854mm 
• Width: 1904mm (without mirrors), 2081mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1720mm
• Ground clearance: 152mm

The Volkswagen Sharan’s boot size is:

• 300 litres (seven seat mode)
• 2297 litres (two seat mode)

Used Volkswagen Sharan road tax

For Volkswagen Sharans registered after April 2017, all will set you back the same flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’ for petrol and diesel vehicles, currently £180 a year. None strayed above the £40,000 threshold for attracting a surcharge either, which keeps them away from really big tax bills.

How much is it to insure a Volkswagen Sharan?

Volkswagen Sharan insurance costs shouldn’t be too bad. We’re mainly looking at the car’s last few years on sale here, but the least powerful model in the range, the 115PS TDI, was rated at group 15 insurance in S trim. The 1.4 TSI and other 2.0 TDI models started in group 19, while the top 177PS TDI was group 23. For comparison, the similar Seat Alhambra sat in groups 20-22.

Read our full Volkswagen Sharan review