The current-generation Sharan has many drawbacks, which is no wonder if we consider its age. However, it still makes good sales numbers, because it delivers what it has to deliver. For an average minivan buyer, the most important aspect of a car is the amount of space and practicality, along with a capable and reliable powertrain. So, the 2023 VW Sharan will continue in the same way, even though it’s been 12 years since we saw the last redesign of this people and cargo haulier.
Therefore, you may count on a familiar layout, which hasn’t changed much during the last decade. This model still delivers the same design, which may not be the most attractive one (even in this segment), but it has a lot of great things to offer. The Sharan offers a spacious cabin, a large cargo area, good build quality and quite efficient engines. On the other hand, the biggest drawbacks are dull styling, outdated interior and the lack of some modern features.
Considering that it probably won’t feature bigger changes, we expect to see it sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 VW Sharan Design
As we already mentioned, the current generation of this minivan has been around for a long time. It was introduced way back in 2010, so it’s no wonder that it actually rides on a good-old A6 platform, which was used for previous-generation VW models (newer models ride on an MQB architecture). Despite the old design, the car actually feels pretty modern. It offers a pretty comfortable and relaxed ride. On the other hand, the steering and handling, in general, aren’t particularly precise, but we don’t believe that an average minivan driver will care much about that. Most importantly, the vehicle is pretty maneuverable and easy to drive, despite a pretty long wheelbase and big overall dimensions.
The styling is arguably one of the weakest points of this minivan. Even though we are talking about the segment where aesthetics don’t play a significant role, we have to say that this model looks outdated. Combined with the brand’s traditionally conservative design approach, it makes the van look extremely dull. You can see some design elements from the Mk7, thanks to the 2015 update, but the overall impression is that rivals look way better, even the younger sibling called Touran.
Interior
The same thing is with interior design. The dashboard looks outdated and lacks modern touch. The materials are mostly hard to the touch, even though the overall build quality is very good. Thank’s to the pretty conservative design approach, the dashboard looks old but not too old, considering the initial launch that was 12 years ago.
On the other hand, there is nothing to complain about regarding interior space. This minivan comes with three rows of seats and all three rows are spacious enough to accommodate adult passengers pretty easily. The seats are decently shaped and offer fairly good comfort.
The cargo area is also very generous, as it offers around 300 liters of space behind the third row, 711 liters of space behind the second row, and the total volume goes all-away up to 2.297 litres.
2023 VW Sharan Engines
Under the hood, the 2023 VW Sharan will continue in two familiar variants. Base models will continue with a small turbo-four gasoline unit, and that is actually the older-generation 1.4-liter engine. It puts out around 150 horsepower and offers decent driving dynamics. For all these years, the company fixed all the issues with this, once problematic unit, so you may count on a pretty decent level of reliability.
However, the small displacement means the lack of low-end torque, despite the turbocharger. That’s why we recommend the optional 2.0-liter TDI, which also features 150 horsepower but offers way more torque.
Both engines come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, but you can also opt for the dual-clutch unit.
2023 VW Sharan Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 VW Sharan will hit the UK market sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around £29.000.