Gull-wing doors, scissor doors, suicide doors - all cheese. The sliding door is the ultimate car portal. At least for a family car.
Actually, one word is enough to make the VW Sharan parents tasty: sliding doors. After two weeks with the mid-range van from Northern Germany, one inevitably wonders why not all cars are available with the portals gliding gently aside. Or at least all vans. But the Sharan is almost alone on the floor.
Of course there are cars with sliding doors: the VW Bulli, for example, or the Mercedes V-Class - both of which are perhaps a bit too big for the standard family of four and above all too expensive. Or - at the other end of the price range - the numerous high-roof station wagons in the style of Renault Kangoo or VW Caddy. But these are refurbished commercial vehicles - and the sliding doors are remnants of one-way pallet loading and Sortimo box sorting.
The Sharan, on the other hand, is a car through and through. In the soft plastic world of the cockpit, you do not feel like you're at work but like in your living room. Or better: hotel rooms, because the accurate and sober style of the carefully fitted VW interiors always has something slightly impersonal. For life, for corners and edges in the case of a family vans then in doubt, the occupants in the rear seats anyway. The "me too" effect of the electric door operation via buttons and remote control (780 Euro) may flatten after a few weeks, but the entry into the interior will remain close to the meaning of the proverbial "boarding". The opening in the flank is as huge as the footwell in front of the movable rear bench, which is thus directly received as a short-term game room. The parent or guardian can watch relaxed, but eliminates the usual duty for door security. No hand has to shield the metal edge against contact with the house wall or neighboring car, no small children's fingers threaten to be squeezed between leaf and frame.
In the cockpit there is no reason to let go of the relaxed state of mind. The ambiance creates trust - the operation opens up to anyone who has ever sat in a VW, the workmanship looks as solid, as planned the Sharan, even the great-grandchildren generation to delight. After starting the engine and releasing the brake, you feel more in a spacious saloon than in a family carriage - but you sit higher and look better. The van on (old) Passat platform can not be irritated by bad roads, which together with the smooth-running steering, the brisk dual-clutch transmission and the comfortable chassis for a decidedly confident driving experience. For its size, the VW is quite manoeuvrable, also thanks to the large window areas shunting is comparatively easy.
Anyone who has sporting ambitions is wrong with a family van and certainly not with the Sharan. Ford S-Max and BMW 2er Gran Tourer have more to offer here. Even the large diesel engine makes the Wolfsburg not necessarily a powerhouse, meet the 135 kW / 184 PS after all, to just under 1.900 kilograms in weight and the wind resistance a smaller wall unit. Nevertheless, 215 km / h top speed and a spurt time of 8,9 seconds from a standstill to Tempo 100 for a vehicle of this class more than enough. Especially if you look at the price tag. The strongest of the 2,0 liter big four-cylinder dies with at least 39.250 Euro to book, with automatic it is 41.475 Euro.
Less power costs less. The entry into the series marks an 1,4-liter turbo gasoline engine with 110 kW / 150 PS, which is available for 32.000 Euro. On board the "Trendline" version are then, among other things, the two sliding doors, air conditioning, CD radio and 16-inch alloy wheels. Most modern driver assistance systems, which are not entirely uninteresting for family use, are available as options from the "Comfortline" level (from 34.225 Euro) - and then for rather hefty prices. Also other interesting family extras such as a third row of seats (1.660 Euro) or an air conditioning control panel for row two (785 Euro for the three-zone automatic climate plus 920 Euro) is not available for free. Who wants to fully enjoy the benefits of limousinenans vans, is thus quickly 40.000 Euro and more going on.
What the Sharan end up with but next to a few thousand euros of models like Ford S-Max / GalaxyAbove all, the Renault Espace or Fiat Freemont separates are the sliding doors. If you do not want to do without, you can hardly miss the big VW. The only real alternative: the identical Seat Alhambra. But it is not much cheaper either. But both can be easily sold after a few years. As a used car, a large van is currently almost torn out of his hands. Especially those with sliding doors.
[=” ” ]Tl: Dr? -> Short description - VW Sharan:Why: Because sliding doors are a real relief in everyday life with small children
Why not: because sliding doors without small children lose their advantages
What else: Seat Alhambra, Ford S-Max / Galaxy, Fiat Freemont, Renault Espace
