| First Drive | Munich, Germany | Volkswagen Sharan |

Large MPVs may be under fire from SUVs and ever more competent compact people carriers, but that hasn't stopped VW from launching an all-new third generation Sharan. The styling may be generically in line with VW's current thinking, but the German company reckons sliding doors and even greater versatility will keep the Sharan at the front of its class battle.

In the Metal

The obvious big change for this third generation of Volkswagen Sharan is the switch to sliding rear doors in place of the previous model's more conventionally hinged items. Sliding doors allow easier access to the two rear rows of seats, even in tight parking spots, and they also help with getting into and out of the third row by allowing a more natural angle of approach. The sliding doors work fine with a tug on the handle, but there's also the option of electric operation, while the tailgate can also be ordered with electric opening and closing.

For the UK, most Sharans will come with the usual 2-3-2 seating plan, but the big news inside is that all five rear seats fold flat into the floor. They don't fold quite as easily or as instinctively as a Ford Galaxy's but they do leave a massive load bay of up to 2,297 litres. Putting the seats back into position is easy, but the third row's base cushions still need to be flipped over manually rather than folding into place with the seat back - a small point but one that many of the Sharan's rivals have mastered. There is also the option of a six-seater version of the Sharan, which will only be sold in top-spec Executive trim and is aimed primarily at the chauffeur driven market.

Those in the front and middle row seats have ample head- and legroom, but the third row has limited knee space and head room meaning these seats are more for kids than grown-ups.

From the front, the new Sharan has the now familiar VW family nose and headlight treatment seen on the Golf and Polo. It's simple and uncluttered, which matches the dashboard and front cabin layout. Overall, the latest Sharan is 220mm longer, 92mm wider and 12mm lower than the previous model, yet it's also 30kg lighter for better economy and emissions.

What you get for your Money

There are four trim levels destined for UK buyers of the Sharan. The entry point is the S, which comes with electric windows all round, air conditioning, CD stereo with DAB digital radio, electric parking brake and seven airbags. The airbag count includes a driver's knee 'bag and curtain airbags that run the full length of the cabin to offer protection to those in the third row of seats. The SE is expected to be the most popular version and has under-seat drawers for added practicality, height adjustable front seats, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and 16-inch alloy wheels. Choose the SEL and you get rear privacy glass, cruise control, Alcantara upholstery, panoramic sunroof and 17-inch alloys. The six-seat Executive model has full leather trim, but is otherwise much the same as the SEL.

Under the bonnet, there's a choice of a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with 148bhp or a 197bhp 2.0-litre. For diesel fans - and most Sharan buyers are - there are 138- and 167bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesels. All come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, other than the 2.0-litre petrol, which has a DSG automatic gearbox. The other engines can be ordered with the six-speed DSG transmission as an option. Every Sharan engine, except the 2.0-litre petrol, comes as standard with Start/Stop technology to turn the engine off while the car is stationary in traffic.

Other choices for the Sharan buyer include an upgraded parking assist system that not only helps with parallel parking but will now also guide the car into a normal parking bay with the driver only working the foot pedals. Adaptive Chassis Control is another option to offer comfort, normal and sport settings for the suspension, though we noticed precious little difference between the three modes.

Driving it

Perhaps the biggest compliment we can pay the new Sharan is that it's wholly undemanding to drive. We don't mean this as a throwaway remark - far from it. Instead, what we mean is that this is a family car that leaves the driver unconcerned by the Sharan's considerable physical size. Light steering with a tight turning circle helps here, while all of the other controls are easy on the muscles. The manual gearbox has well judged ratios and the driving position is comfortable and very adjustable for all sizes. So, from the driving seat, the Sharan is a cinch to just get in and use - perfect for a family car.

We tried the 2.0-litre turbodiesel in its biggest-selling 138bhp guise and it puts in as typically a strong performance as it does in other VW models. Plenty of low-down urge means gear changing is reduced, while the diesel is also decently quiet and refined at all speeds.

The other engine we tried was the 1.4 TSI unit. This may seem like a small engine for a big car, but it proved its worth in fast autobahn traffic. It's also flexible in town and quiet in all conditions to make a strong case for it being the preferred petrol choice for this Sharan generation.

Whichever engine is fitted to the Sharan, the suspension copes admirably with rutted roads. Corners are also dealt with efficiently, if not quite as effectively as in a Ford Galaxy, while body lean is kept in check. We wouldn't bother with the Adaptive Chassis Control as we couldn't discern any real difference between its various settings. More important is the excellent all-round visibility afforded by the Sharan's mono-box shape and large windows.

Worth Noting

If you're a company driver, and a greater number of Sharan customers are, then the fine economy and emissions of the two turbodiesel engines will be of prime interest. The 138bhp unit turns in 52.3mpg and 143g/km of carbon dioxide emissions, while the 167bhp version offers 49.5mpg and 152g/km. Both of these are highly respectable figures for a car of the Sharan's size and seven-seat capacity. The petrol engines are less impressive, with even the 1.4 TSI busting the all-important 160g/km threshold with emissions of 172g/km. It gives combined economy of 38.1mpg, while the 2.0-litre turbo petrol serves up 201g/km and 32.8mpg.

Summary

The Volkswagen Sharan has all the makings of a superb companion for family life. It may not get you all hot and flustered on first acquaintance, but over time it will reward your faith with dutiful, undemanding service. More than 600,000 buyers have found this the case already in the first two generations of Sharan and this third iteration takes everything VW has learnt and adds some extra versatility. The diesels are clean and lean, and the 1.4 petrol great fun to drive. The Sharan's former cousin, the Ford Galaxy, is more entertaining to drive, but that enticing VW badge will no doubt prove a powerful draw for those seeking a full-size, seven-seat MPV.