Dacia
Jogger
MPV · seven seats
- From
- £18,995
- Boot, 7 up
- 212 L
- Length
- 4,550mm
- Isofix
- 2
Used Volkswagen Sharan 7-seater
Volkswagen's sliding-door people carrier, sold new in the UK until 2021
- Sold new
- 1995 to 2021
- Boot, 7 seats up
- 256 L
- Seats
- 7
- Isofix points
- 3
Quick answer
Is the Volkswagen Sharan a 7-seater?
Yes. The Mk2 Sharan is a seven-seater, with three middle-row seats and a pair of third-row seats that fold out of the boot floor.
A sliding-door people carrier with Isofix on all three middle seats and a third row that takes adults on shorter trips. Auto Express calls its reliability a little patchy, so pay for a full history.
On this page
This VW Sharan 7-seater guide covers the second-generation car, sold from 2010 to 2021. Reviewers split on its back row: carwow says two adults will be fairly comfortable on shorter trips, while the Auto Express used guide finds it too cramped for adults.
Boot figures differ too, at 256 litres from carwow and 300 litres from Auto Express with all seats up.
Volkswagen Sharan specifications
| Body | MPV |
|---|---|
| Seats | 7 |
| Seat layout | 2-3-2 |
| Boot, 7 seats up | 256 litres |
| Boot, 5 seats up | 711 litres |
| Boot, maximum | 2,297 litres |
| Third row suits | Adults on short trips |
| Isofix points | 3 (all three middle-row seats) |
| Sliding rear doors | Yes |
| Fuel, with seven seats | Petrol, diesel |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | Manual or automatic |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (2010) |
Volkswagen Sharan boot space
- 7 seats up
- 256L
- 5 seats up
- 711L
- Maximum
- 2,297L
With all seven seats in use the boot holds 256 litres, close to the median of 246 litres for the 4 new MPVs, on sale or coming soon, with a published boot figure. With five seats in use the boot holds 711 litres, rising to a maximum of 2,297 litres.
How it is measured carwow figures; the Auto Express used guide quotes 300 litres with all seats up and the same 2,297-litre maximum. No Volkswagen figure was checked.
Third row: who fits?
Third row suitsAdults on short trips
carwow says two adults will be fairly comfortable on shorter journeys, though headroom is tighter than further forward. The Auto Express used guide finds the back row too cramped for adults, and luggage space shrinks to very little with all seven seats up.
- Seat
- Isofix point
- Driver
Isofix and child seats
3Isofix points
The Sharan has three Isofix points: all three middle-row seats. That is enough for three Isofix child seats, though whether three fit side by side depends on the seats you choose.
Euro NCAP safety rating
5 stars from Euro NCAP, tested in 2010. Ratings from different years are not directly comparable, as the tests get tougher over time.
Buying a used Volkswagen Sharan: what to check
- Auto Express calls reliability a little patchy and mentions automatic lights that switch on when not needed (Auto Express)
- Diesels use AdBlue at roughly a litre every 500 miles, so budget for top-ups (Auto Express)
- Check whether the January 2015 recall for side airbag canisters applies, as it covered only a small batch of cars (Auto Express)
- Parking sensors and a reversing camera depend on trim level, so check what the car has (Auto Express)
- Auto Express says even the entry 2.0 TDI 115 diesel has enough pull (Auto Express)
On the test drive: open and close both sliding doors several times, and ask for a full service history.
MOT pass rates
First-time MOT pass rates for the Sharan, by the year each car was first registered, next to the average for all cars of the same age.
- 200167.0%67.1%
- 200261.1%67.2%
- 200353.3%65.7%
- 200459.0%65.3%
- 200556.3%65.5%
- 200653.0%65.6%
- 200756.3%66.5%
- 200859.7%66.5%
- 200960.1%67.9%
- 201070.4%68.8%
- 201177.1%71.0%
- 201277.7%73.3%
- 201378.6%75.6%
- 201480.7%77.9%
- 201580.2%80.5%
- 201685.3%83.1%
- 201786.6%85.7%
- 201888.2%87.9%
- 201991.1%89.8%
- 202087.5%91.3%
- 202186.8%92.0%
| First used | Tests | Pass rate | All cars that age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 118 | 67.0% | 67.1% |
| 2002 | 267 | 61.1% | 67.2% |
| 2003 | 377 | 53.3% | 65.7% |
| 2004 | 603 | 59.0% | 65.3% |
| 2005 | 956 | 56.3% | 65.5% |
| 2006 | 944 | 53.0% | 65.6% |
| 2007 | 1,003 | 56.3% | 66.5% |
| 2008 | 813 | 59.7% | 66.5% |
| 2009 | 719 | 60.1% | 67.9% |
| 2010 | 987 | 70.4% | 68.8% |
| 2011 | 3,307 | 77.1% | 71.0% |
| 2012 | 3,200 | 77.7% | 73.3% |
| 2013 | 3,494 | 78.6% | 75.6% |
| 2014 | 4,279 | 80.7% | 77.9% |
| 2015 | 4,471 | 80.2% | 80.5% |
| 2016 | 4,622 | 85.3% | 83.1% |
| 2017 | 4,789 | 86.6% | 85.7% |
| 2018 | 4,694 | 88.2% | 87.9% |
| 2019 | 9,144 | 91.1% | 89.8% |
| 2020 | 2,543 | 87.5% | 91.3% |
| 2021 | 2,548 | 86.8% | 92.0% |
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, 2024.
Recalls
The DVSA lists 10 recalls for the Sharan:
22 August 2025 · Ref R/2025/357 · 44 vehicles
Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Remedy: The front airbag must be replaced. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM to arrange your recall service.
Built 14 July 2011 to 10 February 2015
13 June 2023 · Ref R/2023/178 · 66 vehicles
Takata Front airbag
The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.
Remedy: Replace airbag
Built 15 August 2010 to 28 April 2015
5 November 2019 · Ref R/2019/378 · 17,988 vehicles
A CONDENSER MAY FAIL IN THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT
A condenser in the airbag control unit may fail.
Remedy: The software of the airbag control unit must be updated.
Built 6 January 2015 to 17 December 2015
7 March 2018 · Ref R/2018/062 · 16,625 vehicles
STARTER MOTOR MAY MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT
On vehicles with diesel engines and stop/start system the starter motor may be permanently activated because the return spring in the solenoid switch is bent or broken. If the permanent current supply to the starter motor is not noticed overheating of the component with local scorching damage and a vehicle fire is possible.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the solenoid switch.
Built 1 March 2011 to 30 November 2011
29 January 2018 · Ref R/2018/034 · 32 vehicles
PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED
A connection between the detonator and generator in the front passenger airbag module may not be correctly welded. Therefore the airbag may not be triggered in the event of a collision.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the front passenger airbag module.
Built 13 September 2016 to 2 November 2016
6 April 2016 · Ref R/2016/065 · 38 vehicles
SIDE AIRBAG GAS GENERATOR CANISTER MAY FAIL
For certain vehicles manufactured within a specific period it is possible that the gas generator housing may be damaged if a side airbag is deployed. If the airbag/s were deployed the gas generator could explode and dislodge small metal parts which could cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the dates of manufacture for the left and or right side airbags. Where a possibly affected airbag is found it will be replaced.
Built 23 January 2015 to 28 January 2015
2 June 2006 · Ref R/2006/058 · 1,521 vehicles
TWIN-MASS FLYWHEEL MAY FAIL AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE
It has been advised that the twin-mass flywheel can become damaged because of poor internal installation. This can result in a failure of the twin-mass flywheel and under unfavourable circumstances a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Recalled vehicles will have the twin-mass flywheel replaced.
Built 1 November 2002 to 31 August 2003
3 March 2005 · Ref R/2004/211 · 49,701 vehicles
BOLTS OF THE TANDEM FUEL PUMP COVER MAY BREAK
It is advised that on some vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine the bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break due to a bolt production fault. As a result the pump housing will not be tight and a diesel fuel leak may occur.
Remedy: Recalled vehicles will have the pump checked for being of a certain manufacture. If found to be within the affected range the pump housing cover bolts will be replaced.
Built 1 March 2004 to 31 August 2004
20 May 2002 · Ref R/2002/036 · 235 vehicles
WINDSCREEN WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL
The windscreen wiper motor may cease to work because of an electrical software fault.
Remedy: Replace the windscreen wiper motor of all affected vehicles.
Built 6 November 2001 to 26 November 2001
30 January 1997 · Ref R/1996/106 · 869 vehicles
FREEZING OF DOOR LOCKS
Rainwater may accumulate in the front door latch mechanism and whilst in a frozen condition may inhibit correct operation of the latches.
Remedy: Recall the affected vehicles and protect/lubricate the front door latch mechanisms with a special water repellent grease
Built 1 April 1995 to 31 January 1996
Recall data updated 4 October 2026. Ask a dealer to check a specific car by its registration.
Good to know
- The Sharan was withdrawn from UK sale in 2021, and production in Portugal ended in October 2022 (Wikipedia, production dates only)
- carwow lists 256 litres with all seven seats in place, while the Auto Express used guide quotes 300 litres (carwow, Auto Express)
- carwow dates the five-star Euro NCAP result to 2010, while The Car Expert lists four stars dated December 2019, which could not be confirmed on euroncap.com (carwow, The Car Expert)
New alternatives to a used Volkswagen Sharan
Citroen
Berlingo XL
Van-based MPV · seven seats
- From
- £26,805
- Boot, 7 up
- 209 L
- Length
- 4,753mm
- Isofix
- 3
Chery
Tiggo 8
SUV · seven seats
- From
- £28,545
- Boot, 7 up
- 117 L
- Length
- 4,725mm
Citroen
C3 Aircross
SUV · five or seven seats
- From
- £24,460
- Boot, 7 up
- 40 L
- Length
- 4,395mm
- Isofix
- 2
Used Volkswagen Sharan FAQs
What years was the Volkswagen Sharan sold new in the UK?
1995 to 2021.
How big is the Volkswagen Sharan boot with all seven seats up?
256 litres with all seven seats in use, 711 litres with five seats in use and a maximum of 2,297 litres.
How many Isofix points does the Volkswagen Sharan have?
Three: all three middle-row seats.
Can adults sit in the third row of the Volkswagen Sharan?
On shorter trips, yes. Over longer distances the third row suits children and teenagers better.
Which used VW Sharan engine is best?
Auto Express says even the entry 2.0 TDI 115 diesel has enough pull, so you need not pay extra for more power. Budget for AdBlue, as the diesels use roughly a litre every 500 miles.
Should I buy a VW Sharan or a Seat Alhambra?
Both have sliding rear doors and a 2,297-litre maximum boot. On carwow's figures the Alhambra has 267 litres with seven seats up and the Sharan 256, and carwow is more positive about the Alhambra's third row, saying even fully grown adults will be comfortable enough. On the Alhambra's top two trims the sliding doors are electric.
Choose on condition, history and equipment. See our used Seat Alhambra guide.
What replaced the VW Sharan?
Volkswagen withdrew the Sharan from UK sale in 2021, and production in Portugal ended in October 2022. No direct replacement was confirmed in the sources we checked.
Volkswagen's sliding-door seven-seaters now include the Multivan and the electric ID. Buzz LWB; see all 7-seaters with sliding doors.
Sources Auto Express, carwow, The Car Expert, Wikipedia Volkswagen Sharan, DVSA
