Volkswagen Sharan is a popular D-segment minivan from a well-known German automaker. From Persian, the name can be translated as "carrier of kings." Produced from 1995 to our time, today the second generation of the model is in production. As conceived by the developers, the main target audience for the 5-door spacious car is young middle-income families.

Historical reference

At the turn of the 1980-1990s, Europe was swept by the fashion for family cars with a spacious one-volume interior - the so-called minivans. Many auto companies got involved in the race for a promising segment. However, the development of a new class of cars requires large investment costs both for design and research work and for organizing production, which ultimately affects the final cost of the finished product. The two auto giants, Ford and Volkswagen, have decided to join forces in this area to split the costs in half.

A joint project to develop the Volkswagen Sharan and its twin brother, the Ford Galaxy, began in 1991. The plan was for both manufacturers to enter the minivan market segment of the European market, which at the time was dominated by Renault Espace. For this, a joint venture AutoEuropa was created with headquarters in Palmela, Portugal, near Lisbon, where construction of an assembly plant began.

From idea to implementation

By joining forces, the German and American companies have divided the responsibilities for design work among themselves. Volkswagen handled the powertrain, in particular the TDI and V6 engines. Ford developed the suspension and related components. The overall design of the models was created under the direction of Greg M. Greoson, an American specialist working at the Advanced Design Studio in Düsseldorf, Germany.

At the end of 1994, the results of the partnership between the Volkswagen Group and the Ford Motor Company were presented at various showrooms. And the production of both models began on May 1, 1995. Subsequently, the Volkswagen Group developed a third model for the Spanish subsidiary brand SEAT, which had a common base. It was named "Alhambra" in honor of the architectural and park ensemble in Granada.

The characteristics of the Volkswagen Sharan and the Ford Galaxy were similar, as they had a single platform. The exterior design also differed only in small things. Noticeable differences were in the interior arrangement. The first generation combined the aesthetics of the well-proven Ford Mondeo and Passat Variant models. After restyling in 2000, each of the cars acquired its own face. "Sharan", in particular, has incorporated elements of the Passat and Jetta IV.

First generation

The first generation was launched in May 1995. "Sharan" was steadily in demand. With a production volume of 50,000 units, about 670,000 vehicles were sold annually over 15 years of production. In addition to Europe, it was sold in a number of Asian countries, Latin America, South Africa. Moreover, for each region, its own version was developed, focused on natural features and national preferences of buyers.

For example, in Mexico, powerful comfortable cars are in demand, so the Volkswagen Sharan TDI Turbo with a volume of 1.8 liters (150 hp, 112 kW) with a five-speed automatic transmission Tiptronic only in the Comfortline configuration was mainly realized here. At the same time, both a turbocharged engine and a more economical 1.9-liter TDI with 115 hp were available in Argentina. from. As a transmission, both a 5-speed "mechanics" and "automatic" Tiptronic acted. The most popular was the Trendline trim.

Design

Despite the fact that the appearance of the car did not seem to stand out from the rest, its recognizability was high due to the strongly sloping front end. The windshield, hood and even the radiator grille with head optics visually form a single plane. This has improved aerodynamics and slightly reduced fuel consumption.

The Volkswagen Sharan salon does not amaze with its newfangled design, but all the elements are made in German pedantically and with high quality. The ergonomics of the driver's seat and work are good. All the keys and levers you need are close at hand. The dashboard, ventilation system and car radio are combined into a single compact unit made in the form of a hemisphere.

Specifications

Volkswagen Sharan has a simple but reliable design. The rear suspension is located on oblique levers, the front is a MacPherson system. The most common types of transmission are 5-speed manual, but there are also 6-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions. They are distinguished by their reliability and, as a rule, do not create problems for car owners.

There is one five-door body for all modifications, but the number of seats can reach seven due to the installation of additional seats to the detriment of the trunk. The most comfortable is the six-seater Highline. It is equipped with independent VIP-class seats with individual adjustment system, armrests and 180 ° rotation. Dimensions: width - 1.8 m, length - 4.63 m, height - 1.73 m.

Drive type - front. Initially, the power line consisted of 5 types of engines. The weakest is the 90-horsepower diesel. But it is economical both in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance. Since 2000, in order to increase their power, they began to be equipped with special expensive unit nozzles, which are demanding on the quality of the diesel engine. Later the line of units was expanded to 10 models.

Features of the 1.9L I4 TDI motor:

• Power: 85 kW (114 hp) at 4000 rpm.
• Torque: 310 Nm @ 1900 rpm.
• Volume: 1896 cm 3.
• Fuel supply: direct injection, turbocharging.
• Maximum speed: 181 km / h.
• Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h: 13.7 sec.
• Combined fuel consumption per 100 km: 6.3 liters.

Of particular interest to this day are the all-wheel drive Sharan Syncro equipped with the most powerful 2.8-liter engine in the range.

Restyling

In 2000, the Volkswagen Sharan was redesigned. Small changes were made to bumpers, optics and body elements. However, the overall appearance remained the same. But the salon has changed. Instead of a barrel-shaped, slightly awkward dashboard, focused mainly on the driver, a slender two-piece dashboard appears, stretching from the driver's to the passenger door. It still looks modern today.

The number of glove compartments and all kinds of niches for gloves, documents and various small things has increased significantly. The front seats have acquired pronounced lateral support. The headrests are high and reliable. Since 2004, the assembly of vehicles equipped with an on-board computer has begun. Of course, he is not as cool as modern systems, but he copes with his duties. Also, more expensive and high-quality materials were used in the decoration.

Second generation

In 2010, sales of the second generation of minivans began. If you compare the photos, the Volkswagen Sharan has become more elegant. It has grown in height and breadth by several centimeters. The design is based on the platform. Production is carried out at the same AutoEuropa plant in Portugal. Machine weight reduced by 30 kg. The initial range of gasoline engines includes 1.4-liter TSI (148 hp) and 2-liter (197 hp). Two 2.0-liter TDI diesel engines with 140 hp complete the picture. from. and 168 liters. from. (125 kW, 170 hp). The rear doors are now sliding.

Of course, the changes also affected the interior. The on-board computer has moved higher, and the instrument cluster has been supplemented with a liquid crystal information display. In 2015 models, a lacquered wooden insert runs along the contour of the doors and the "tidy", slightly enlivening the strict interior. The upholstery of the seats has improved, leather is used in expensive trim levels.

Further collaboration

In December 1999, Ford sold its stake in AutoEuropa's assets to Volkswagen after the manufacturer decided to independently develop a replacement for the Ford Galaxy. The auto giants disagreed on how big the next generation of minivans should be. At the same time, the assembly site in Portugal continued to work.

Finally, the cooperation between the partners ended in 2006. The last Ford Galaxy left AutoEuropa production lines at the end of 2005. The new generation was developed by a company from the USA independently, and production moved to the city of Limburg (Belgium). Thus, the Palmela plant focused exclusively on the assembly of the Sharan and Alhambra models.

By the way, Volkswagen Sharan is not for sale in the United States and Canada. This was originally due to an agreement between Ford and Volkswagen not to compete with the Ford Aerostar. In the future, the Germans signed an agreement with Chrysler to work together on projects Chrysler Town and Country, which are more suitable for the North American market.

According to car owners, the car is a worthy competitor in the minivan market. It is quite reliable, with a long engine resource. Moreover, on the roads you can also find models of the first generation in good condition. Given the prevalence of the brand, there are no problems with repair and finding spare parts.

The car is convenient to operate both for a family and for transporting bulky things - the seats can be easily removed in a few minutes. The ride on the highway is smooth and comfortable. But the car is not intended for off-road. The weak point is the landing gear and air conditioners of the first series. Also, drivers note the high fuel consumption of gasoline engines.

This text is a previously promised article about chip tuning for VW Sharan.
Based on materials from the newspaper Autobusiness - Weekly.

Every car maker is trying to find a "golden mean" between parameters such as power, economy, reliability and environmental friendliness. Subsequently, this balance develops into a special program that is embedded in the engine control unit. Electronics controls injection, ignition and limits the speed of the power unit. However, not all motorists are satisfied with the optimal characteristics of the "engine". Just for such drivers, there is the following loophole: neglecting the other parameters, in a short period of time and relatively little money, you can achieve an increase in power and torque, and at the same time remove the speed and speed limiter from the engine, change the moment the gear change signal is sent to the automatic control unit. transmission (if any, of course, available). It is this simple trick that is called chip tuning.
The main advantage of chip tuning in comparison with other types of tuning of power units is no mechanical interference in the engine. This, in turn, affects the cost of the procedure itself. But miracles, as you know, do not happen. Chip tuning is ineffective on conventional naturally aspirated engines. Reprogramming the control unit will give a slight increase in power (no more than 7%). The only change the driver can really feel is the increase in torque at high revs and the removal of the rev and speed limiter. In a word, the game is not worth the candle.
A completely different matter is turbocharged engines (both gasoline and diesel). The real increase in engine power after chip tuning can reach from 20% to 30%. The most popular brands for chip tuners are Audi, Seat, Volkswagen, Skoda, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

Here I will make a small digression. For the overwhelming majority of readers, it will be savagery and blasphemy not to mention the Nissan and Honda brands (we are on the Drome!), But I ask you not to forget we are talking about Belarus. It is even difficult to imagine, and even more difficult to explain to someone who has never been to Drome, how many interesting Japanese cars have passed by our motorists because of the ban on the right-hand drive. Appear on our roads some Nissan Cube - people go nuts - a concept car !!! And this is a Japanese runabout, and already well used - :)

But back to the topic. How it's done?

Chip-tuning of our "Sharan" took no more than 20 minutes. The minivan arrived on the track in Borovoy with a 1.9-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 115 hp, and left with 155 "horses" under the hood. Here, however, a reservation should be made: chip tuning is unacceptable in the field. We went for it for the sake of experiment. If you approach the matter thoroughly, then, depending on the model, the chip-tuning process takes several hours. It would seem that everything is very simple: I removed the chip from the electronic engine control unit, installed a new one in its place. That, in fact, is all. But in reality, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Electronic brains most often mean an injector control device. It includes a programmable read only memory (EPROM). The EPROM contains a general program that contains a sequence of operating instructions and various calibration information for the actuators. By changing it, you can completely reconfigure the operating mode of the injection system. The result of reprogramming the EPROM is an increase in torque at low speeds, a decrease in the acceleration time, an increase in the maximum engine power.
Reprogramming the chip is followed by a long and grueling testing process. This, in fact, distinguishes high-quality chip tuning from handicraft. The main parameters of the engine are checked in various operating modes. And only after that the car is returned to the owner.

Surely the most important question that sane drivers will ask will be: "How much does chip tuning affect engine life and vehicle performance?" The first thing that the "chip" car loses in is the environmental friendliness of the exhaust. In Western Europe, a car after chip tuning is automatically subject to a higher environmental tax rate. However, the Belarusian fans of fast driving can be calm: in our country it will take a long time to turn the nuts on "chip" cars. This is followed by an increase in the "appetite" of the motor. However, fuel consumption will depend entirely on driving style. After chip tuning, gasoline engines are more demanding on fuel. Most experts recommend "feeding" gasoline turbodiesels with 98-m gasoline.
Oddly enough, but the engine resource suffers least of all. Of course, it cannot be said that chip tuning does not contribute to the "vitality" of the engine, it will rather depend on the manner of driving. In extreme conditions, the engine resource will undoubtedly decrease. But under normal operation, the resource will decrease by no more than 10-15%.

Our Sharan didn't even make a sound after replacing the chip. The key to the start - and the minivan is ready to demonstrate the results of "doping". Everything is relative. Heaven and earth - something like this can be described "Sharan" before and after chip tuning. You should try not to notice the increase in power of 40 "horses". If the standard version of the 115-horsepower 1.9 TDi engine spun up to 4500 rpm with attempts, then the tachometer needle of the "chip-based" "Sharan" easily exceeded the 5500 rpm mark. The minivan in the literal sense of the word tears from its place - only smoke from under the wheels. The first, the second, just about to switch to the third, as colleagues clap on the shoulder: they say, have you had any problems with the traffic police officers for a long time?
After overcoming the 100-kilometer mark, the minivan has a characteristic pickup. "Sharan" and provokes a violation of the speed limit. However, we still did not dare to check the "chip" minivan for maximum speed - on wet asphalt, and even on a highway with a fairly dense traffic, such maneuvers are by no means safe.

What did the measurements show? "Sharan" with a "engine" in the standard version accelerates on average to "hundreds" in 14.8 seconds. The results are slightly different from the manufacturer's data, but do not forget to make allowances for wet asphalt, worn rubber, far from ideal condition of the road surface, the profile of the track section and other parameters. It took the "chip-based" minivan 13.4 seconds to overcome the 100 km / h bar (gain 1.4 seconds). "Sharan" after chip-tuning "makes" its standard "colleague" in terms of elasticity. The winnings are poured out in 2 seconds. The only negative aspect of the operation carried out on the "Sharan" was the increased level of emissions. The fact that the 1.9-liter turbodiesel began to smoke more can be seen with the naked eye. However, experts assure that this process should stabilize within the first two weeks after chip tuning.

For whom?
Depending on the model, the "Wetterauer" chip tuning kit with work will cost from 590 to 1150 "green". However, experts do not doubt that this factor will not frighten off real connoisseurs of speed and drive. The number of actively tuned drivers in Belarus is growing every year. The movement of street racers and streetfighters that is gaining strength every month is another confirmation of this. And if so, then chip tuning in Belarus has the right to life.

Owners of GT-Moats, STs, etc. Of course they will laugh, but a tuned turbodiesel (!), and even a minivan - you must agree a rarity.

The Volkswagen Sharan minivan also belongs to the traditional multi-seat minivans or family cars, the production of which began in May 1995 together with the SEAT Alhambra minivan, which is almost identical in design. Until 2006, the Volkswagen Sharan together with the Ford Galaxy had the same body structure. For the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, the Volkswagen Sharan was presented in the latest generation and is now positioned alongside the Volkswagen Touran compact van and the Volkswagen T5 minibus. Like most vans of this class, the Sharan also has a changing interior concept. Here we mean that in the Sharan car, which is also offered in a version with all-wheel drive called the Sharan 4motion, using a special adjustable handle, up to five out of a maximum of seven seats can be folded out or completely removed from the passenger compartment. The resulting cargo compartment of approximately 2 m in length is also suitable for the transport of larger loads, which is primarily confirmed by the massive presence of Sharan minivans in the parking lots of many furniture stores. The choice of engines for the 2010 Volkswagen Sharan model covers engines from the Volkswagen production range, for its equipment is a 2.0-liter TDI engine with three power levels of 115, 140 hp, and from January 2013 and from 177 hp. with., as well as the standard equipment of the Sharan car uses a TSI engine with a working volume of 1.4 liters and a power of 150 hp. The most powerful engine for the Volkswagen Sharan is the 2.0-liter TSI engine used by the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which develops 200 hp / 221 km / h. The Volkswagen Sharan is again sold under the SEAT Alhambra name under the SEAT subsidiary at the same price and with the same equipment. New in the modern generation are the large sliding doors, as demonstrated in the Volkswagen minibus or the new Opel Meriva minivan. All Volkswagen Sharan models are equipped as standard with a stability control system with an emergency braking system and an anti-rollback system, with an optional direct-shift gearbox (DSG), equipped with a front, rear and head airbag, also equipped with a specially developed Volkswagen Sharan climate control system with separate temperature control and air conditioning for the rear of the passenger compartment, as well as 16-inch wheels with matching wide-profile tires. Do you want to buy this car in a used condition? On the website you will find both a used Volkswagen Sharan and a new or one year old Volkswagen Sharan at an attractive price!

6

Volkswagen Sharan, 1999

Wonderful car, everything is thought out to the smallest detail! Bought for a trip to the Crimea with a family of 4 people. We went great! We spent the night in a car, no one was embarrassed. The second row of seats folds neatly into the front seats so you don't have to leave anything outside. There are also no complaints about the engine, it is turbocharged, the volume is not large 1, 8 (economical) and the plane flies at a speed of 150 km / h easily, probably more, but I didn't want to risk it. And I will add another review about the body, it is galvanized (this speaks for itself), despite its years there is no rust, let alone rot on the car. We are very happy with the car as a whole!

Volkswagen Sharan, 2002

Great car for all occasions in life !!! Practical, convenient, good in operation! Very reliable! "The King of Kings", he lives up to his big name! A German is a German! With proper operation - minimal costs and maximum pleasure from driving this car! Great, comfortable, family car for long journeys!

Volkswagen Sharan, 2002

The dynamics are good. The handling is excellent. The comfort is sufficient, the interior is spacious and comfortable, the trunk is very large and affordable. THEN every 10,000 km is relatively inexpensive, I ALREADY HAVE the 2nd SHARAN (on the shares since 2003 TDI), now the 3rd Sharan of 2006 has already been bought for myself. Pros: it is easy on it in the city, but on the highway it is just cool and easy, the costs are average (it does not hurt). Cons: the suspension is good, but it accepts the asphalt joints a little harshly.