This Sharan was never crash tested by Euro NCAP but the previous (and very similar) model was, receiving a three-out-of-five-star Euro NCAP rating which is now well below average. The safety organisation pointed out that the cabin was badly damaged in the frontal impact test and became structurally unstable, while the area around the driver was severely reduced.

There are six airbags and ESP stability control is optional on those models where it’s not standard. Some have built-in child seats in the rear, which can also be used as a booster seat for youngsters. Deadlocks with remote central locking and an alarm and immobiliser are standard-fit security measures.

The Sharan comes with five individual seats in the back, so there’s plenty of flexibility between carrying passengers and luggage. Each seat can fold down to allow larger items to be carried, but unlike many newer people carriers, they don’t fold flat into the floor. The only way to really boost boot space is to remove them which isn’t particularly easy – and you have to store them somewhere.

On the plus side, with all the seats out, there is a huge 2,610-litre load area – that’s almost 50 per cent more than a Vauxhall Zafira. All three of the middle row of seats slides individually, but getting to the rearmost seats isn’t particularly easy.