Standard safety kit includes ABS, stability control and seven airbags including a knee airbag. Euro NCAP awarded the Sharan the top marks of five stars in the safety tests, with an impressive score of 96% for adult protection and 80% for child protection.

The Sharan can seat seven people but if you are carrying seven the seats at the very rear should be reserved for the smallest passengers because there’s not much legroom available. The centre row features three individual seats and can be moved up to 160mm back and forth. Six of the seven seats can be folded flat which gives a cavernous load space – especially helpful when needing to move those larger items of furniture.

Access to the rear seats is via a pair of sliding doors: this is the first time this feature has been available on the Sharan. The sliding doors and tailgate can be specified with electric motors so that they can be operated automatically. A six-seat version of the people carrier will be available and will be aimed at the business market.