Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 105

motoring

Island Life - December 2010

considering as an option.
Safety, naturally, is paramount.

Get on the main highway and it is like
driving on velvet. Sure-footed, the
Sharan allows you to use every inch
of the road, however tight the turns,
and despite the car’s considerable size
you are aware exactly where the edges
are. With masterful ease it consumes
the miles, and if you plug your iPod
into the dock on the central armrest or
tune in to the touch-screen radio you
are insulated from outside to such an
extent that you forget the mechanics of
driving and enjoy the scenery.
The navigation/radio system, which
is optional, is easy to negotiate, and
the rear-view camera is also worth
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cubby-holes and the concealed ‘safes’,

Airbags are everywhere, not

cupboards for valuables under the front

just at front and sides: curtain

seats.

airbags protect passengers in
manoeuvring action more of a glide.

the handy cup holders, the sizeable

Nice touches are the hands-free

every row. Unexpected hazards

handbrake which you don’t actually

are prepared for by a system

need to touch. And the planet-saving

which controls the speed of individual

engine cut out is an attractive addition

wheels to regain lost control.

too. So quiet is the engine noise that

Inside there are no flashy gizmos, just

you won’t necessarily notice that it isn’t

the parking sensors, reverse gear sound

turning over when stationary, until,

and gear indicator, all of which are now

as you get into gear, it starts again. It

standard in most cars worth having.

is just as if the Sharan is clearing its

Electric seat adjustments, available in

throat to gently remind you it is here.

some models, enable you to be just as

It’s VW’s gentle giant.

comfortable as you can be.

We drove the 2.0 litre six-speed

You don’t need flash though, when

manual diesel VW Sharan. On the road

the drive