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By Stephen Worthy
First Drives
01 January 2009 09:00
It’s taken Volkswagen and Seat a while to trickle down their respective environment-focused Bluemotion and Ecomotive badges to their large MPVs, the Sharan and Alhambra. That tells you all you need to know about the pecking order at VAG. The truth is that in their current guise these are two cars approaching the automotive equivalent of the old folks’ home.
But the headlines here are in fuel economy, with both the Sharan and Alhambra claiming CO2 emissions of 159g/km and a combined fuel economy of 47.1mpg. Impressive figures for two big, lumpy MPVs, but is that attractive enough?
Whereas you could never mistake a Golf for a Leon, or a Polo for an Ibiza, inside the differences betwixt Sharan and the Alhambra are so infinitesimal that you’d be hard-pushed to tell the difference, aside from the trademark VW blue instrument panel glow.
On the exterior, the differences are more marked, with the Sharan having a more contemporary-looking rounded rear light cluster, a slimmer front profile and Volkswagen’s elegant family nose; the Alhambra looks like a Sharan circa 1996.
Not unless it’s the sort of head who asks 'I thought they stopped making them years ago.' The Sharan was first introduced in 1995, the Alhambra a year later, both the result of a joint venture with Ford (and the Galaxy).
The difference is that Ford’s third update of their car in 2006 means the new Galaxy no longer shares any DNA with the Sharan and Alhambra, now being based on the Mondeo/S-Max platform.
Click 'Next' below to read more of our VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra first drive
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VW Sharan Bluemotion/Seat Alhambra Ecomotive (2009) CAR review
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kaybo69 says
RE: VW Sharan Bluemotion/Seat Alhambra Ecomotive (2009) CAR review
I would not pay £20k plus for one of these now, however I've just bought a 2003 130 TDi Carat (top spec Sharan, £24k new) for £5,500 with 70k on the clock and it still feels new. Lovely spec, leather/suede interior, 6 electric windows, cruise control, climate, in-dash cd-changer, heated seats etc etc with VW quality build. I used to drive my father-in-laws 1998 2.3 litre galaxy and so knew what to expect with the handling, and they handle well for such a big bus. Loads of space and head room, maybe the new gen Galaxy makes that possible by having a lower floor pan. Having to take the seats out and storing them is a pain in our 2 bed house with no garage (day to day use requires full use of boot for the business and so back seats are out and plastic boot try put in place to protect the interior), and so when we need the extra seats it's a 15 job to unload and put the seats in, and 15 minutes in reverse (guess that's down to personal circumstances but if they folded under the floor that would be good) As I said, I would not pay £20k plus for what is basically 1995 design, but lets face it, besides the under-pinnings, new technology has been applied throughout in terms of new engines, interior and quality measures, although the safety rating is a little concerning. Good thing is, if I put my private plate on which is currently on my Mum's MG, no one would be able to tell how old it is (unless they were anoraks and knew about the 2004 facelift)
I would not pay £20k plus for one of these now, however I've just bought a 2003 130 TDi Carat (top spec Sharan, £24k new) for £5,500 with 70k on the clock and it still feels new. Lovely spec, leather/suede interior, 6 electric windows, cruise control, climate, in-dash cd-changer, heated seats etc etc with VW quality build. I used to drive my father-in-laws 1998 2.3 litre galaxy and so knew what to expect with the handling, and they handle well for such a big bus. Loads of space and head room, maybe the new gen Galaxy makes that possible by having a lower floor pan.
Having to take the seats out and storing them is a pain in our 2 bed house with no garage (day to day use requires full use of boot for the business and so back seats are out and plastic boot try put in place to protect the interior), and so when we need the extra seats it's a 15 job to unload and put the seats in, and 15 minutes in reverse (guess that's down to personal circumstances but if they folded under the floor that would be good)
As I said, I would not pay £20k plus for what is basically 1995 design, but lets face it, besides the under-pinnings, new technology has been applied throughout in terms of new engines, interior and quality measures, although the safety rating is a little concerning.
Good thing is, if I put my private plate on which is currently on my Mum's MG, no one would be able to tell how old it is (unless they were anoraks and knew about the 2004 facelift)
05 February 2010 23:24
andrewmorten says
I note this 'news item' has disappeared from the homepage almost altogether. Missing it already.
04 January 2009 22:39
Batty says
I went on holidays with my then girlfriend Sharan to Alhambra. We had the fish and she was stuck all evening in the Bluemotion block of the camping ground with diarreah. With the lack of sleep she became all Ecomotive and we had a massive row. She now moves in a different Galaxy to mine.
04 January 2009 20:10
luk333 says
These cars are in the class of their own, call it the 'eldery segment'. Christ, 20k and they didn't even bother to face lift or refresh it in the last 10 years, or so. The best engine to fit these two would be 90ps 1.9tdi from 1995, then it would be 100% genuine throwback!
04 January 2009 10:04
Robby1977 says
VAG have a nerve asking this sort of money for what is this old school. It may still serve the purpose for many, and if there is a market for it, then why not, but to purchase at 'premium' cost comparable to modern machinery? pleeease!! Citroens Xsara Picasso is still also on sale, and is equally ancient, BUT they have been advertised brand new for as little as £9995 - a price that reflects the cars age, and still makes it a credible purchase for many.
04 January 2009 00:52
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