New Volkswagen Sharan prices announced

The new Volkswagen Sharan people carrier will cost from £26,300, Volkswagen has revealed. Buyers can order the new seven-seater today and first deliveries are expected in October.

Although officially an update of the exisiting car, changes include new engines, extra technology and upgraded cabin materials.

From the outside, the 2015 Sharan is only distinguishable from the current model by its new LED rear lights. However, there are more dramatic changes under the bonnet, where a new range of engines will make the car around 15% more efficient.

Five "completely redesigned" engines will be offered, giving buyers the choice of two petrols and three diesels. The 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrol engines are the same size as before, but the larger of the two now offers 20bhp more for a total of 217bhp – impressive given the efficiency improvement.

A 114bhp 1.6-litre and a 2.0-litre with either 148 or 181bhp are the three diesel options. All five engines (except the 1.6-litre diesel) will be available with Volkswagen's DSG twin-clutch automatic gearbox, which now has a fuel-saving coasting function to improve economy.

Volkswagen is also keen to highlight the safety systems now available on the Sharan, given that the car is intended for families. An automatic post-collision braking system is standard on all models, while blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and parking assistance are all available as options.

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The 2015 Sharan will be one of the first Volkswagens to use the brand's second-generation infotainment system, which allows occupants to connect their smartphones using MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple's Car Play software. VW claims the new infotainment package is quicker and clearer than ever before, too.

The new Sharan will be available in three trim levels: S, SE and SEL. The Sharan S features Bluetooth connectivity and air-conditioning, while the SE model adds chrome roof rails, tinted rear glass, front and rear parking sensors and cruise control. The SE Nav trim sees the addition of sat nav to the SE trim for an additional £675.

The top-of-the-range Sharan SEL also includes Front Assist (which can automatically brake the car to avoid a crash), adaptive cruise control (which can maintain a set distance to the car in front), a panoramic sunroof, Alcantara upholstery and sat nav.

New Sharan pricing

For a review of the current model, head over to Carbuyer's dedicated Volkswagen page.