Finding a suitable wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) is not as easy as many think. This acquisition may well be a compromise that started with knowing you have to say goodbye to a car you want to travel in for a vehicle you need to have. Whether you need a new or a Nearly New WAV on the Motability Scheme, WAV rental, or a financed or outright purchase of a new or used WAV, we are here to help you with independent advice on your first or your next WAV.

VW Sharan mid wheelchair user position rear ramp WAV from Southern Mobility Vehicles

We can only say good things about the Volkswagen Sharan wheelchair accessible vehicle. As a mobility vehicle, it works hard for everyone. The wheelchair user gets a great deal in this WAV, with a central lowered floor through the middle of the seats in the second row. The good news is it’s a car and not a van.

The single-piece, lightweight rear ramp is a pleasure to use. It has an excellent meaty handle to make opening the ramp, lowering, and closing it effortless and straightforward. The VW Sharan conversion can come with three, four or five seats, all are the original manufacturer seats so designed for the vehicle rather than coach-built (modified) seats.

The driver is in for a treat as it’s a Volkswagen; it’s well thought out, easy to operate and generous too, especially if the WAV is an SE specification or above. Electric seats, leather, satnav, Bluetooth and other features missing from many wheelchair accessible cars and vans are often present. The DSG auto gearbox mated with the 2.0 diesel engine is a dream, and it’ll feel like a proper driving car from a driver’s perspective. We don’t recommend you press the loud pedal too hard on some higher output engines unless all your passengers are willing and happy to be impressed with the power. However, we are big on at least trying to smile on our buyers’ faces when buying a mobility car.

Another good feature of this WAV is it retains its exterior looks well, so it’s hard to see it’s a wheelchair accessible vehicle, but sadly not many were converted. Hence, owners tend to hang on to them for as long as possible, often having high mileage. When they finally come up for sale, they are rarely cheap, even with high mileage, so we always try and snap them up if they fit our high standards. It is essential to point out that if you need a genuinely central wheelchair user position in between row two, the mechanics of the Sharan do not often allow the wheelchair user to come far enough forward. Still, the advantages the Sharan offers often put this shortcoming into the unimportant category.

SMV conclusion: A solid, well-built car with good specification and of course, the Sharan has the VW quality feel about it. This WAV is comfortable for most, although the wheelchair position is not as central as we’d like. Having the original row two seats in any WAV is quite rare, and the comfort that goes along with the legroom is always a pleasure. We are pleased to report that everyone enjoys travelling in the VW Sharan, which means the car’s suspension, even on the sportier versions, is kind on wheelchair users too.

Why not give Southern Mobility Vehicles a call if this WAV isn’t quite right for you. We are independent WAV advisors, so you will get the best of all worlds, whatever your wheelchair access needs are. Whether you are looking for a new Motability WAV, a Nearly New Motability WAV, short term hire or an outright purchase, we are the WAV dealer to call first. We are here to help; we know how hard it is to be confident you are buying the right mobility vehicle for your needs.