The passenger compartment of the Sharan remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger. VW showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions. In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of all critical body areas was good for the driver. However, for the rear passenger, dummy readings indicated a marginal level of protection for the chest. A penalty was also applied as a result of high shoulder belt forces and protection of the chest was rated as poor. In the side barrier impact, all critical body areas were well protected and the Sharan scored maximum points in this test. In the more severe side pole test, protection of the chest was adequate and that of other body areas was good. However, the side door of the Sharan became detached during the test and the score was penalised for the risk of occupant ejection. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision. A geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated marginal whiplash protection. The standard-fit autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed adequately in tests of its functionality at the low speeds at which many whiplash injuries occur.

Integrated child restraints are available as an option on the second-row outboard seats, and these were used in the dynamic crash tests.  In the frontal offset test, protection of the neck and chest of the 10 year dummy was rated as marginal, based on dummy readings of tensile forces and deceleration, respectively. Protection of the 6 year dummy was good. In the side barrier test, protection of all critical body areas was good or adequate for both dummies. All second and third row seats, including the second-row centre position, are ISOFIX/i-Size compatible.  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. However, labelling on the switch is not clear and the system was not rewarded. As the airbag disabling switch failed Euro NCAP's assessment, installation tests of rearward-facing child restraints in the front passenger seat were also deemed a fail. Otherwise, all of the restraint types for which the Sharan is designed could be properly installed and accommodated in the car.

The bonnet provided good or adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian over most of its surface but there were broad areas of of poor performance along the base of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars. The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians' legs but protection of the pelvis was mixed. The Sharan's AEB system can detect cyclists, as well as other vehicles. In tests, the system's response to these vulnerable road users was good.

The Sharan has a seatbelt reminder system for the front and rear seats. The AEB system performed adequately in tests of its response to other vehicles at highway speeds. A lane support system helps prevent inadvertent drifting out of lane and also intervenes in some more critical situations. A speed assistance system uses a camera and digital mapping to determine the local limit, and presents this information to the driver who can then manually set the limiter as appropriate.