One of the family

"My toddler was straight in the back... the door depth meant [he had] no problems asserting his independence and making his own way into his seat. Time saver and toddler tantrum diverter all in one manageable lump!"

If you were to list the essential features of a family car, we think comfort, practicality, safety and economy would be pretty high up there. But does this need to come at the expense of luxury and/or driving performance? This was the question we posed to Ali Chapman: Devon-based family & lifestyle blogger and the face of Mum in a Nutshell. Ali and family put the C-Class Saloon AMG Line through its paces over the February half-term weekend and *spoiler alert* we think they were pleasantly surprised. We stole a few moments with her to find out how it went: What were your first impressions of the car? Wow, much slicker and sportier looking than I imagined a Saloon car to look like. I love gadgets so getting inside the driver's seat for the first time and seeing how much was on offer all at the touch of a button and within reach was really exciting!

"You can barely feel the gear changes and it gets up to speed in no time. We started in comfort mode but as we hit the twisty Devon lanes it was time to test it out in sport mode. The suspension dropped slightly and my god did it handle the corners superbly."

What were you looking for in the C-Class in order for it to fulfil the needs of your family? Boot space, safety and leg room for rear passengers were high on my must-have list for a family car. You feel incredibly safe in the C-Class, the boot surpassed my needs and there was more than enough room for a toddler car seat and leggy teenagers. Do you feel the practicality of the C-Class comes at the expense of driving enjoyment? Not at all. The driving experience surpassed my expectations - it was so responsive and smooth. You don’t feel like you’re driving a big car as the parking cameras help navigate small country lanes as well as parking spaces and it was an absolute dream on motorways and A roads. Being able to adjust the front seats to suit my little legs and my partner’s long legs meant it suited both of us. The stereo quality was an added extra!

"Once behind the wheel you don’t feel like you’re driving a big car and with all the seat adjustments you can comfortably manage long journeys with ease."

Is there anything that you feel could improve the C-Class’s offering as a family car? The only thing that I’ve found beneficial with other family cars I’ve owned were built-in sunshades in the rear windows. However, the tinted windows meant my youngest didn’t complain about the sun in his eyes. You can read Ali's full review here. > More about the C-Class Saloon.