We had a Mercedes-Benz 160 Avantgarde on loan for some time. During that period, we were very impressed with the build quality and comfort of the car, as well as its versatility and interior space.

OK, the ride may not be the most supple in this world, but it is fine for town driving and those long stretches on the motorway, and that is were 95% of our driving is done.

The 1.6 petrol engine is quiet, smooth and economical and is perfectly adequate for a car this size.

Passenger space is suprisingly generous, and the higher rear seats are ideal for children. The optional built-in child seats are very clever and highly recommendable.

The only downside is the boot size which is not sufficient for a family of four. This is why, sadly, we could not decide for the A-Class as our long-term car. We have, however, not seen the boot on the new "longer" A-Class variant - might be worth checking out.

Other than that, a fine, fun car to drive.