Would you trust a car to park by itself? Ford thinks you should

For example, if parking in a really tight spot can leave you frustrated, then the self-parking feature might be enough to sell it for you. Then there's the safety mechanism that means the automatic brake steps in to avoid you hitting obstacles. If, despite all this technology, you have a crash, the car will automatically call the emergency services for you.

There are plenty of other features that might impress you if you love techhy stuff

• You'll like this if you always have your hands full. To open the boot, all you need to do is gently kick underneath the bumper and it will open.

• Not only can it park itself for you but it can also scan the roadside and find you a space before it parks. Genius.

• It might not be advanced enough for you to have a proper conversation but you can ask it where to eat and it will tell you. It won't judge you so if you fancy a Burger King rather than a Michelin Star restaurant, it will take you there too. Sadly, it won’t pay for the meal!

• Thankfully, and probably a relief to most as this new technology is still a bit futuristic, you can override the system and take back full control.

What about the kids?

The newest car seats are catered for with the 'i Size' mounting points. These are compatible with ISOFIX child seats (so it's easy to click your car seat in and out), and perfect for the new i-Size car seats, that keep your child in a safer rear-facing position for longer.

And there's also no way your children can get away with undoing their seat belts. As with most new cars, a dashboard alert lets you know if a seat belt is undone, and a fish-eye rear view mirror helps drivers to keep an eye on rear passengers - eyes in the back of your head will no longer necessary.

Ford’s MyKey technology allows you to program a key that then automatically restricts the top speed and can disable the audio system if driver and passengers are not using safety belts. Ideal for new-to-the-road teenagers borrowing the car for the first time perhaps?

How much will it cost?

Prices start from £18,195 for the 1.6-litre petrol in Zetec trim, and rise to £26,145 for the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine with an automatic gearbox in Titanium X spec.

The Grand C-Max starts at £20,275 for a Zetec trim 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, and the most expensive model in the range is the Titanium X automatic version of the 148bhp diesel engine that costs £27,615.

This all sounds great, but ultimately, do families need this much assistance? We’re not sure. Perhaps we’ll ask the car…

Read more...

• A safe inflatable baby car seat - would you buy it?
• Guide to child car seat laws and safety
• 5 of the best rotating I-Size and ISOFIX care seats