The practicality of our long-term Suzuki Swace comes under focus.

The Swace’s 596 to 1,606 litres of boot space was put to the test for staycations over the summer

P11d (BiK): £29,094 (24%) MPG/CO2:64.2mpg/103g/km Test MPG: 51.5mpg

I said in a previous report that I’m a fan of the easy efficiencies to be had from Swace’s hybrid powertrain but the car’s practicality is also scoring highly with me.

There’s plenty of room in the rear for one thing and a good deal of range on the fore and aft function on the sliding front seats.

It’s not the biggest boot in its class – that honour goes to the Škoda Octavia estate – but the Swace’s 596 to 1,606 litres of boot space is more than decent enough. There’s no whizzy electronic tailgate but there is an adjustable floor – given that I never travel light, I set it at the lowest level from the outset. I’ve also made use of the space left by where the spare tyre would normally be and the cubbies to the sides of the boot.

For me, the great thing is that I can carry around everyday paraphernalia for the kids while still being able to get my disabled mum’s wheelchair in with ease. The detachable tonneau cover is easy to use

The seats provide plenty of adjustment and support, including lumbar. All-round vision is great, supported by the sensors – you won’t have any problems reversing or manoeuvring this car.

All of which were put to the test on the family’s annual holiday this year, where the Swace scored highly – from accommodating a raft of luggage and several portly passengers to the onboard safety features and the ease of use on the controls and infotainment. Anything that can reduce stress while driving a full carload around tight country lanes is a plus in my book.