What to look for in a car that needs to fit a pram

BERLIN: Children, toys, shopping and pram: A decent family car will need to be able to easily handle all of this. If you're buying a car that's supposed to fit a pram, there are a few things you'll need to look out for.

There are family-friendly cars in all classes, and yet not all big cars are a good choice for families. You car should only be as big as absolutely necessary, for both cost and environmental reasons.

A familiar route with everyday situations, such as doing a shopping run, is a useful approach for the test drive. You might also consider taking the pram with you to see how easy it is stow away in practice.

If your pram is on the smaller side and folds up compactly, then you'll probably be able to fit it in the boot of a small hatchback. But if you're thinking of taking the pram with you along with luggage or lots of shopping, then this may soon get cramped.

To ensure that a large pram has room in the car, buyers should generally pay attention to certain dimensions. For example, the interior width in the boot should be at least 95cm, and 62cm for the height, according to the ADAC experts.

In addition to the volume of the boot, the height of the loading sill, which should be no more than 70cm high, is also decisive when it comes to how practical the car is for loading. Unfortunately you won't always find this measurement in the vehicle documents.