Nissan turned to members of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) for advice on what young families demand from a car when researching the design of the Almera Tino.

The company hopes the advice from mothers and their kids will give it a competitive edge in the increasingly crowded compact MPV market.

As a result the Tino has more than 20 internal storage areas, including two rear floor stowage areas with removable baskets for those personal toys, a rear rubbish tray, seat backs with cupholders and 24 different seating configurations.

The Almera Tino is available in four trim levels, S, SE, SE2 and SE+, with drivers and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking and electric front windows as standard across the range. The driving position is lower and more car-like than in other compact MPVs. Nissan said research had indicated a higher driving position was unpopular with drivers.

Engines are a 1.8 or 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre direct injection, turbodiesel. The 2.0-litre petrol version is available only with a CVT gearbox. Service intervals on the turbodiesel have been extended to 12,000 miles. The Almera Tino goes on sale mid-August with supplies building for September 1, priced from £14,200 to £17,800.