Our fleet: Peugeot 308SW 1.6 HDI 120 Allure - Jan 2015

With all the focus on reducing CO2, it is easy to overlook the huge progress manufacturers are making when it comes to some of the technology in cars.

Our long-term Peugeot 308 SW is a good example. My attention has been drawn to its low CO2 emissions, high claimed fuel economy and excellent build quality, so I overlooked the addition of City Park to the options list – after all, what does a £400 optional extra on a new car get you nowadays?

I realised I had been missing out as soon as I pushed the discrete City Park button beneath the steering wheel.

I selected the parking option on the i-Cockpit screen on the dashboard and then followed the on-screen instructions. As I drove slowly, I indicated which side I wanted to park on while driving down a line of cars.

The Peugeot found a space, told me when to stop, when to reverse or move forward and did all the steering itself, slotting me perfectly into an available space. It can also help get you out of a spot of it’s a tight squeeze.

Company car drivers may baulk at the idea of needing help parking, but this is about convenience, not skill. It just avoids constant spinning of the steering wheel while craning your neck to get into a space.

It isn’t fool-proof and I have abandoned a parking attempt that I judged much too ambitious, but in general as a value for money piece of technology, City Park is a great choice from the options list.

John Maslen

MPG: 57

Mileage: 2010