Test Drive: everything you need to know when test driving a car

Test drives are a very effective way to find out whether a car fits your needs, but there are a number of tricks you should keep in mind before getting behind the wheel of the car you want to try.

Choosing a car is not a simple decision. The car market offers an enormous number of models and segments, not to mention the many forms of propulsion (petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG, electric, hybrid, hydrogen…) that the same car can offer across its different versions. For this reason, test drives become one of our best weapons when it comes to locating the vehicle we are looking for. What better way to find out whether a car suits your needs than by taking the wheel yourself? Any doubts you may have about a model can be resolved in a matter of minutes, as long as you know what to look out for. Follow these 10 tips to get the most out of a test drive.

1. Arrive at the dealership with your “homework done”

Test drives are short and you need to make the most of your time behind the wheel. Before you set off to try a vehicle, you should have your options clear. It is vital that you carry out initial research. At this point it is important to know which versions exist, the optional equipment and the car’s rivals. With this defined, it will be much easier to request a specific test unit and you will understand the car you are driving much better.

2. Try several cars and do it within a short period of time

Try to do more than one test drive, at least with the car you want to buy… plus some rival to compare it with. You may discover interesting things.

On the other hand, when test driving a car we experience many sensations (throttle feel, braking, suspension tuning…) that are easy to compare between different models, as long as we do it within a short period of time. Otherwise, we will forget those perceptions and will have no way of knowing which model was better in a given aspect.

3. Adjust the car to your liking and check whether you feel comfortable in it

Start by checking the essentials: you must feel comfortable at the wheel, with the driving position and the ergonomics… If not, no matter how much you like how the car drives, don’t try to convince yourself that an uncomfortable position is the result of a seat that doesn’t suit your preferences, or of a lack of adjustments; sooner or later the harsh reality will prevail.

For this reason, the first thing you should do when you get into the car is adapt it to your liking. Adjust the seat position, the steering wheel and the mirrors, and find the position where you feel comfortable. Some cars are not designed for tall people, for example, because the lowest seat position does not prevent the driver’s knees from touching the steering wheel. If this is your case, look into all the configurations and adjustments offered by both the seat and the steering wheel to solve this problem.

On the other hand, it is important to look at details such as ergonomics, seat support, the quantity and quality of storage compartments, or visibility from the driver’s seat. In short, make the necessary adjustments to determine whether you will feel comfortable in the car in the long term. Remember that you are going to spend many hours sitting there…

4. Try to attend the test drive with your usual passengers (family members)

Consider the possibility of going on the test drive with whoever you will usually be driving the car with. As in the previous point, if you often travel with children or family members on board, their comfort will play a fundamental role when deciding between one car or another.

Moreover, four eyes always see more than two: while you drive, the passenger can check various aspects of the rear seats such as soundproofing, ride quality…

5. Take your usual bags to the test drive and check that they fit in the car

If you use child seats (more than one) or regularly carry something in the boot (pram, golf bags, etc.), don’t trust “eyeballing it.” Take these items to the test drive and make sure they really fit or that you can install them.

6. Check that your smartphone connects properly to the car

It is obvious that nowadays having our phone connected to the car’s infotainment system is almost a must, so it is advisable to check with a salesperson that your phone connects to the vehicle without complications. Knowing that a car has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is good, but we all feel more reassured when we verify firsthand that everything works properly. By doing this you will also be able to see whether the phone connects easily, an essential quality when pairing more than one mobile device with the car.

It is also important that you check the charging ports the car offers for charging your smartphone (whether they are accessible, where they are located, how many phones you can charge at once…). Finally, it’s worth taking a look at the vehicle’s infotainment system and checking its various functions; in many cases you will discover options whose existence you were unaware of.

7. Choose a familiar route to test the car

Whenever you can, try to drive the car on roads you know, where you can compare its reactions with those of your current car (or other cars): how it goes over certain bumps, how it manoeuvres in tight spaces, etc. In addition, this will allow you to focus on the vehicle’s behaviour rather than on the exit you need to take to reach your destination.

It is also important to choose a route that combines urban and road sections. Every vehicle is designed for a particular type of driving; try to identify the environment in which the car performs best, whether in terms of dynamics, efficiency or comfort.

8. Identify the car’s character to see whether it suits your needs

When you start driving, try to notice the suspension tuning (firmer or softer), the steering weight (more or less communicative), and the feel of the gearbox and pedals. Depending on what you are looking for, you will want all of the above to have a firmer setup (oriented towards sportiness) or a softer one (oriented towards comfort).

On the other hand, identify the engine’s character: notice how it delivers power across the rev range (whether this spectrum is wider or narrower, at what point it becomes most intense…), from what point the torque is available (the push the car offers at low revs), and what the throttle response is (how immediately the car reacts when you press the accelerator).

Noise and vibrations are another point to consider. While you drive, pay attention to the level of soundproofing in the cabin and to any possible vibrations coming from the engine, the wheels or the bodywork in general.

9. Test the driver assistance systems

Today’s cars come with all kinds of driving assistants: front collision warning, lane keeping assist, automatic parking assistant… The best way to know whether they are worth the price is to try them live. These assistants are included in some versions, but when that is not the case, having tried them will help you know whether you really need them.

10. If you have doubts… try another version

Often the car is not the problem, but the version you are testing. If you particularly liked a car but there are things that don’t quite fit, check whether there is a version that better matches your needs. A different trim level, engine or chassis setup can be the perfect solution to resolve your last doubts.

BONUS: Enjoy the experience =)