How Test Drives Actually Help You Make Better Car Buying Decisions

For many buyers, test driving a car is a formality at best. They hop into the driver’s seat, take a quick spin around the block, and think that’ll be enough to help them gauge if this car is “the one.” In reality, a test drive shouldn’t only be about how much you like the feel of a vehicle. It’s actually one of the most informative tools at your disposal for an informed purchasing decision, and most buyers don’t even scratch the surface of what they could learn in 15 or 20 minutes.

But it’s ineffective if a buyer goes in without knowing what to focus on. Not all practical aspects of a test drive are helpful to the average buyer. Sure, you’ll notice if the leather is nice or if the stereo sounds good, but what about the things that matter for how this car will become part of your day-to-day routine?

Familiarity with test-driving nuances could help you go from settling on buying to championing your decision for years to come, or settle you on a car that annoys you each time you turn it on.

What Your Body Really Tells You While Behind the Wheel

The first thing you notice about your vehicle’s comfort is how it feels while you’re driving, not while you’re parked and taking it for a spin. A seat may seem comfortable at the dealership; after 20 minutes, your lower back is sore. A steering wheel may sit perfectly upon first glance, but it is causing your shoulder strain that you won’t notice until it’s been in the same position for some time.

These opportunities are where test drives count. If you are constantly fidgeting, it may not be a good fit. Is your leg jammed up? Are you stretching for the pedals? These aren’t minor details. These are things you’ll have to deal with every single time you get behind the wheel. Good used-car dealerships that prioritize strong car sales will offer test drives longer than average if they can, because they know this is not fair to anyone assessing their next daily vehicle.

Beyond comfort, visibility is more critical than buyers realize. Can you see the end of the hood while you’re parked? Are there blind spots that make you uncomfortable? What’s rear visibility like when reversing? You’ll never know by looking at online photos, or even by sitting in the car while it’s parked.

The Sounds and Sensations That Actually Matter

While most cars today are generally silent, every vehicle has its own personality in terms of road noise and engine tone. For example, some buyers like the roar of an engine; others hate it after five minutes. The only way to assess whether you’re right or wrong here is by spending time with the engine running.

However, the essential sounds are those that shouldn’t be sounding at all. For example, if it rattles over bumps, there’s something wrong. Is there a squeak in the suspension? It sounds like a loose part; does that naturally happen with age in that model? Either way, whether it’s a used car or new to you, it’s helpful to know before you proceed with the purchase.

Finally, how bumps treat you provides insight into your daily roadway challenges if your everyday commute includes streets that are not always picture-perfect (and whose don’t?), drive down some bad stretches during your test drive.

A car may feel spectacular on smooth pavement, but jolting over potholes could be uncomfortable to say the least. A stiff suspension may feel sporty and fun at first; getting it to rattle your teeth out on your daily commute should be something worth finding out.

Testing Features You’ll Actually Use

Standard features on cars today are abundant; however, simply playing with the buttons won’t tell you whether they will work when you need them most. Is that backup camera clearly visible on the display? Can you leverage it when reversing without an advanced degree in logistics? That’s what a test drive is for: to quickly assess what you can maneuver and what will annoy you.

Climate controls are another seemingly simple feature until you’re forced to adjust them while driving through a turning lane. Can you change the temperature with a single button? Does it take three? If you’re stuck pressing buttons at an awkward angle because it’s challenging to do any other way, picture yourself doing this twice a day for more than seven years. Does it sound frustrating?

The entertainment system, whether Apple CarPlay or a variant, can also be a source of frustration. Can you connect your phone easily? Do radio stations require too much manual work? They’re rarely deal breakers, but they add up when something essential is missing, which could have been avoided.

What Acceleration and Braking Truly Reveal

Merging onto highways (or entering traffic) requires a sense of confidence with acceleration as well as safety. Find an area during a test drive to speed up (safely) and see how long it takes; does it stutter? Is there initial resistance before momentum? Or can you step on the gas and feel immediately propelled?

This isn’t about wanting a racecar; it is about safety and trust. If you know you’ll be regularly merging into fast traffic or need to avoid a potential accident, any hesitation or overeagerness becomes a concern.

Braking requires similar attention. How much pressure do you need to exert to come safely to a stop? Are they so grabby that they almost lurch you forward? Or is there too little pressure, which makes it difficult to achieve comfort? Every car has a different brake feel; it’s essential to assess whether it won’t feel right over time.

The Parking and Maneuverability Sense Check

If you’ll be parking this car often in tight spaces, how it drives before you secure this deal matters most. Turning radius is necessary for tight, complex corners or U-turns; some SUVs require three-point turns to make the turn, while smaller sedans are more nimble.

Try parallel parking during a test drive if you expect to do so frequently. How well can you gauge its length? Are there any blind spots that are making you second-guess yourself and feel unconfident about steering into new areas?

More than any other factor, these daily realities will likely shape your ownership experience, overshadowing everything else.

Making Your Drive Count

Ultimately, a good test drive should last 15-20 minutes (or longer if possible), covering various roads and conditions, ideally reflecting how different parts of town drive. Parking lots reveal different information than suburban stretches through neighborhood stops versus freeway access. Do what’s necessary to ensure this vehicle fits your needs.

Take notes after each drive, especially when you’re switching vehicles; details can slip away after you’ve driven four or five options. What impressed you immediately might fade within two days as you make a decision.

A test drive shouldn’t merely be falling in love with a potential passion; it’s a significant learning opportunity with practical application to an informed purchasing approach you’ll want to stand behind for months and years to come, when it’s too late to go back.

That short drive around the block should be all that’s needed for such nuanced decision-making, but realistically, it’s more often than not a dealbreaker, so it’s best to know while you can, or you’ll end up stuck with something that’s never quite right for you.