How To Do A Proper Test Drive

Taking a test-drive might seem like speed-dating, but keep in mind that there's a lot more at stake. In just the half-hour (or less) behind the wheel, you're going to need to determine whether this car is serious relationship material or not — without so much as a full first date.

Because there's so much to assess in such a short amount of time, you'll need to have a strategy. As a starting point, revisit your priorities and do an informal assessment of how your own vehicle fits your needs. For example, if you want something that's maneuverable for city streets, does it also have enough cargo space for your weekend trips to the lake? Is there enough room in the back for your mother-in-law, a car seat and the family dog?

"There have been some substantial equipment differences in the new models over the past few years," says Douglas Love, senior communications counsel at Consumer Reports. "There may be navigation systems, side-curtain airbags, heated seats…. They may prompt the customer to say, 'Wow, this is terrific.' And it may prevent the customer from actually putting the car through the paces."

It's easy to get lost playing with the toys and to forget about your true mission at hand: to evaluate this vehicle to see if it actually meets your basic driving needs. Remember that you can always return to the dealership to get a rundown on all the available features, such as surround-sound settings or voice-command functions.

Another challenge for shoppers is that the typical test-drive route won't be especially revealing. "We talk about the 30- to 45-minute test drive, but in reality it's usually just a predetermined route with a few easy right-handers," said Love. "The salesman is with you, the stereo is on and all of a sudden you're in a dealership talking about the deposit."

In preparation for the drive, here are some pointers that may help make the experience more meaningful:

• Set aside a block of time on a given day to do your test drives, and try to drive each of the cars from the respective dealerships in succession.

• Request a longer test drive at each visit. Scout out a route the day before with varied surfaces—some stop-and-go, some high-speed, some hills and some with corners too. And if at all possible, have the route be close enough to each of the dealerships.

• Take somebody with you to distract the salesperson so you can concentrate on the driving experience.

• Make sure you'll drive a version of the car that's equipped identically, or almost identically, to the one you want.

• Bring a pen and notebook for quick note taking after the drive.

Next: Adjust The Seats