Essential Test Drive Q’s

The first thing you should do when you’re thinking about purchasing or leasing a new vehicle is take it out for a test drive. Seriously! You can’t accurately decide if you like a vehicle if you don’t even drive it. However, we always think we’re going to ask the right questions to ourselves on the ride but then immediately forget everything as soon as we get behind the wheel. That’s why we’ve put together these essential questions to ask – print them out before your test drive so you don’t forget!

How is the ride in the vehicle? Is it bumpy or smooth? Depending on what type of car you are test driving, there are certain expectations you’ll have about how the ride will be, but make sure that the vehicle you’re driving meets or exceeds those expectations.

How are the brakes? Responsive? Sticky? Would you bet your life on them working? Test them out in all types of situations on the test drive. On hills, on flat surfaces, slow stops, fast stops, forceful stops, etc. Remember that hybrid vehicles’ brakes feel different from the brakes of regular vehicles.

How are the steering and handling? If the car is hard for you to drive, maybe you should consider a different one. Pull a U-turn on an empty road or in a cul-de-sac. How is the turning radius?

Is the acceleration good? Does the vehicle get up to speed the way you want it to? Acceleration is important, so pay attention to this. Try it out on a highway if you can.

Is the inside of the vehicle loud? Can you see out of all the windows the way you need to? Driver comfort in the cockpit is one of the most important things about a vehicle – and of course, being able to see out of the car is paramount.