How to Make the Most of Your Test Drive

Test driving a car is one of the most exciting parts of the whole buying process. It gives you a chance to get up close and personal with a car that you’re considering the purchase of and allows you to gain a better idea of what it’s like.

Here at Eden, we’ve got hundreds of brand new cars and approved used cars available to test drive, so if you’re looking to make a switch to a new vehicle then we’re always here to help. But what should you look for during a test drive and how can you make the most of it? That’s just what we’ll be explaining in this article.

Seating position

Get behind the wheel and see how you feel - even before you’ve turned the key. If you’re planning on sharing your new car with another driver, then consider how easy it is to adjust the seat to the right position for you. Is there an electrical adjustment or is it manual? Can you simply and easily move the steering wheel so you’ve got a good level of control?

It might sound simple, but making sure you can get into the right driving position is essential.

Engine and gearbox

A test drive provides a great opportunity to find out whether or not the level of performance offered by a car is right for you. Whether you’re upgrading to a bigger engine compared with your older car or downsizing to something a little more efficient, you need to make sure that you’re happy with how a car performs. Don’t be afraid to try out the car’s acceleration, too, as you need to double-check that it has enough poke for the type of driving you’re planning on doing.

If you’re making the switch from a manual to an automatic gearbox, check that you feel comfortable with the new setup. Many people who are new to automatic cars can feel a little out of control, to begin with, but this usually subsides as you get used to the vehicle.

General size and shape

Driving a larger car than you’re used to can be a little intimidating initially, but it’s always worth making sure that you’re happy with the size of the vehicle that you’re looking at. During your test drive, you might want to park it in a space that you’d usually use, or try parallel parking it to see how you get on.

If you find it a struggle to park or drive down a narrow road, then you might find a smaller car more comfortable on a daily basis. However, much like the switch from manual to automatic, you do usually adapt to a new size of a car - so give yourself time to adjust.

Visibility

Visibility is a big part of driving and it’s why we’d make sure that you’re happy with this aspect on any new car that you’re looking at. Try an over-the-shoulder check and consider the size and shape of the forward pillars when you’re approaching a roundabout or junction. These differ between models and makes, so it’s a good idea to double-check that you’re happy with them. A test drive is the ideal time to find out.

If you’re going to be transporting the kids along with you, then you may want to see how easily you can view the rear seats.

Spaciousness

Space is a big consideration when you’re looking at a new car and a test drive provides ample opportunity to see if a new vehicle is practical enough for you. Though it’s not going to be viable to bring suitcases along with you to a test drive, consider how large the boot is and if it’s got enough space for you.

Again, if you’ve got kids coming along for the ride then think about how easy the ISOFIX car seat anchor points are to access - if you need to fit these seats - and consider if the rear doors open wide enough. Considering this now could help to avoid some annoyance down the line.

Boot accessibility

Finally, take a look at the boot. You may want to think about how accessible the boot is. For example, if you’re looking at an SUV or crossover, then the boot lip may be higher up and a little trickier to load heavier items into.

An estate or saloon, meanwhile, will have a lower load lip and this could help when you’re putting in heavier items. Again, this is down to your circumstances and what you’ll be using the car for most of all - but it’s worth considering all the same.

Here at Eden, we’ve got a car to suit all circumstances and requirements. So now we’ve covered what you need to think about during a test drive, then put them into practice by trying out one of our excellent vehicles today.