How to Take Test Drive of a Car: A Checklist

How to Effectively Test Drive a New Car

Short listing Cars for a Test Drive

Before you decide on taking a test drive, based on your budget, finalise the specifications and features you absolutely must have on the car. The feature could be as basic as a power steering to something as non-essential as a Bluetooth sound system. Logon to www.carwale.com and research the car models and variants that fit these aspects. If you are still confused about which car to buy and will only decide post a test drive then shortlist a maximum of 3 cars as more the number of car you shortlist, the more confused you will be while making the final decision. 

Test Drive the Version You Are Considering for Purchase

Yes, it is critical to inform the dealership that you would like to test drive a particular version and not a generic model. When the dealership executive calls you to confirm the test drive, you must insist on knowing the version they are sending. If you are not sure, confirm the following:

Engine: Does the test drive car have the engine shortlisted by you e.g. Petrol or Diesel, 2.4L or 3L?
Gearbox: Does it have the kind of gearbox you are looking for e.g. manual or automatic?
Features: Does it have the features that are going to help you decide e.g. heightadjustable driver seat, lumbar support, power steering etc?
Upholstery: If the car is offered in more than one upholstery options, ask for the car with the upholstery you are interested in e.g. black or beige.

Having the exact engine and gearbox is critical. If the dealership doesn’t have the version you wish to test drive, you might want to consider another dealership. 

Convenient Time and Place

Test drives normally take about an hour from start to finish, including test driving the car and discussions with dealer executive post test-drive. We strongly recommend that you schedule the test drive at a convenient time and place so that you don’t have to hurry up. The test drive should typically be scheduled on a day you are relatively free and are at leisure. 

Things to Take Along

Family / friends – Have family members or friends join you for a test drive. They can give feedback on how the ride feels in the back seat and will give you a proper understanding of how many people you can actually seat comfortably. They will also help in observing things that you might miss out on.

Your favourite music – Take along a CD/ USB drive with your music on it to test the music system of the car.

A printed copy of the check list.

New Car Test Drive Checklist

Download new car Test Drive checklist (108 KB)

	What to Check	Tick if you are satisfied
1	Walk Around
	Do a walk around of the car and observe the styling, looks and overall appearance.
	Observe paint, panel gaps, door handles, build quality, overall fit & finish etc.
	Check out the boot for space inside, height, width and depth of it and how usable it is. If you carry large luggage more often than not, try estimating if the boot would be able to accommodate it or not.
	Open the doors (front and rear both) to know how wide they open and how confidently they close.
	Check how comfortable getting in and coming out of the car is, especially if you are going to be traveling with elder folks.
	It's not just about your comfort, remember. So, get in the rear and see if there's enough leg- and headroom. If you have kids, take them with you to test out the space.
	Take a minute to see how you feel sitting in the front seat. Get a sense for the space.
2	Getting Prepared for the Test Drive
	Before actually driving the car examine the car properly. Explore compartments, push buttons and adjust dials.
	Play with the gadgets, see if the radio, aircon and its vents and other controls like that for the wiper, horn etc are easy to use. Connect your USB/iPod or play a CD to test the sound system (if applicable).
	Check how comfortable the driving position is, because you will be spending a lot of time stuck in jams in that position. Check if you can adjust the steering wheel enough and get the seat into a comfortable position. You should be able to reach the steering, the gear lever and the foot pedals (clutch, brake and accelerator) easily. Also, check if the instrument cluster is fully visible from that seating position.
	Check driver’s visibility. Since some cars have low seating, or if the driver isn’t tall enough for the model, look for the seat height adjustability. Good visibility is a must-have for safety reasons. All ground checks are done and it’s time to drive now! :)
3	The Test Drive
	Go around the route suggested by the salesperson once to get acquainted with the car. Also, if you are not happy with the distance or the type of route, ask for a longer or different route.
	Never feel shy from asking for more; it’s your hard earned money at stake here after all. Go around the route again, and this time round, begin with feeling the steering. Twirl it left and right to see how it feels and whether you enjoy it and how much effort is needed to turn it quickly.
	Next, get a feel of the brakes. See if these are too weak or strong. If these feel too powerful, it’s good and you will get used to it and these brakes will need less effort to use.
	Check the mirrors - see if there's good vision for the rear. See how much these adjust.
	Get a feel of the engine and the acceleration. Rev the car to about 4000rpm to get an idea if the car is quick or not; if it’s loud or quiet; and whether the engine sounds nice or coarse.
	Try driving at various speeds in different gears, ranging from 20kph to 80-100kph (within legal speed limits) and note cabin NVH (Noise, Vibrations and Harshness) due to traffic, wind and tyre noise etc.
	Use the gearbox. See, if the clutch is light to use or requires a lot of effort. Also, check if the clutch needs slipping to get a move on. A worn out clutch can prove expensive later on. Feel the gearshifts. Check if these are hard or easy.
	If you can manage to drive the car on a rough road, try noticing the ride quality, suspension performance, cabin rattles and squeaks etc.
	Try reversing into a parking space to check you have good rear visibility. And change lanes while driving to check the visibility at the sides.
	Check the AC. Switch on the AC when you are driving at 80kmph and see the drop in the speed. Also check of the AC cuts off, if the engine is revved hard and for how long. It's important to examine how long it takes the car to heat up or cool down, especially on a hot summer day.
	Observe AC fan / blower noise at various speed levels.
4	After the Test Drive
	Discuss with the sales executive any doubts/ concerns that may have come up during the test drive. The test drive cars are not in perfect shape always and there is a chance that the issue you observed is with this particular car and not in general.
	However, beware, if a problem exists in the test drive car, it could probably show up in the car you buy sooner or later. Also, note the odometer reading of the test drive car.
	Take the car brochure, price-list etc. the sales person had brought along. Fill the feedback form, if the sales person asks you to.
	Don’t be afraid to ask for another test drive if you’re still unsure.