Test driving a new car is the most crucial part of determining which car is right for you.

• Does the vehicle look attractive to you?
• Is it available in a colour you like?
• Is the vehicle easy to get into?
• Does the interior come in a colour you like?
• Is their enough headroom, legroom, etc. when the seat and steering wheel are properly adjusted? Sit in the front and the back.
• Are the gauges easy to read?

Once you are ready to hit the road, answer these questions as you are driving.

• Is the engine as quiet and smooth as you expected?
• Does the steering have a nice feel to it?
• Does the vehicle have adequate power for acceleration? How about with the A/C on?
• Does the vehicle handle well?
• How are the brakes? Does the vehicle stop safely? Try the vehicle on a variety of roads, including the highway.
• Does the suspension absorb road irregularities well? Is it too soft or too hard?
• Are the interior noise levels okay on the highway? Listen for the engine, wind and road noise.
• Try all of the accessories including the radio, heater, A/C, and power features to ensure that they operate to your liking.

Once back to the dealership, try to do the following

• Try parking the vehicle. Does it have any blind spots?
• Walk around the vehicle with the engine running. How does it sound? Also, take a look at the engine while it's running. Does everything seem in good order?
• Check the trunk. Is it large enough? Is the trunk opening large enough for balky items? Do the rear seats fold down?

  A great way to test drive a new car is to check if you could rent one from a rental company. This has two benefits. First, you can drive the vehicle for a longer period of time. Second, you can see how it has held up with a few thousand miles already on it.

  This list is a rough guide. You may have more specific criteria to look for. It is a good idea to write down what you would like to look for before you test drive the new car. This checklist can also be applied to used cars as well.