The 12 secret things smart people do when test-driving a new car

Infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems, cameras all around, self-starting, self-parking – heck – self-driving. The list of possible car features in new models these days is truly impressive. But I don't blame you if you also find it a bit confusing.

As I've written before, cars are not quite as simple as they used to be. Jump in one that's different to what you're accustomed to, and you'll find buttons in unfamiliar spots (if there are buttons at all), varying ways to put it in gear, and even screens where you would expect to find a mirror.

With this in mind, taking a new set of wheels for a thorough trial spin is more important than ever. These are some of the things those in the know do on a test drive.

You jump in a test model at the dealership, all the while chatting with the salesperson and eager to get on the road, so you quickly move your seat to a spot where the pedals are in reach and get going, right? Wrong.

Test-driving a car is not just about the drive itself. You are testing out how the interior feels, how the seat controls function, how easy it is to adjust the mirrors.

So, no matter the vibe you're getting from the salesperson, ask them to give you a moment to take your time getting your seat into the right position, figure out how to adjust the steering wheel height and just generally get acquainted with the interior.

Connect your phone before you start driving and see if you like how everything works. Play with the car's infotainment system. Does it have Apple CarPlay? Can you easily connect your phone via Bluetooth?

It might sound picky – but what do you think of the font on the screen? Think about whether you like it aesthetically, but more importantly, note whether you can easily read it – if not, can you change the size?

Find out what other functions are controlled by the screen – some cars' screens are exclusively for audio and navigation, while others have everything from air conditioning, mirror adjustment, windscreen wipers and even gear selection. Have a play and see whether the controls feel right for you.

I'm quite short, and I used to find that belts in many cars would cut me at the neck.

Since owning a newer car with better seat-height control, I've found this to be less of an issue. But now and then when I'm in a different car, the seatbelt-to-height ratio still comes with a sting.

If I were testing a new car, I'd be looking at the combo of the seat height and seatbelt adjustment range to make sure I didn't wind up with a pain in the neck.

There is nothing worse than realising your favourite coffee cup or water bottle won't fit in a car's cupholder – except maybe when that cupholder is so deep you can't actually get your coffee out without spilling it.

Bring your favourite beverage holders with you to the test drive and see how they work.

Also consider storage for handbags, sunglasses, tissues and your phone (including whether there is MagSafe charging). Do you need USB-C ports, and if so, does the car have them? How much space is in the glovebox? What's the sun-visor mirror situation like?

This is again one of those things to take your time with, make sure you're comfortable and that the interior works for your life.

Wipers, headlights and gear controls. You would think they would be in a standard spot no matter the car, but that is far from the case in 2026. Find out where they are and really think about whether you like it.

Next, make like a toddler in an elevator and press all the buttons – or, at least, find out what they do. The steering-wheel buttons are often the most important to consider, as they tend to control the most-used functions while driving.

Even in one of the most screen-based cars on the market right now – the Tesla Model Y – there are buttons on the steering wheel for voice control, windscreen wipers and high beams, as well as toggle wheels for a couple of other commonly used functions.

It's down to personal preference as to whether you like the majority of your controls on-screen or tactile. However, as reported by Drive recently, many car makers are going back to old-school buttons thanks to customer feedback and evolving safety regulations.

One button I personally want on my steering wheel is to turn off certain ADAS functions, such as lane assist. Figure out what's important to you, and make sure there's a button for it in the right spot.

How often do you sit in the back of your own car? Probably rarely if ever, right? But, if you have kids or frequent passengers – even pets – checking the back-seat experience is imperative.

Of course, those with young kids will know to find out about ISOFIX and top-tether provisions for car seats. What becomes trickier with this is if you need to fit three car seats in one row.

Few cars actually have ISOFIX in the middle seat, let alone room for a third car seat, so if you need it (or even think you might one day) it's worth checking.

Are the back seats comfy and roomy? Are there any screens or other fancy amenities back there – and do you want them? I know some parents would love the idea of a built-in screen in the back, while others would loathe it.

Crank the air conditioning in the front to feel its full capacity but – as mentioned above – don't forget the back. Make sure you crank those air vents, too, and figure out if your passengers are likely to be comfy on a hot day.

Also consider sun shades in the back – some new cars have these built in.

I am short-sighted, so I need to wear my glasses for driving. I don't, however, need them to look at a screen within a close distance.

So, when I drove the Polestar 4, with its screen connected to a rear-view camera in place of a rear-view mirror, I realised my glasses made for a blurry rear-view screen.

I'd imagine long-sighted people might have the opposite issue – not needing their glasses to see far in front of them while driving, but needing them to clearly view a small screen at close range.

Many cars these days also have cameras in place of side mirrors, though – those being a bit further away – I can see them clearly with glasses on.

Again, it's all about your own personal circumstances and preferences, but it's something to check.

Take the car on a range of different roads with stop-start city traffic, low-speed suburban traffic, as well as a highway and a freeway. As you do this, note the car's 'real world' fuel consumption. Ask the salesperson how to reset it for the trip and have it up on the display.

If you're testing an electric car, find out its range and note the percentage of charge it has when you leave versus when you come back.

Check the turning circle of the steering wheel by completely locking the wheels. This is especially important if you do a lot of city driving and need to get in and around tight spots.

Also, give parallel parking a go to get a feel for the size of the car and where its blind spots are, and what its parking sensors and cameras are like.

Then do it again and try not to rely on any cameras – kick it old-school and use your mirrors. Of course, you'll likely use your cameras as a rule – but if they do happen to malfunction, you want to feel comfortable parking without them.

See if you can test on a relatively sunny day, and then park in the sun with the air off for a bit. Note how quickly the car heats up – particularly in the back seats.

Then test the air conditioning again and see how quickly it gets the cabin to a comfortable temperature. Depending on where you live and whether you have kids or pets, this test could be a deal-breaker.

Take it to the freeway and hit 100km/h to really get a feel for how the car performs. Test using the cruise control and decide whether the controls to do so are easy enough to find and adjust.

Also, pay attention to how your merge onto the freeway goes and what it's like to change lanes. As with parallel parking, this will give you a good indication of blind spots and how effective any cameras or sensors are.

Jemimah is Drive's Consumer Editor. She has more than a decade of editorial experience and has previously worked in property and lifestyle journalism for Domain, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and REA Group, among many other publications.

Read more about Jemimah Clegg