Almost a third (29%) of drivers did not arrange a test drive with their latest new car, new research reveals.
Commissioned by Sogo, the research suggests several reasons for people not taking test drives before deciding on their new vehicle, with one in four (25%) disliking being in the car that they are test driving with a salesperson.
One-in-10, meanwhile, felt that the majority of vehicles drive the same, so they did not warrant a test drive.
In examining attitudes towards the popularity of the traditional test drive, the findings indicate that despite 88% of motorists feeling that a test drive is beneficial when leasing or buying a new car, a significant minority choose not to.
While 7% were fully confident with their vehicle choice and said they did not need one, one-in-20 (5%) said that test drives are a further inconvenience and take up too much time and 1% admitted to not caring about how a car drives.
Attitudes towards test drives from male and female drivers are remarkably similar, with 29% of men not arranging one, compared with 27% of women.
Younger people are the most likely to not bother with a test drive, with 34% of 18-24-year-olds giving them a miss compared with 21% of motorists aged over 65.
Karl Howkins, managing director of Sogo, said: "Our research findings show that although the vast majority of drivers think that a test drive is a good idea, the picture, in reality, is entirely different with a third choosing their car without the need for a trial.
“This reflects what we see at Sogo, where short-term leasing means that if someone is dissatisfied with their choice of vehicle, they can swap it for a completely different one with a new, short-term lease.”
The research was conducted last month from a sample of 2,362 UK adults by independent market research agency Find Out Now.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
The Engineer - 09/07/2023 22:31
I don't know how people could not test drive, although if its a low mileage perk car then I suppose almost anything is tolerable. For one thing, I have tested cars with expectations from various reviews and formed such an opposite opinion that I wonder if the reviewer has even seen the car in question let alone driven it. Secondly we all have our own priorities and experiences, for example having had hybrids, DSG gearboxes now feel annoyingly sluggish and rubber-banding while in isolation they are highly rated. As a high mileage motorway driver a car that tracks straight on the motorway with minimal need for constant correction makes all the difference. you won't find that mentioned in any review, you need to get out on the road and feel it. with the vehicle supply issues I can imagine getting relevant vehicles to test drive is harder than ever, its never been particularly easy.