TEST drives are an essential part of choosing a new car, but many people do not take full advantage of them.

There are even some people who - unbelievably - buy a car without even taking a test drive, which is rather like buying a wedding dress without checking to see if it fits.

A test-drive is the one opportunity to really see how you connect with the vehicle, and to gauge whether you could live with it long- term.

To tie in with the launch of its new B-Class, Mercedes-Benz devised ten top tips to ensure that you make the most of the limited time you have in the car.

They apply just as well to other makes, so here they are: 1 Familiarise yourself with the car before setting off.

Have a good look around the car before you get in. Make sure that you are happy with its looks from every angle. Try all of the door handles: are they usable and comfortable? Open the boot and test the weight of the door. Does it open far/high enough? Is the loading floor too high? Is the boot too small/too big?

2 Go on a varied route.

Ensure that your route contains a number of different road conditions and surfaces. Cars will behave differently when on smooth or rough road surfaces, or when taking sharp corners or long straights.

It is important that you feel comfortable with the car in as many conditions as possible.

A good retailer will usually ensure that the test-route is as varied as possible for you, a bad one will insist on a short, low-speed drive over pristine surfaces.

3 Take a passenger to try out the rear seats.

If you can, take a friend or family member with you on the test drive.

Make them try out all of the seats as you drive to get an accurate feel for leg room, head room, ride quality etc.

If you have children, take them with you: they can give invaluable and brutally honest advice, and some cars cause travel sickness more than others.

4 If you are going to drive in the rush-hour, test drive in the rush hour.

Not all driving is done on open roads in the middle of the day when there is comparatively little traffic.

If possible, arrange a test drive for approximately when you will usually be travelling.

Cars can feel and drive very differently when stop/starting than when cruising.

5 Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Always ask if you don't understand some technical jargon or if you feel that something has not been mentioned.

A good retailer will always give honest advice.

While actually driving the car, however, don't be afraid to ask the salesperson to be quiet.

A constant sales-pitch can be distracting and you will not concentrate fully on the car's performance and feel.

6 Drive a model that is as close as possible to that you are thinking of buying.

To get a true impression of what it will be like to own and drive the car, try to test drive one that has the same engine, gearbox, or trim as that which you will be buying.

Details such as colour and trim options may not directly affect the way that the car drives, but they will affect how comfortable you feel in the car.

7 Relax and drive normally.

It is very easy to concentrate too hard on driving when on a test drive, and not get a true feeling for the car.

Drive as you would normally drive to find out if you really feel comfortable in the car.

Conducting a proper test drive does not involve chucking the car around like Tiff Needell.

8 Park the car or manoeuvre it at slow speed.

Try manoeuvring the car at slow speed to check that the steering and handling is not too heavy or too light for parking, etc.

Check the turning circle and test the brakes to see how they respond: do you feel comfortable with the style of handling?

9 Check the after-sales policy and facilities.

The sales-person will sell you the car, but it will be up to the dealership's after-sales department to ensure that regular services and any repairs are dealt with as efficiently and as well as possible.

Many retailers will volunteer to take you on a tour of their workshops, but do ask to see service areas if not.

10 Don't rely on other people's opinions.

The most important opinion is yours. Your friends and family will probably not be driving the car as much as you, so trust your gut instinct plus a sensible dose of reasoned logic.

While it is a good idea to thoroughly research new cars, other people's opinions should not be relied upon as heavily as your own.