WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON YOUR BMW SUV TEST DRIVE.

MAKE YOUR BMW TEST DRIVE ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE.

A BMW SUV test drive is your opportunity to check how a vehicle fits your routine. Focus on your seating position, passenger comfort, cargo needs, controls, and how the vehicle feels on the road.

Whether you commute between Lafayette and West Lafayette or regularly travel beyond Greater Lafayette, bring a short list of what matters most. Use the same checklist for each vehicle so you can compare your impressions afterward.

CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO COMPARE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.

Start with your priorities rather than a long list of features. Do you need more room for passengers, easier loading, or a vehicle that feels comfortable in your usual parking spaces?

If the X3 and X5 are on your shortlist, review the dealership’s BMW X3 inventory and BMW X5 inventory. Note the vehicles that interest you and ask the sales team to confirm availability before your visit.

Record the model year, trim, and equipment of each vehicle you consider. Ask which features on the test vehicle are included on the specific BMW you might purchase.

GET COMFORTABLE BEFORE YOU START.

While parked, adjust the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. Check whether you can reach the pedals and controls comfortably without stretching.

Look at your view through the windshield, side windows, and mirrors. Then get out and back in to assess the step-in height and door opening.

Try the passenger seats, too. If another person regularly drives your vehicle, consider bringing them so both of you can evaluate the seating position.

TRY THE CONTROLS WHILE PARKED.

Ask for a demonstration of the equipment fitted to the vehicle. Find the climate controls, audio settings, navigation functions, and parking displays you would use regularly.

• Can you read the displays comfortably from your driving position?
• Can you find common settings without searching through several menus?
• Does your phone connect as expected when the vehicle supports it?
• Which features are standard, optional, or dependent on a subscription?

Complete setup and explore unfamiliar menus before driving. Ask the sales team to explain any feature you do not recognize.

TEST THE SPACE WITH YOUR OWN NEEDS IN MIND.

Picture the items you carry regularly. A stroller, golf bag, suitcase, or mobility aid can be a more useful reference than cargo measurements alone.

Ask whether you can bring a typical item to check its fit. Look at the opening, loading height, usable floor space, and access with the rear seats in the position you expect to use.

Ask for a demonstration of seat-folding and liftgate functions on the exact vehicle. Check the space available with passengers seated, not just with every seat folded.

The X5 photographs illustrate seating and cargo areas. Confirm the layout and equipment of the individual vehicle you are considering.

PAY ATTENTION TO ORDINARY DRIVING.

Discuss a suitable route with the sales team. Where permitted and conditions allow, include the types of roads you normally use, along with routine turns and a parking maneuver.

• Ride comfort: Notice how the vehicle feels over ordinary changes in pavement.
• Steering and braking: Consider whether the responses feel comfortable and predictable to you during normal driving.
• Cabin sound: Listen with the audio lowered so you can assess your own comfort.
• Parking: Check your view and how easily you judge the vehicle’s position in an appropriate parking area.

Follow traffic laws and the accompanying representative’s instructions. Keep your attention on driving and save notes or phone use until you are parked.