You’ll spend hundreds of hours in your car, yet seat comfort is rarely tested properly. Most people sit down for five minutes in the vehicle at the car warehouse, give it a quick shift, and tick the box, but that doesn’t tell you much. What really matters is how your back, legs and neck feel after driving for an hour or sitting through stop start traffic with a toddler sleeping in the back. Good support isn’t about soft cushions, it’s about posture. Lumbar support, seat tilt, headrest height and even firmness all play a part. Over time, poor seat ergonomics can lead to aching shoulders, fatigue or the kind of subtle discomfort that builds until you dread long drives. If you’re buying used, check for sagging or uneven wear. With new models, don’t just test for height, check how well the seat adjusts to you.

One of the specs that rarely gets attention is the turning circle. It affects how easily the car can handle narrow corners, tight parking or three point turns outside your child’s school (while no doubt someone waits behind you with their hazard lights flashing!) A wide turning circle doesn’t sound like a big deal until you’re trying to manoeuvre around bins on a terraced street or get out of a car park space you shouldn’t have attempted in the first place. Smaller, more agile cars often win here, but even larger ones vary a lot between models. Always test it yourself, brochures often leave it out entirely.

New cars love to boast about massive screens and sleek designs, but it’s surprising how often visibility takes a hit. Rear windows are shrinking, rooflines are sloping and chunky pillars are more common than ever. You’ll notice it most when reversing out of a driveway with a buggy half hanging out the boot or trying to parallel park near a hedge while glancing at a scooter someone’s left on the pavement. Rear cameras are helpful, but they don’t replace that quick over the shoulder check. Before buying, sit in the driver’s seat and look properly. Are the blind spots big? Can you see clearly behind and to the sides? Do the mirrors adjust enough to compensate? If not, it’ll become a daily irritation.

This one can creep up on you, at first, everything might seem fine. But then you realise there’s nowhere sensible to put your sunglasses, your drink bottle or the inevitable collection of loose raisins and toy cars that seem to appear after every journey. Some cars have clever compartments that work. Others leave you cramming things into the glovebox and hoping they don’t rattle. Look at the layout of the centre console. Are the cup holders deep enough? Is there a spot to keep your phone where it won’t slide off every time you turn a corner? These aren’t luxuries, they’re things you’ll use every single day.

Road noise is a slow burn. You don’t always notice it on a test drive, but it builds over time. A car that feels peaceful and calm at 30 miles per hour might start to wear you down at motorway speeds. This isn’t just about comfort. A quieter cabin means you don’t need to raise your voice during a conversation, or turn the volume up every time your older one wants the music on. It also increases the chance of a baby staying asleep, especially when it’s already been a bit of a morning. Try this during your test drive. Turn everything off and just listen, from the engine hum to the wind, road surface, it all adds up. If it seems loud now, it won’t improve.

There’s nothing worse than fumbling for the air con while merging into traffic, or trying to figure out where the fog light switch is while also keeping one eye on the sat nav and the other on an overtired child asking for snacks. Some cars get this right. The steering wheel buttons are where your thumbs naturally fall. The climate controls are clear and physical, not hidden in a touchscreen menu. Others try to be too clever with tiny symbols and laggy screens.

-Change the temperature

-Adjust the radio

-Turn on the headlights or wipers

-Use cruise control if it has it

If the layout feels confusing now, it’ll drive you mad later. Especially when you’re running late and trying to make it to a soft play booking without missing the window.

Certain features seem minor until you use them for the first time, then you wonder how you ever managed without them. Things like one touch windows when reaching out at a car park barrier with a child asleep on the other side, or split rear seats that let you fit the pram and still carry shopping.

-Auto dimming rear view mirrors that cut glare on dark roads

-Rain sensing wipers that sort themselves out mid downpour

-Rear air vents, so the backseat isn’t a sauna on warm days

-Proximity entry, which saves the hunt for your keys at the bottom of the nappy bag

-Adjustable rear headrests, especially if grandparents or taller kids sit in the back

You don’t need all of them. But when you’re choosing between two car models that are otherwise similar, these little things often tip the balance.

It’s easy to focus on the big points, fuel economy, safety ratings, engine size. And of course those things matter. But after the first few weeks, it’s the everyday details that shape how you feel about the car. Do the seats support you properly? Can you park without drama? Is it quiet enough for naps in the back? These are the things that make a car feel like a good choice rather than just a sensible one. So next time you're test driving and take a few extra minutes, try things people usually skip. Check visibility, sit in the back and park in a tight space. Because once you're juggling bags, coats, snack pots and tired children, every small detail matters more than you'd think.