A notchy or balky gearbox is not a thing of joy. And excessively long throws between gears may be the hot setup in a dumptruck, but not in a passenger car. Handling should be responsive and confidence-inspiring. Quick right-left transitions and simulated emergency evasive maneuvers should not cause the car to lose its composure, become unstable or do anything weird. Look for a flat attitude under hard cornering unless a certain amount of body roll doesn't bother you.
Some cars offer an excellent balance of ride comfort and handling.
Others may ride too stiff. On the flip side is a ride that's too soft, which makes for a wallowy attitude and a car that undulates down the road on a flaccid suspension. If a car flunks the ride and handling part of your test, but you really like its other attributes, an optional suspension package may be more your taste. But it will take another test drive to find that out for sure. Feeling Good Steering, while considered part of overall vehicle handling, is a factor to consider on its own.