Before buying any car, you should test drive it. By test-driving, you will get an idea of how the car performs in different scenarios.
However, when you take the car out, you should drive on roads that are similar to how you will be using the car normally. If you drive primarily on the interstate, you will want to test drive on an interstate. If you drive primarily in city traffic, you will want to test drive in areas with stop-and-go traffic. General things to keep in mind are car acceleration, ease in steering, handling, visibility, and comfort.