Exploratory Testing on Cars.ng: Findings and Recommendations

Introduction

As part of my exploratory testing task for the HNG Internship, I conducted an in-depth usability and functionality test on Cars.ng. The goal was to evaluate the core user flows, identify bugs and inconsistencies, and suggest improvements to enhance the overall user experience.

Methodology

1. Exploratory Testing – Navigated through the website’s key functionalities, including sign-up, browsing listings, filtering searches, and saving cars.
2. Multi-Device Testing – Conducted tests on both desktop (Windows 10, Chrome & Firefox) and mobile (Android & iOS, Chrome & Safari).
3. Bug Documentation – Identified issues, captured screenshots, and categorized them based on severity.

Findings

Major Issues Identified

1. Sign-up Function

• Issue: When clicking the sign-in button, it redirects to a page where users can sign in via Google, Facebook, email, or phone. However, clicking on the 'Register Here' button on this page changes it back to 'Sign In,' and the text above (which initially says 'Sign in with email or phone') changes to 'Register via email or phone.' This behavior is unclear and could be frustrating to users.

• Expected: The 'Sign Up' button should lead to a distinct registration page or process rather than modifying the sign-in interface dynamically in a confusing way.
• Severity: High.

2. Long Sign-up Load Time

• Issue: Sign-up took a little longer to load without user feedback.
• Expected: A loading indicator should inform users that the process is ongoing.
• Severity: Medium.

3. Non-Responsive Profile Area on Client Dashboard

• Issue: The profile section is nested under 'Settings' which works fine, but it's not directly accessible on the profile icon.

• Expected: Profile details should be easily accessible from the dashboard.
• Severity: Medium.

4. See All Categories Button Disappears

• Issue: The ‘See All Categories’ button vanishes when hovered over.

• Expected: The button should remain visible and clickable.
• Severity: High.

5. 'Save for Later' on Sales Section Not Working

• Issue: Clicking ‘Save for Later’ has no effect.

• Expected: A confirmation that the car has been saved should be displayed.
• Severity: High.

6. 404 Error When Viewing Car Details

• Issue: Clicking on certain car listings in the "For Sale" section leads to a 404 error, preventing users from accessing more details.

• Expected: Users should be redirected to the correct car details page.
• Severity: High.

Mobile-Specific Issues

7. UI Elements Overlapping

• Issue: On mobile, some texts and buttons overlap, making navigation difficult.

• Expected: Elements should be properly spaced for readability.
• Severity: Medium.

8. Finance and Lease Options Unavailable

• Issue: Finance/Lease buttons are present but not clickable.
• Expected: Either enable them or provide a message stating they are unavailable.
• Severity: Medium.

Suggested Improvements

1. Fix Sign-up and Registration Flow – Ensure the sign-up button functions correctly and provides feedback.
2. Enhance Mobile Responsiveness – Address overlapping elements and fix filter responsiveness.
3. Improve Dashboard Accessibility – Make profile settings easier to find.
4. Optimize Performance – Reduce loading times for sign-up and searches.
5. Fix Broken Buttons – Ensure all call-to-action buttons work as expected.
6. Resolve 404 Errors on Car Listings – Ensure all car listings lead to valid details pages.

Conclusion

Through this exploratory testing, I identified several usability and functionality issues that affect Cars.ng’s user experience. Addressing these issues will improve usability, navigation, and engagement for users on both desktop and mobile. I hope the Cars.ng development team finds these insights valuable in improving the platform.

For a detailed bug report with screenshots, check the Bug Report Sheet.