diff --git a/test/unit/range/views/persist_test.cpp b/test/unit/range/views/persist_test.cpp
index 3bd36f38b5..e90b5228a1 100644
--- a/test/unit/range/views/persist_test.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/range/views/persist_test.cpp
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@
 
 #include <seqan3/std/concepts>
 #include <seqan3/std/ranges>
+#include <string>
 
 #include <range/v3/algorithm/copy.hpp>
 #include <range/v3/view/unique.hpp>
 
 #include <seqan3/range/views/persist.hpp>
-#include <seqan3/range/views/to.hpp>
 #include <seqan3/range/concept.hpp>
-#include <seqan3/utility/char_operations/predicate.hpp>
+#include <seqan3/test/expect_range_eq.hpp>
 
 // ============================================================================
 //  test templates
@@ -26,68 +26,59 @@
 
 TEST(view_persist, delegate_to_view_all)
 {
+    using namespace std::literals;
+
     std::string vec{"foo"};
 
     // pipe notation
     auto v = vec | seqan3::views::persist;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, v);
 
     // function notation
-    std::string v2 = seqan3::views::persist(vec) | seqan3::views::to<std::string>;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v2);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, seqan3::views::persist(vec));
 
     // combinability
-    auto v3 = vec | seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique;
-    EXPECT_EQ("fo", v3 | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
-    std::string v3b = vec
-                    | std::views::reverse
-                    | seqan3::views::persist
-                    | ranges::views::unique
-                    | seqan3::views::to<std::string>;
-    EXPECT_EQ("of", v3b);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("fo"sv, vec | seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("of"sv, vec | std::views::reverse | seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique);
 
     // store combined
     auto a1 = seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique;
-    auto v5 = vec | a1;
-    EXPECT_EQ("fo", v5 | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("fo"sv, vec | a1);
 }
 
 TEST(view_persist, wrap_temporary)
 {
+    using namespace std::literals;
+
     // pipe notation
-    auto v = std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist);
 
     // function notation
-    std::string v2 = seqan3::views::persist(std::string{"foo"}) | seqan3::views::to<std::string>;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v2);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, seqan3::views::persist(std::string{"foo"}));
 
     // combinability
-    auto v3 = std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique;
-    EXPECT_EQ("fo", v3 | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
-    std::string v3b = std::string{"foo"}
-                    | seqan3::views::persist
-                    | std::views::filter(seqan3::is_char<'o'>)
-                    | ranges::views::unique
-                    | seqan3::views::to<std::string>;
-    EXPECT_EQ("o", v3b);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("fo"sv, std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist | ranges::views::unique);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("o"sv, std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist
+                                              | std::views::filter([](char const chr){return chr == 'o';})
+                                              | ranges::views::unique);
 }
 
 TEST(view_persist, const)
 {
+    using namespace std::literals;
+
     // inner const
     using t = std::string const;
-    auto v = t{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, t{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist);
 
     // outer const
     auto const & v2 = std::string{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v2 | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, v2);
 
     // inner + outer const
     using t = std::string const;
     auto const & v3 = t{"foo"} | seqan3::views::persist;
-    EXPECT_EQ("foo", v3 | seqan3::views::to<std::string>);
+    EXPECT_RANGE_EQ("foo"sv, v3);
 }
 
 TEST(view_persist, concepts)