Start Your Engines! We Tested and Chose the 10 Best Remote-Controlled Cars for All Ages
- 1/11
Start Your Engines! We Tested and Chose the 10 Best Remote-Controlled Cars for All Ages
Little kids, big kids and adults all like to make electronic remote-controlled cars and vehicles careen through the house or around a yard or park, testing how far and fast they'll go and whether they can overcome obstacles and turn on a dime. So if you find yourself browsing for holiday gifts, or you need a kid's birthday present, or you just want to treat the whole family to some fun, consider a zippy but sturdy RC vehicle.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've put hundreds of remote-controlled cars through their paces over the past 10 years, with family testers and our own engineers. We want to be sure that an RC car is going to stay charged for more than just a few laps around the living room (we're looking for at least 15 minutes of go time) and that the controls are easy and intuitive. To that end, we've sent samples to homes to get real-life feedback and also tested many remote-controlled cars in our Lab. Admittedly, we don't place a lot of emphasis on pure speed; we leave that to the hard-core hobbyists, though we do have some fast racers among our picks. We do check to see if an RC vehicle leaves marks on walls or if it's awkward to juice up a vehicle's rechargeable batteries. We place a premium on RC cars that can do fun tricks, like wheelies and spins, since that's a big part of their appeal. Our list is practical for the young (there's even a first RC for toddlers!) — and for the young at heart.
Our top picks:
And that's not all: At the end of this guide, read more about how we test remote-controlled cars in our Lab, including why we purposely drop toys from up high and take note of the results. (The reason is more important than you might think.)
courtesy - 2/11
1) Flippin’ Frenzy Stunt Vehicle Remote Control Car
Air Hogs
amazon.com
$29.99
Because of its soft wheels, the Flippin' Frenzy is ideal for indoor use, where it's unlikely to mark walls or scratch furniture, though you're welcome to use it outdoors too. Our testing has shown that it's strong enough to be raced down a staircase or smashed into cabinets without damage to the toy or to a home. If the car hits an object and turns upside down, it just keeps going, which is great for uninterrupted racing. Either the blue side or the red side shows at any given time, and it can speed along either way. Flippin' Frenzy is also able to do tricks, including wild spins. In fact, this RC car is a pick for the 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards.
The remote control's buttons are small and require some finger agility, so pay attention to the 4-and-up age rating. Toddlers may not have the patience to use all the features on this toy. But our tests have shown that schoolkids, teens and adults love it.
With previous versions of this Air Hogs RC car, users reported that the rechargeable battery got weaker over time and held for only 15 minutes or so — still a respectable amount of time in the RC vehicle universe, but worth noting. We haven't been able to play with this new-for-2022 version long enough to determine if this car's battery will gradually weaken too. But to some extent, gradual depletion is expected with any rechargeable battery (as we all know from life with our smartphones). The fact that users raced earlier versions long enough to have the battery start to weaken is a testament to how robust — and how fun — this RC vehicle is, since it's getting use over a long period of time.
Air Hogs - 3/11
2) Super Mario Kart 8 Mario Anti-Gravity Mini RC Racer
Nintendo
amazon.com
$29.99
If any franchise deserves an RC race car, it's got to be Nintendo's Super Mario Kart. This fun little vehicle can do tricks, including wheelies, spins and drifts, like the moves featured in the video game. The wheels can turn sideways — that's the "anti-gravity" mode, because it makes it look as though the car is hovering. "It does not, in fact, leave the ground, but it is a fun illusion," noted one tester. The remote control works even 100 feet away from the toy, making it entertaining to race the car over a distance. Parents report it holding up to real abuse, including being sent off ramps and smashed into walls.
Fun fact: You know how you can "try" a toy in a store by pushing a button through the packaging? That power comes from "demonstration batteries," which are different from the batteries that run the RC vehicle when you actually use it. The Super Mario Kart comes with those demonstration batteries and a cord connecting the car to the remote control, so be sure to remove the cord and replace the demo batteries before play.
Families who have tested this RC car for us report it being equally popular with 4-year-olds and teenage racers — and, of course, adults who are nostalgic about Mario and friends, or who never gave up playing Mario. Best of all, this race car costs even less than the price of one of the video games.
Jakks Pacific - Amazon Prime - 4/11
3) Cartoon Remote Control Police Car and Race Car
Prextex
amazon.com
$34.99
Just can't wait to race cars with the littlest person in your life? These feature lights, sounds and toy figures that can ride around in the two cars. The vehicles, a race car and a police car, are easy for even a toddler to operate. Blinking headlights, sirens, simple songs and remote controls that are shaped like steering wheels add to the thrill of making the cars move forward and backward, as well as having them turn.
There are only two big buttons, which we find keeps things simple and intuitive for the youngest kids. A big plus of this set is that two children can play together, or an adult can play along with a child. Speed isn't the goal with these preschooler-friendly RC cars, though they are fairly zippy. Instead, they're perfect as first remote-controlled toys that have very basic operation. Because the batteries aren't rechargeable, play can last a long time, but you'll want to keep a lot of batteries on hand. The entire set requires 10 of them!
Prextex - Amazon Prime - 5/11
4) Bandit XL-5
Traxxas
amazon.com
$213.95
When they have a need for speed, remote-controlled car fans point to the Traxxas brand, which has been manufacturing mini racing mobiles for some 35 years. This RC buggy really zips along, and the electronics are well protected against puddles, rocks, mud and whatever other obstacles you want to send it careening over. "Kidults" (grown-ups who've retained their childhood enthusiasm) love to race this outdoors, and it's a good step up for a teen who's ready for more of a hobby RC car versus a toy RC car.
With a 1/10 hobby car — a remote-controlled car that's a 1/10th-size replica of a real race car — comes smaller, more delicate parts and wiring. Many fans love tinkering with the car and modifying it to their own specifications. But the Traxxas Bandit RC buggy is also more durable than other, pricier hobby racing cars. And there's extra fun: The newest version has working taillights.
Traxxas - 6/11
5) Technic App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle
Lego
amazon.com
$149.99
You build this two-in-one vehicle from 772 Lego pieces, which is a project in itself, so that means you won't have a working vehicle right out of the box. We find it takes a tween or teen about a week to assemble it on their own, working for a few hours each day. Families working as a team report putting it together over a couple of evenings.
Users say the build is rewarding, and the car, controlled via an app on a tablet or smartphone, is a winner. For starters, since it runs on regular batteries that don't need to be recharged, it can go for days before you need to switch the batteries out. Another fun feature: When the blue racing vehicle flips over, it reveals a second side, which is an orange exploration vehicle. It's not speedy, and it is, in fact, slower than toy cars for younger kids, but the way it spins, climbs, flips and keeps going is a delight. This vehicle is best used indoors, since it would be hard to clean if it got muddy, but it can travel over obstacles you put in front of it.
LEGO - Amazon Prime - 7/11
6) Megalodon Storm All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck
Monster Jam
target.com
$3.00
The biggest surprise is that this monster truck does what it promises: It goes on land or through water, even traveling through a swimming pool, which is a unique thrill. It's styled after the Monster Jam Megalodon shark-themed vehicle that kids may know from YouTube videos and monster truck events, and it's a convincing little replica. The body and wheels are super lightweight, which helps it bounce over obstacles in true monster truck fashion. It sometimes even catches a little air as it bounces over rough terrain.
Testers praise its speed and agility, especially for the under-$50 price. "My only issue is that the USB cord for recharging the truck is short, so it has to sit near my charger," one parent told us. "When the truck is dirty and muddy, it's not necessarily something you want on your countertop." Note that the USB cable stays attached to the truck. That makes it basically impossible to lose and keeps it from getting mixed up with all of your other household cords. However, it also means you must carefully fold the charging cable back up into its waterproof door in the bottom of the truck after every charge, something that usually requires adult help. But overall, the families who have tested this remote-controlled monster truck say it stays a favorite over time. "It doesn't get old!" one mom told us.
Monster Jam - Amazon Prime - 8/11
7) RC Aaron Wheelz Wheelie Chair
Hot Wheels
amazon.com
$42.99
Though it's not a car, we'd argue that this new Hot Wheels remote-controlled wheelchair can do some of the wildest stunts. Named to our 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards and inspired by Paralympic motocross champion Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, who was born with spina bifida, this remote-controlled vehicle speeds up to 30 mph, spins, jumps and does wheelies. When it tips over, you can set it to right itself via the remote control. It comes with a cardboard ramp that you can use to send the wheelchair flying, and it also comes with a set of stickers. The wheelchair, with its nonremovable figure, is six inches tall and lightweight — easy to use even in small spaces.
Hot Wheels - Amazon Prime - 9/11
8) 1/18 Mini-T 2.0 2WD Stadium Truck
Losi
amazon.com
$149.99
Users rave about this racer's value for the money. The low price is partly due to the fact that this remote-controlled car is 1/18th the size of a real race car, while most hobby cars are 1/10th the size. This mini is an affordable way to step up to fast-racing fun. It's also the rare RC car that's ready to go after you take it out of the box — even the remote control's batteries are included.
Families use this car both indoors and outdoors but report that the wheels do wear down quickly when it's run on concrete and rock versus wooden floors or carpet. We notice that it seems more responsive than many other RC cars, turning quickly. It's also able to do great wheelies and jumps because it's so lightweight.
Losi - Amazon Prime - 10/11
9) Mighty Monster RC Dump Truck
Tonka
amazon.com
$60.01
Nostalgia alert! This toy marks the 75th anniversary of the Tonka brand. Fans of construction vehicles can make it plow and lift objects, as well as dump items out of the back. Note that the actual remote-controlled action just sends the truck forward and back, left and right, makes it spin and releases the cargo from the back of the truck. Users manually make the front loader go up and down.
The truck is a big, satisfying size and made of real steel, so it feels like it authentically belongs at a work site. It's so new that we haven't had the chance to road test it over a period of months, but our initial runs with it show that it holds up well to outdoor play.
Tonka - 11/11
10) Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming Batmobile
Fisher-Price
walmart.com
$51.59
One of our Hottest Toys of 2019, this car remains a favorite and has a great shot at wowing any Batman fan. It's both a remote-controlled car and a play set, able to be driven around and then parked and transformed into Batman's base of operations. When in "battle mode," it can shoot out yellow discs at pretend enemies. A small Batman figure (about three inches tall) can ride in the vehicle or be sent on adventures all over the play set. Lights and sounds raise the overall play value, and those are also set off using the remote control.
As an RC car, it's reasonably fast and able to spin in a full circle. It's a great toy for a preschooler or an elementary-age child who likes to play imaginative superhero games, but it's also fun for big kids who just want a cool Batmobile.
Fisher-Price
