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For many of us, this toy evokes a certain nostalgic aspect of joy from our youth that we want to pass on to our children. For others, it's a serious hobby with high-dollar investments and diligent maintenance work. Whether you're a novice or an expert in remote controlled cars, it's good to know what types of vehicles are holding high market demand right now.
We've combed through the listings for remote controlled cars and figured out interested buyers need to consider the terrain surface on which they'll be operating their cars, the types of engine and corresponding fuel they want to use, and the purpose of the car. Some cars are built for kids to learn coordination skills, others are designed for stunts, and some just fulfill a need...a need for speed.
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Table of Contents
Remote Controlled (RC) cars have long been a staple toy for many people in the States. Before you purchase a car, however, it's important to consider a few things: the age group of the person using the remote controlled car, the surface on which they'll be racing their vehicle, the type of fuel source and motor that would be appropriate for them, and the class of RC car they would like.
This is the most important aspect to consider when buying a car. Humans gain hand-eye coordination with experience and we improve out motor reflexes over time. Striking the balance of age-appropriateness is imperative for both safety and enjoyment.
With the exception of the ubiquitous, over-sized, wheels and tires, other over-sized features on remote controlled cars like flared side panels, fenders, and bumpers, along with bright colors and a cartoonish appearance, are often a dead giveaway that the car is made for young children.
The rule of thumb for RC cars is that the more similar it looks to a real vehicle or an off-road buggy, the older is the age group toward which it is marketed and intended for use.
Nowadays many RC cars are capable of traveling well over 35 MPH, with some even reaching highway speeds of 60-70 MPH! Common sense would dictate one wouldn’t want a young child who face-plants when they run too quickly to be operating a 35 MPH RC car.
Similarly, giving a cartoon character themed remote controlled car that only travels 5 MPH in forward and backward directions to a teenager would result in extreme disappointment.
Motor skills develop with age, so starting younger children with slower cars and gradually leveling them up to faster cars is a great way to develop hand-eye coordination and anticipation for moving objects. High speeds are fun, but with high speeds comes great potential danger, so care must be taken.
Remote controlled cars are often not described by linear size or weight. Rather, they are often described by scale size. Scale size is a proportionate representation wherein all aspects of a vehicle are “scaled down” to a more practical toy size; for example, a 16-inch tire might be scaled down to 1 inch in a 1/16th scale model.
RC car enthusiasts and hobbyists often use 1/10th scale cars. Common toys for teens and younger children are typically around 1/16th scale. 1/10th scale cars are much larger and heavier than 1/16th scale cars; that could impact portability and storage, depending on your specific needs.
Remote controlled cars do have limitations for use; they are small toys in a large world. Using a car on terrain for which it is not designed can result in severe damage to the toy. Also, distance between the operator and car should be considered for the controller to function well.
Similarly to how real vehicles are specialized to certain terrain, RC vehicles are as well. The most common outdoor terrains to consider for remote controlled cars are sand, rock, mud, asphalt, cement, and grass. The most common indoor surfaces for remote controlled cars are carpet, tile, linoleum, and wood.
Tire size and material are the most common changes for cars to handle diverse terrain. A car with plastic tires will only be able to function on smooth surfaces like tile floor or a cement sidewalk. Cars with elasticized rubber or true rubber tires can handle asphalt. Cars with over-sized tires would be able to adeptly traverse mud, gravel, and even grass.
Controller frequency is advertised in RC cars in terms of megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). In general, the higher the frequency of the controller, the larger the operable distance between the user and the remote controlled car can be.
Less expensive, slower, or replica cars with shorter controller range would probably have a controller with a MHz frequency. These are perfect for young children playing alone at home or collectors operating replicas in their own garage.
Most modern RC cars operate at GHz frequencies. These allow for further range, less potential signal interference, and more sensitive steering and control. These would be great for stunt, off-road, and high-speed cars.
Remote controlled cars have come a long way from being just battery-powered, low speed toys. There has been an added level of complexity in recent times with multiple types of engines and power sources becoming popular and affordable and giving users more choices.
When it comes to remote controlled car motors, battery-powered ones operating with direct current (DC) electricity are still the most common and the easiest to maintain. There are choices within this motor class, though.
Brushed motors are the less mechanically efficient of the two, and typically operate at lower speeds, but they do offer more responsive, tighter control to the operator. These are great for people who want to race their RC cars on complicated tracks. Battery life varies, but it is generally around 20 minutes.
Brushless motors have a longer motor lifespan and greater mechanical efficiency, oftentimes along with greater raw power for the RC cars. These are great for operators who have that need for speed. Battery life varies, but it is generally around 25 minutes.
Nitro-based RC cars would be ideal for the natural grease monkeys among us. These cars have real engines that burn liquid nitromethane fuel (costing around $25 per quart). They’re great for people who want to learn more about engines, play nonstop for hours on end, and form a real bond with their RC car.
These engines (and the cars surrounding them) require significantly more upkeep, but they also offer 2 to 3 times the length of operational time per tank compared to electric cars. It also means less down time since you only need to refill the tank instead of waiting hours for a battery recharge.
Now that you have all the important details considered, you can choose the general class of remote controlled car you want. There are huge differences between the functions of replica cars and stunt cars, so choose what fits your usage plans.
Stunt cars often feature four over-sized wheels that are taller than the actual body of the vehicle, making no difference whether the vehicle is driven “upside-down” or “right-side-up”. These are great for people who want their cars to perform crazy flips and tricks.
All-terrain, or off-road, cars are made to operate off the beaten path, and they are built to take punishment and keep going. These are perfect for users who want to push their RC cars to the limits on creative obstacle courses.
These are the large-sized, 1/10th or 1/12th scale vehicles with intricate drive systems. These cars generally require more maintenance work and tender care. They're not built for off-road driving, but they'll provide thrills on speed tracks.
With the high speeds come high prices, but the enthusiasts would gladly pay every dollar to hit 70 MPH with what other people consider to be “simple toys”.
Replica cars are a great way to experience a taste of luxury without the commitment of your bank account. These cars are replicas not just on the outside, but often down to the smallest detail of the interior dashboards, consoles, and seats as well.
Replica remote controlled cars are often not meant to be used outside of the home (you wouldn't want to scratch that high-quality paint job), and are not considered high-performance. However, they usually have working lights, hoods with engine replicas underneath, and doors and trunks that can open.
There are RC cars for all other interests, and these include toys based on popular children’s shows and characters; spinner cars that use 4WD and alternating directionality to spin in circles really quickly; and transforming vehicles reminiscent of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
There are also construction vehicles, tanks, and even popular RC options from LEGO that you can assemble yourself. Remote controlled cars have come a long way, and the chances are, no matter how niche your interests are, there is a remote controlled car that would appeal to you.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ArgoHome RC Stunt Car | $23.99 Low Mid | A Starter Stunt Car for Kids with Intuitive Controls | ||
2 | Hosim All-terrain Monster Car | $129.98 High Mid | A High-speed, All-terrain Monster Car with Serious Speed | ||
3 | Sinovan Mini RC Car | $19.99 Low Mid | Best Mini RC Car for Kids with a Long Run Time | ||
4 | JLB Racing RC Car Truck | $369.99 High Mid | An Ultra-fast and Reliable High-speed RC Car for Adults | ||
5 | allcaca Waterproof RC Car Boat | $38.99 Mid | A Unique Amphibious RC Car for All Ages | ||
6 | LEGO Technic Tracked RC Racer | $139.90 High Mid | A Crossover RC Car That You Can Build and Drive | ||
7 | Monster Jam Grave Digger RC Monster Truck | $29.99 Low Mid | Best Replica Monster Truck for Kids | ||
8 | Traxxas Revo Nitro-powered Monster Truck | $554.88 High | An Incredible Nitro-powered Truck for Hobbyists | ||
9 | Prextex Cartoon Police Car and Race Car | $25.45 Low Mid | A Safe and Reliable RC Car Set for Toddlers | ||
10 | Modern-Depo Bugatti Chiron | $29.83 Low Mid | For RC Car Enthusiasts That Enjoy the Aesthetic |
ArgoHome created this RC Stunt Car specifically for young children to use. It's small, weighing in at only one pound, and the body is made from durable plastic that makes the vehicle more likely to survive the machinations of a child.
This is a stunt car with four over-sized wheels that are operated by two separate motors, giving four-wheel drive (4WD) capabilities. The vehicle can turn within its own wheel radius, flip itself, and can drive upside down.
Reviewers marveled that this car was ready to play out of the box, and that their children were able to intuitively understand the controls.
Weighing in at 3.48 pounds, Hosim’s 1:16 scale off-road monster car couples an efficient brushless motor with waterproof and shockproof design. The tires are anti-skid, over-sized rubber, which gives better traction for the vehicle on any surface.
The high-frequency controller allows for a long range of about 262 feet, which should give the operator a long leash to race with this RC car through any obstacle course in the woods at speeds reaching more than 33 MPH.
The reviewers raved about the speed and durability but mentioned that this is not a starter remote controlled car for young children because of those same high speeds.
This mini RC car may only generate niche interest due to its diminutive size, but upon closer inspection, its appeal is huge.
It has a 20-minute run time, which is 133% of the average RC car run time of 15 minutes. What’s even more appealing, though, is that the battery can be charged via an included USB cable in only 25 minutes. That’s less time waiting and more time playing!
It’s a stunt car with over-sized rubber tires that can flip, control each pair of side wheels independently, and turn 360 degrees on its own axis. It's also extremely portable, weighing in at only 8 ounces and built at a 1:32 scale.
Reviewers mentioned some difficulties in controlling turns at first, and that the exposed USB charging port means this car is not waterproof.
As you can probably guess from its 1:10 scale, 9-pound size, 50 MPH speed, and high price, this is not an RC car many people would classify as a toy. JLB Racing created this racing monster truck specifically for adults.
The brushless electric motor offers efficiency and power, and the controls are responsive up to almost 500 feet away. The motor itself is fully waterproof, and the rest of the vehicle is rated as IPX7, which is waterproof in up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
This is a car for hobbyists, and it requires some maintenance work on the real shock absorbers and suspension system after particularly rough outings. Reviewers raved about all aspects of the product from speed, to durability, to power.
This is one of the more unique cars on this list; it’s a fully amphibious, waterproof RC car created by allcaca that can be driven on the surface of water the same as it is driven on land.
It’s not exactly a burner (especially in water), but with its plastic, paddle-style wheels, its obvious this car is made for versatility in land and on the water. The two on-board batteries give the vehicle a longer run time, which lowers the likelihood of it dying in the middle of a pond while you’re playing.
Its small size cannot handle rough waters, so users should restrict the nautical voyages to puddles, pools, and ponds. Reviewers loved the responsiveness of the controls and the uniqueness of the amphibious concept.
Some RC cars commonly feature characters or designs to bridge their intended audience from another segment. This LEGO Technic tracked racer can move further than imagination with a wireless remote, a functional battery pack, and a functional motor.
It’s slow, and it’s fragile (if you don’t remember, LEGO don’t stand up well to crashes), but it’s a 2-in-1 set offering a lot of creative options. The reviewers liked the quality and entertainment value, and with 94% 5-star reviews on Amazon, this is the best-rated item on this list.
This officially licensed, 1:15 scale Monster Jam Grave Digger is on the slower side for RC cars, but it has over-sized rubber tires and a durable plastic body that can take a pounding when the user undoubtedly sends the truck airborne after a ramp launch.
The electric battery can be charged over 2 hours through a USB cord, and when charged it gives about 20 minutes of play time.
Some of the reviewers lament the slower speeds and some issues with the controller connectivity, but the majority of the reviews are positive and focus on the authentic decals and true replica appearance of this RC truck.
Traxxas is a widely respected name in RC cars for hobbyists. Their cars--like this 1:10 scale Revo model--are durable, customizable, and simple to tune and make repairs on thanks to Bluetooth connectivity for issue monitoring and a downloadable app.
The price is by far the highest on this list, but the nitro-engine is a real, internal combustion engine that requires maintenance. This car is as much a learning tool as it is a joy to drive at high speeds. It’s perfect for tinkerers, thrill-seekers, aspiring technicians, and the mechanically minded.
The reviewers who were educated on the product prior to purchase were pleased with the durability of the product, but there were many negative reviews from people who simply did not understand what they were getting into with nitro-powered engines. Take the low 5-star rating for this product with a grain of salt.
This is a unique remote-controlled car set sold by Prextex for young children. Unlike many other cars on this list, the purpose of these cars is not speed, but rather to encourage imagination and cooperative play between children. The cars are made of durable plastic and are lightweight, at only 5 ounces each.
This is an RC car set with two cars, two removable driver figurines, and two controllers. The cars have lights and sounds, and many reviewers commented that these became annoying over time because there is no way to turn off the lights and sounds.
However, the majority of the reviews were positive, stating these were perfect for households with two young children.
Replica cars are a different concept completely to many other RC cars. Cars like Modern-Depo’s officially licensed, 1:14 scale Bugatti Chiron are much more about the aesthetic than performance.
This Chiron has a detailed interior, real-feel tires and rims, glossy black paint, and functional headlights. It's only designed to run on smooth surfaces, and it is not capable of handling crashes, drops, or water without risk of damage.
Reviewers comment on its beauty and steering responsiveness, but there are negative reviews about the number of batteries necessary for operation.
While not every car in this list can be a considered a toy, they can definitely be considered fun. Here are some other fun things you can entertain yourself with.
No. 1: ArgoHome|RC Stunt Car
No. 2: Hosim|All-terrain Monster Car
No. 3: Sinovan|Mini RC Car
No. 4: JLB Racing|RC Car Truck
No. 5: allcaca|Waterproof RC Car Boat
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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