From the earliest of ages, young boys see commercials for remote control cars and feel one of their first impulses to participate in consumerism. Typically, the vehicles designed for children are built to be larger than life. The commercials want us to believe that the bigger the wheels are, the more fun you will have. It is common to see an advertisement for a vehicle promoting the fact that it is indestructible if you crash it into walls, and that it can drive even if it flips over.
The interest in controlling an RC car does not end with childhood. Many adults have crafted their adolescent interest into a full-time hobby. As these people age, so does the market that caters to them. RC cars for adults focus less on invincibility and having a ready-to-run thick plastic shell and big tires. Instead, the goal is to make the cars customizable. Each vehicle has room for growth with extra kits and accessories. These RC cars have a goal of achieving realistic driving conditions. They are more of an investment than a toy that will break after a few months. For the best remote control car picks, check out Rustler XL-5, Slash 2WD and the Enzo Ferrari. You can also read related articles on remote control cars.
Each car has unique features and a different target audience. We used the following criteria to evaluate the best remote control cars and the ages they are best suited for.
Vehicle Features
Several vehicles promote their abilities in off-road use and 4WD. Other RC cars rely on their performance on smooth roads and surfaces. The top vehicles come with extra features like wheel suspension and custom power settings that help you train on the vehicle and then allow you to use it at a higher speed. We also checked the recommended ages for each remote control vehicle and how long the battery life lasts, on average.
Design
Every RC vehicle on our lineup is electric and ready to run (RTR). RTR implies that either the vehicle is completely set up and can run right out of the box, or that only basic, one-step assembly is required. Higher-end RC car models allow for expansion with replacement parts. A few of these vehicles use the licensed design of actual sports cars and are scaled to size. The developers understand that off-road conditions can get messy, so having a waterproof body is helpful.
Remote Features
Remotes can vary from having two simple buttons that allow forward and reverse movement to multiple joysticks and triggers to maximize speed. We covered the batteries you'll need to run both the vehicle and remote. A few RC vehicles run on multiple frequencies so that the connection isn't ruined if a few people are running their cars.
Help & Support
Warranties are generally short for such a high-risk electronic device. We checked to see if each manufacturer's site has a general FAQs section to answer questions about the product or technical issues. A few of these products come packaged with an instruction manual, while others lead you to the manual on their site.
Remote control cars provide enjoyment in many ways and bridge the gap for hobbyists of any age. Whether you're a parent hoping to make your children happy or an adult who has taken up this hobby based on your love of repairing cars, there are products that are specifically suited to you. With these RC cars, you can find a great way to pass the time and develop a passion for the hobby.
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| Rank | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 |
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Rustler XL-5 | Slash 2WD | Enzo Ferrari | Hot Wheels RC Terrain Twister | Tonka Ricochet R/C Replay | Rock Crawler | Ducati Desmosedici Motorcycle | Street Troopers | Morphibians Rover | Lamborghini Reventon |
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Visit Site |
$229.68 |
$274.95 |
$60.61 |
$54.62 |
$149.99 |
$69.98 |
$64.95 |
$44.50 |
$20.91 |
$25.99 |
| Ratings | 9.70 | 9.33 | 8.60 | 8.25 | 7.75 | 7.50 | 6.70 | 6.05 | 4.58 | 3.45 |
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| Vehicle Features | ||||||||||
| Recommended Ages | 13 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Batteries Required | 7 Cell | 7 Cell | 4 AA | 7.2V | 6 AA | 3 AAA | 4.8V | 6 AA | 3 AA | 3 AA |
| Average Battery Life (minutes) | 20 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
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| 4WD | ||||||||||
| Indoor Use | ||||||||||
| Off-Road | ||||||||||
| Reverse | ||||||||||
| Brake | ||||||||||
| Batteries Included | ||||||||||
| Custom Power Settings | ||||||||||
| Suspension | ||||||||||
| Design | ||||||||||
| Car Appearance (%) | 95 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 65 | 70 | 55 | 70 |
| Durability (%) | 95 | 95 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 95 | 75 | 75 | 60 | 50 |
| Weight (lbs) | 7 | 8.8 | 2 | 6.8 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 4 | 5 | 1.8 | 1 |
| Electric | ||||||||||
| RTR | ||||||||||
| Grip Wheels | ||||||||||
| Wall Charger | ||||||||||
| Waterproof | ||||||||||
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| Multiple Frequencies | ||||||||||
| Remote Features | ||||||||||
| Ease of Use (%) | 95 | 80 | 85 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 75 | 90 | 60 | 70 |
| Remote Appearance (%) | 95 | 80 | 90 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 80 | 70 | 40 | 80 |
| Batteries Required | 4 AA | 8 AA | NA | 2 AA | 9V | 9V | 4.8V | 9V | 2 AAA | 9V |
| Joysticks and Dials | ||||||||||
| Bluetooth Capability | ||||||||||
| Multiple Frequencies | ||||||||||
| Help & Support | ||||||||||
| Warranty (months) | 12 | 12 | 2 | 1 | NA | 1 | 2 | 1 | NA | NA |
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