Updated on 9 February 2022
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Behind a rather nice racing look, this car hides high level performances, adjustable on 5 levels according to the expertise of its user. Connected via Bluetooth, it can also be driven with a smartphone.
Playmobil Action 9090
If its aesthetic quality was rather expected given the reputation of the brand, this Playmobil car surprised us by its performance. During our tests, we appreciated its reactivity, which makes it really pleasant to drive, whatever the level of the driver since its power is adjustable on 5 levels. The most technophile riders also appreciate the fact that they can control it remotely with a smartphone, which adds to the experience motorised sound effects and a chronometer for exciting races. Note that you can also adjust the steering. It comes with its little Playmobil driver, well equipped with a helmet. We also tested the retro version which is similar to the racing model in terms of performance and controls.
Remote-controlled cars are usually adapted to the age of the user. The easier the remote control is to use, the better the car will handle. Performance varies depending on the intended area of use: racing car, off-road or amphibious. We advise you to determine your intended use before making any purchase. Battery-powered, they generally last from 10 to 30 minutes. The size is expressed on a scale: the higher the number, the smaller the car.
This 1:20 scale quad bike of the famous Mario Bros is one of the favourites of young and old alike. Aesthetically pleasing, it is easy to handle and comes with batteries.
Carrera RC Mario Kart
Loved for the quality of its finishing touches, it’s the kind of remote-controlled car that anyone would be proud to show off to their friends, whether they’re 6 or 30 years old! On testing, we found that this model can tackle any terrain, thanks to its soft rubber tyres. It’s not the fastest, though, with an advertised speed of 9 km/h. Easy to drive, it is also part of a wide range of cars in Mario Kart colours, so you can complete it with his famous companions, Yoshi or Peach, to reproduce your favourite races at home. However, it should be noted that the size of the wheels means that the car has a tendency to bounce around quickly and even roll over.
Top Race Construction
With its metal claw and rotating cab, this excavator is very popular with construction machinery enthusiasts. In addition, the remote control offers many possibilities for use.
With dimensions of 35.4 x 17.8 cm (1:18 scale), this construction vehicle is appreciated for its neat design and the various manoeuvring possibilities it offers. During our tests, the three engines allow a wide range of movements from the cab to the excavator. The machine is rechargeable and comes with a 2.4 GHz remote control with a range of 30,5 m. One of the buttons even allows you to program a sequence of different movements. As it is a bit more complex to operate due to its wide variety of buttons, it is recommended for children from 8 years and up. We would like to point out that the engine noise and the small lights in the cabin can be controlled via one of the controls, which allows you to rest your ears and save the battery.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks
This model is a real powerhouse. Fast and strong, it has nice finishing touches and a design mixing shark and tiger. Its big Monster Truck wheels even allow it to overcome obstacles.
Made to a scale of 1:15 (21.6 x 23.8 x 35.6 cm), this off-road remote control car was a real pleasure to use during our tests, both by the team and by the almost 5 year old apprentice tester. We were pleased to see that it ran on batteries for about 25 minutes, as it is still quite noisy. So, if you have the possibility, it is better to use it outside, especially with the high speed it offers. It is very responsive and can be driven using the controls and offers the possibility of putting it on the rear wheels or lifting one of the two front wheels in addition to the basic controls. The whole thing proved to be quite instinctive, even for the youngest, which confirms that it is indeed accessible from the age of 4.
Our selection
Our choice, Best budget Best mid-range Best high-end Mid-range alternative Playmobil Action 9090 Carrera RC Mario Kart Top Race Construction Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Behind a rather nice racing look, this car hides high level performances, adjustable on 5 levels according to the expertise of its user. Connected via Bluetooth, it can also be driven with a smartphone. This 1:20 scale quad bike of the famous Mario Bros is one of the favourites of young and old alike. Aesthetically pleasing, it is easy to handle and comes with batteries. With its metal claw and rotating cab, this excavator is very popular with construction machinery enthusiasts. In addition, the remote control offers many possibilities for use. This model is a real powerhouse. Fast and strong, it has nice finishing touches and a design mixing shark and tiger. Its big Monster Truck wheels even allow it to overcome obstacles. £ 31.48 on Amazon £ 50.83 on Amazon £ 74.99 on Amazon £ 49.99 on Amazon
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How did we test?
In order to test the remote-controlled cars, we first evaluated their aesthetic quality (general appearance and precision of the finishing touches). From this criterion, solidity and impact resistance naturally followed. Particular attention was paid to the radio control, and in particular to questions of ergonomics and ease of handling by young children. Then, we checked how easy it was to install the batteries.
As far as performance is concerned, we evaluated the speed of each model, its responsiveness to the control and the quality of the driving. During this step, we took care to test the cars in different conditions to see how well they could handle obstacles and uneven ground. Finally, we evaluated the battery life of each model, although this criterion also depends on the type of batteries used and the intensity of use.
How to choose a remote control car?
Toy cars, particularly remote control models, have always been a hit with children and adults alike. More or less sophisticated, powerful and expensive, they come in different forms, and it is sometimes difficult to choose the model that best suits your desires or those of your child.
The first point of consideration is the user’s profile: as remote-controlled cars appeal to a wide range of people, the models are usually adapted to their age.
For kids, cars are intuitive and easy to use, but speed and range are reduced to improve handling. For teenagers and adults, models are more focused on power and speed.
In any case, here is a list of criteria to help you choose the product that best suits your needs:
- Size: usually expressed to scale. The higher the number, the smaller the car. It can range from 1:4 (largest) to 1:87 (smallest). It is a very subjective criterion that depends on the user’s preferences.
- Performance: as we said earlier, cars aimed at small children are usually cheaper because of their lower power and speed. But performance also depends on the intended field of use. A racing car, an off-roader or an amphibian will not have the same characteristics. It is up to you to determine how you want to use it before making any purchases.
- The remote control: the easier and more intuitive it is, the better the car will perform. The classic remote control, which can be held with both hands and has two triggers to steer the car with the thumbs, is the most accessible. The pistol-type is a little more complicated to operate. Depending on your targets, also check the range it allows, to determine whether you should limit its range or not.
- Range: in general, whether battery-powered or not, a remote-controlled car has a maximum battery life of 10 to 30 minutes. If you can afford it, it is best to invest in a second set of batteries, which can be interchanged with the one to recharge.
Note: If you are interested in this article, then you may also like our selection of the best electric race car tracks.
Other remote control cars we recommend
PAW Patrol Marshall (£20.00 upon publication): a good design, but with a less practical remote control. At first glance, having only two buttons (one to move forward and one to move backward while turning) seemed like a good idea. However, once in the hands of a 4 year old (accessible from 3 years old according to the brand), the turning process did not seem instinctive and logical. It therefore took some time to adapt. Nevertheless, the design in Marshall’s colours appealed to the target audience, although the material could have been a little more robust in our opinion.
Majorette Disney Cars 3 (£25.53 upon publication): another of the most popular among the “little ones”. This 1:24 scale reproduction of the famous Flash McQueen is equipped with multidirectional wheels. It is quite responsive and has a turbo function which is very useful during races. Despite the fact that the finish could be improved, it convinced us and is undoubtedly a very good model for entering the world of remote control cars.
Vatos brushless (£99.99 upon publication): a fast car for young and adults. This all-terrain, semi-impermeable (IPX4) Vatos model is equipped with a powerful brushless motor and four-wheel drive with rubber tyres and shock absorbers to tackle any terrain. The 7.4V battery is rechargeable and the remote control range is 60m. Reviews are unanimous about its speed and power, and connoisseurs will even be able to customise the car to improve its strength and design.
Other remote control cars we tested
Top Race RC Monster Truck TR-130: currently unavailable
LesPlus Stunt Car 2-in-1: currently unavailable
Sgile Stunt Car (£24.99 upon publication): apart from the limited speed and the connection problems between the vehicle and its remote control, its poor battery life really left us wanting more. It is therefore hard to understand its popularity on the internet…
Mondo Ferrari (£48.98 upon publication): used in the right conditions, namely indoors and on a flat surface free of any obstacles, it provides several minutes of fairly satisfying play, but not on the field. The purists will also have to let go of the possible scratches, which will appear very quickly on the bodywork.
Lego Technic 42095 (£120.87 upon publication): in our opinion, the fact that the car is remote-controlled is only a minor criterion of choice. It is a bonus, but not its major asset compared to its actual construction and the fact that it is compatible with the entire Lego range.
Translated by Ramsés El Hajje
