A remote control car makes a brilliant gift for a child, but it can be tricky to know if it’s going to be a one-hit wonder or a much-loved toy.
Choosing the right kids’ remote control car means looking for something that’s robust enough to withstand a lot of bashing and crashing – but there are other factors to consider, too.
If you’re buying for a young child, look for a toy remote control car that’s easy to operate – with bigger buttons, fewer functions, and a manageable speed. This age group is more likely to be wowed by flashing lights and fun sound effects, and too much speed can mean they’re unable to control the car.
Older children, on the other hand, will enjoy getting to grips with a more sophisticated set-up when it comes to operating a remote control car. And a car that’s advanced enough for adults to enjoy alongside them means twice the fun.
This is also when you can start looking for a remote control car with some serious speed, although a speed limiter – which lets you dial top speeds down a notch when you want to – can stop your remote control car constantly skidding out of control while children are still learning how to use it.
What type of remote control car should I buy?
Remote control cars have moved on a long way from the old versions connected by a wire. Now, the name RC car can mean any car that’s remotely operated via a handheld controller or transmitter – whether that’s remote-controlled, radio-controlled, or app-controlled via your phone.
Many remote control cars come ready to go straight out of the box, which makes them a great gift idea. Equally though, build-your-own-kits are a fantastic way of keeping older kids busy and getting a bit more bang for your buck. Whichever option you choose, check if it has a rechargeable power source. If not, you’re going to want to stock up on plenty of batteries.
Shop the best below
BlackZon Slyder Monster Truck
If your little one is looking for a great all-rounder and wants to impress siblings with stunts, they can’t go far wrong with the BlackZon Slyder. This remote control monster truck is ridiculously robust, and designed to withstand every bump, crash and tumble that kids – and grown-ups – throw at it. The variable speed control, which you can adjust on the transmitter, is particularly good for children. Because when it’s at top speed, it is really very fast.
This nippy little vehicle zips around on all terrains, from gravel to grass, through puddles and mud. It’s ready to go out of the box, and there’s a little LED light kit included, which you can fit if you want to spot your truck in the dark. What’s brilliant about this one is the rechargeable battery, which lasts well and is replaceable for around £14.99. This is one of those gifts you can legitimately claim you’re buying for your child when you’re actually buying it for yourself.
Buy now £66.99, Wheelspin
Playmobil Porsche Mission E
Our seven-year-old tester loved zipping her little Playmobil figures around in this remote-control Porsche, which comes with one man – who was quickly replaced by a Playmobil lady in a swimming costume. She particularly liked the little plug-in EV charging column that comes with it, although in reality, you’ll need seven AAA batteries.
The car itself is easy to assemble, and our tester quickly got to grips with the handheld unit to control the car’s speed, lights, and steering. The range is 10 metres, which is more than enough for the recommended 5+ age recommendation, and the speed is reasonable on hard flooring but less so on carpet. Overall we love this as a way to encourage role-play for young children, and – like all Playmobil products – it feels like it’s built to last.
Buy now £45.92, Amazon
LEGO Technic 42109 App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car
LEGO sets are brilliant fun to build, but it’s often difficult to know what to do with them once they’re finished. Not so with this LEGO Technic app-controlled car. Once you’ve spent hours assembling all 463 tiny pieces that make up the rally car model, you can whiz it around using the free LEGO Technic CONTROL+ App.
To do that you’ll need six AA batteries for the Bluetooth-controlled Smart Hub, then you can steer, tilt and brake from within the app. There are racing challenges to complete, and you can check your speed, although this was one of the slower remote control cars we tested. That said, it’s a beautifully designed set with detailed instructions that made it a joy to build over several days. One for LEGO lovers and RC car fans alike.
Buy now £139.99, Amazon
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Mini Anti-Gravity RC Racer
Mario Kart may have launched way back in 1992 but its popularity has never wavered. With this racer, you can take the screen away from their racing obsession and bring the course into the real world.
Set up your home to mimic that of Rainbow Road, Moo Moo Farm or Kalimari Desert and with the remote included, they can glide Mario himself around your home in Race Mode or Anti-Gravity mode. The car can spin, drift or perform wheelies and you can add other fan favourites from the series including Luigi to race against.
It is operated by AA batteries that are included and the remote works 100ft away.
Buy now £60.00, Amazon
Monster Jam Official Megalodon STORM
Whether or not you’ve experienced a Monster Jam stadium event in real life, this remote control replica of the Megalodon truck is a whole lot of fun. In true Monster Jam style, it’s as rough and ready as they come, and able to tackle pretty much any terrain, in all weathers. It clambers across rocks, speeds off ramps and even skits across the surface of puddles and paddling pools.
We particularly like the fact the car itself is rechargeable via USB, although you’ll need batteries for the handheld remote control. It’s got some serious speed, too, which is another reason this is best suited to outdoor use somewhere with plenty of space – unless you want it to be constantly bashing into your ankles.
Buy now £139.99, Amazon
Tamiya Grasshopper RC Model Kit # 58346
If you owned a Tamiya remote control car as a kid, you’ll be pleased to know the brand still has a huge following – and they’ve re-released some of their classic models from the 1980s. That includes the Grasshopper, which launched in 1984 and went on to become a bestseller. This lightweight, build-your-own buggy kit is a great introduction to Tamiya model making, or a bit of nostalgia if you’ve been here before.
As with all Tamiya RC cars, the model kit only includes the car itself, and you’ll need to buy all the other essentials – that’s a radio system, Electronic Speed Controller, battery, and charger – separately. This is all part of the fun though, and these components work across various Tamiya models, so the idea is that you start to build up a collection. It’s an expensive hobby no doubt, but a brilliant way to introduce an older child or teenager to the joy of making something pretty incredible from scratch.
Buy now £94.95, Amazon
BRIO Remote Control Race Car
It’s not easy to find a remote control car that can withstand a toddler, but BRIO’s classic RC race car is a brilliant option for tiny tots aged 2+. The simple shape and bright primary colours are immediately appealing to young children, but it’s the sturdy structure and clever design that really sets it apart.
There are no small or fiddly parts to knock off, and the antenna is hidden away in the body of the car. That means your little one doesn’t need to point the circular remote control unit at the car to get it moving. The buttons are pleasingly big and easy for little fingers to operate, and the RC unit can be hand-held or used on the floor to avoid any accidental drops. Just don’t forget to stock up on batteries to prevent any meltdowns – you’ll need seven AAs for this one.
Buy now £45.58, Amazon
VTech Riot the T-Rex
Nobody said a remote control car had to be just a car, right? And we all know kids love a toy that transforms into something else. So VTech’s Switch & Go Dinos are just the ticket for younger children – these remote-controlled dinosaurs take on a second life as race cars or robots, which means you get two toys for the price of one.
Riot the T-Rex automatically morphs from a dinosaur to a racer when you press the switch button on the remote control, and the backlit LCD screen switches from dino eyes to racing drivers. This one is aimed at kids aged three to eight, and the sound effects and dino facts will go down a storm with tiny dinosaur lovers. Just stock up on decent batteries – you’ll need six AA at a time – and thank your lucky stars there’s an adjustable volume function.
Buy now £25.00, Currys
Barbie Radio Controlled Cruiser
Barbie fever has taken a global foothold and while the movie may be 12A, your little ones can still enjoy the world’s most famous doll and recreate the scene in which Margot Robbie as the eponymous character goes on an adventure to the real world.
She may be driving an electric 1956 Corvette (which you can shop here) but for an alternative that can really move with a remote control, this is the vibrant pink Cruiser to add to basket. It can fit the star as well as three friends and has working lights and sounds. It requires AA batteries and those elusive LR44 disc options that are not included.
Buy now £50.00, Argos
Verdict
Our best all-rounder is the BlackZon Slyder Monster Truck, which can tackle all terrains, perform stunts and withstand a battering, all at a very reasonable price – and with a rechargeable battery to boot. For younger kids who want to role-play with a remote control car indoors, Playmobil’s Porsche Mission E was a bit hit because you can actually put a little person in it.
