The 11 Best Remote Control Cars For Kids And Adults
Satisfy your need for speed and off-road adventures with these top picks.
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From monster trucks to speed demons that can clock 70 miles per hour, remote control cars deliver hours of fun, whether you're an experienced hobbyist looking to upgrade and splurge on a higher-end model or a parent searching for an activity to get your kid off the iPad. Luckily, you can get a taste of the action no matter what your budget, but with so many car types and models, it can be tough to choose the one that checks all your boxes. Read on for our top recommendations, as we combed the market for the best options to consider.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 12.6 x 5.1 x 8.9 inches
- Scale: 1/14
- Top Speed: 12 mph
- Car Battery: 6V 800mAh Ni-Cd
This well-priced off-road monster truck doesn't skimp on the details, with working roll bar headlights, a spare tire attached to the back cassis, and an aluminum body that can handle collisions at the truck's top speed of 12 miler per hour. The two-wheel-drive remote control car is larger than most at 1/14th scale and has a powerful motor to keep it rolling for up to 25 minutes on its all-terrain tires. Also, the 2.4GHz-frequency remote control works from a distance of more than 160 feet away. Expect about 2.5 to give the truck a full charge.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.25 x 7 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 70 mph
- Car Battery: 3-cell LiPo
While this zippy remote controlled car is quite a jump in price from our budget pick, the Traxxas 2-wheel-drive Rustler also offers fantastic value considering its lineup of features. For starters, it reaches a speed of up to 70 miles per hour through the rain and snow, as the car is completely waterproof. Traxxas Stability Management helps to keep the car controlled on slippery surfaces and prevents spinouts.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 23.1 x 9.8 x 11.5 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 6 mph
- Car Battery: 6- or 7-cell NiMH or 2- or 3-cell LiPo
This all-metal remote control car is in a league of its own, designed as a mini replica of the Land Rover Defender. If you can digest the price tag and want the ultimate rugged trail crawler, look no further. In terms of style, it's highly detailed to match the real deal and you can take it through rain, snow, and sleet, as it has waterproof-sealed electronics.
There's also a two-speed transmission to give it extra pep, cruise control, and portal axles that give it substantial ground clearance to prevent torque twist. More than 5,000 customers give it an average 4.7 stars. The only downside, though likely not a dealbreaker, is that the charger and batteries are sold separately.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 13.1 x 8.5 x 7.3 inches
- Scale: 1/12
- Top Speed: 4 mph
- Car Battery: 2 6V 800mAh
For budding remote control car enthusiasts, it's tough to beat this 4-wheel-drive monster truck for easy operation, straightforward features, and a budget-friendly price tag. It has excellent battery life—expect it to keep rolling for 40 minutes—plus it has a USB-rechargeable battery pack. Like our budget pick above, this four-wheel-drive truck skews larger than most to immerse kids in the action, and also features shock-absorbers to handle all kinds of terrain and oversized anti-skid tires for climbing hills and obstacles with a 45-degree angle.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 13 x 12 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 31 mph
- Car Battery: Li-Po 7.4V 1600mAh
Kids and adults alike will truly love playing with this monster truck. It'll tackle tough terrain for up to 40 minutes at a max of 31 miles per hour, and features large off-road wheels and a pistol-grip remote control that works up to 250 feet away.
There are working LED headlights and it's painted in splashy colors, plus there are two speeds, which helps kids get the hang of it before hitting the gas at full throttle. The 4x4 truck runs on two rechargeable batteries, which are included.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 4 inches
- Scale: 1/14
- Top Speed: 15 mph
- Car Battery: 5 AA
With realistic details inside and out, working head and tail lights, and a controller that fits like a give in small hands, kids will squeal with delight over this mini Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The remote control car comes in bright glossy orange and is made of thermoplastic rubber to withstand crashes and jumps off the coffee table.
At 1/14 scale, it’s on the large size, it can hit a top speed of 15 miles per hour, and it runs on five AA batteries, which aren’t included.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 14.2 x 8 x 4.5 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 15 mph
- Car Battery: 7.2V 2000mAh NiMH
For adults who want the thrill of a race car that's capable of handing slides around bends, this drift car from Redcat Racing is an excellent choice. The slick-looking four-wheel-drive remote control car has smooth rear wheels and a lightweight plastic chassis for easy drifting and recovery, with a top speed of 15 miles per hour.
It runs on a rechargeable battery, which is included, as is the charger.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 22.7 x 7.7 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 65 mph
- Car Battery: NiMH or LiPo
This beast may come with a high price tag, but few remote control cars out there offer better performance and a lightning-fast top speed of 65 miles per hour with an LiPo battery.
It has a durable, aerodynamic body, powerful four-wheel-drive, extra-large wheels with superb grip. The car's impressive design allows you to easily pop wheelies with a twist of the throttle, and the car features a rollover protection system to right itself in case you flip upside-down.
The battery and charger aren't included, which is a downside considering the cost, though not uncommon among top-tier cars in this class.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 4 inches
- Scale: 1/28
- Top Speed: 4 mph
- Car Battery: 3.7V 500 mAh
Kids can get the same thrill of extreme performance with this top-rated stunt car. The two-stick controller is easy to use for doing 360-degree spins, flips, and negotiating all sorts of terrain indoors and out, including sand, rocks, and grass.
The 4x4 vehicle also features two motors and working LED lights, plus the remote has a range of more than 130 feet. Also, you can't beat the price, at under $30 at the time of this writing.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 26 x 14.2 x 10.75 inches
- Scale: 1/8
- Top Speed: 70+ mph
- Car Battery: 6S LiPo
If you have a fleet of remote control cars, better pull them to the curb to let this speed demon whiz past. Few other options on the market can match a top speed of 70 miles per hour, though you'll need to install a 6S LiPo battery and optional pinion gear to get there, which are sold separately, as is the charger.
Arrma's Typhon buggy is built to bash, with a front brace that can handle high-velocity crashes, plus it features Spektrum components, including a 2050Kv brushless motor, a three-channel radio, and metal-geared digital servo.
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 11 inches
- Scale: 1/10
- Top Speed: 10 mph
- Car Battery: 7.4v 1500mAh Li-ion
This rock crawler gets rave reviews, with an average 4.8 stars from more than 1,100 customers. For an incredibly affordable price, the remote control car offers all-wheel-drive, two high-torque brushed electric motors, and front and rear multi-link suspension, plus four-wheel independent steering.
Details include a roll cage, off-road tires, and bedlock rims. There's also a three-channel 2.4GHz pistol-grip radio transmitter. The package includes a 7.4v 1500mAh rechargeable battery pack along with a USB battery charger.
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