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Best remote control cars 2025
In this article
- Best remote control cars for kids
- The remote control cars for kids we tested
- Best remote control cars for adults
- The remote control cars for adults we tested
- Best remote control cars for toddlers
- The remote control cars for toddlers we tested
- How we test remote control cars
- How much do you need to spend to get a good remote control car?
The best remote-control (RC) car is a brilliant gift for a birthday or Christmas. Whether you're a parent or relative, or you just want to relive your youth, it'll make you a hit with family or friends.
We've tested the best RC cars costing between £15 and £200, from big toy retailers such as Argos and Smyths, as well as specialist RC shops including Modelsport and RC Geeks.
As well as a panel of keen racers taking the cars for a spin on a variety of surfaces, we put each RC car through rigorous testing to determine its durability, battery life and how fast it can go.
Read our expert reviews for the facts and stats on the best remote control cars for kids, toddlers/preschoolers and adults.
Best remote control cars for kids
Only logged in Which? members can view the best remote control car test results below.
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| Remote control car | Price | Score | Fun rating | Speed | Max battery life | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 78% | |||||
| 78% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 67% | ||||||
| 67% | ||||||
| 55% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: November 2024. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to check every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Fun rating includes an overall score from a panel of testers, plus assessments of how easy the controller is to use, how well the RC car handles corners and how frequently it topples over.
Score and star ratings for remote control cars are done separately for kids, toddlers and adults; this is because the fun rating for kids' cars, for example, is not directly comparable with the fun rating for toddler and adult cars.
The remote control cars for kids we tested
All of the remote control cars for kids we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged in Which? members can view the best RC cars from our tests.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
Bladez Toyz Barbie RC Dream Car
Our score and verdict Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Also available from Smyths Toys (£29.99), Argos (£40)
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Max battery life Over three hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 3x AAA batteries for the remote and 5x AA batteries for the car, weight of car 950g, space for two full-size Barbie dolls in car, front and rear headlights, can correct front wheel alignment with toggle on the underside of the car, recommended age 3+
CMJ Lamborghini 1:14 RC Car
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Max battery life Over three hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AA batteries for the remote and 5x AA batteries for the car, weight of car 750g, can correct front wheel alignment with toggle on the underside of the car, recommended age 6+
Jakks Pacific Nintendo Super Mario Kart 8 Remote Control Anti-Gravity Kart
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Also available from Smyths Toys (£39.99)
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Max battery life Over 3 hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AA batteries for the remote and 6x AA batteries for the car, weight of car 700g, can switch wheels to 'anti-gravity' mode to do drifts, available with Mario or Luigi figure, recommended age 4+
Lego Porsche GT4 e-Performance Race Car
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Also available from Smyths Toys (£109.99) (Only available in store), Lego (£149.99)
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Max battery life 2 hours 42 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know 834 pieces, requires Lego Control+ smart phone app to control car, comes with rechargeable battery for the car (need USB-C cable), weight of car 950g, two speed settings, front and rear headlights, recommended age 10+
RCG Racing E30 1:16 Mini Drift Car
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Available from RC Geeks (White) (£34.99), RC Geeks (Red) (£34.99)
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Max battery life 64 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 3x AA batteries for remote, comes with rechargeable battery pack for the car, weight of car 500g, can correct front wheel alignment with toggle on the underside of the car, available in white and red, recommended age 6+
Sgile RC Stunt Car
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Max battery life 60 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote, comes with built-in rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 350g, available in green and red, recommended age 6+
Spin Master DC Batman All-Terrain Batmobile
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Also available from Smyths Toys (£39.99)
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Max battery life 34 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote, comes with built-in rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 800g, can fit 10cm Batman model in car, water-resistant, can correct front wheel alignment with buttons on remote, recommended age 4+
Discover the best trampolines. And, as playing is thirsty work, see our pick of the best kids' water bottles
Best remote control cars for adults
Only logged in Which? members can view the best remote control car test results below.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Remote control car | Price | Score | Fun rating | Speed | Max battery life | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 73% | |||||
| 68% | ||||||
| 68% | ||||||
| 67% | ||||||
| 66% | ||||||
| 57% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: November 2024. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to check every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Fun rating includes an overall score from a panel of testers, plus assessments of how easy the controller is to use, how well the RC car handles corners and how frequently it topples over.
Score and star ratings for remote control cars are done separately for kids, toddlers and adults; that's because the fun rating for kids' cars, for example, is not directly comparable with the fun rating for toddler and adult cars.
The remote control cars for adults we tested
All of the remote control cars for adults we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged in Which? members can view the best RC cars from our tests.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
Arrma Mojave Grom Mega 380 Desert Truck RTR
Our score and verdict Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Available from ModelSport (Red) (£139.99), ModelSport (Blue) (£139.99)
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Max battery life 30 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 1.05kg, water resistant, can limit speed and adjust steering trim and steering rate on remote control, available in red and blue, recommended age 14+
FTX Carnage 2.0 Brushless RTR Monster Truck
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Also available from ModelSport (£189) (Out of stock)
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Max battery life 47 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 4x AA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, comes with 3-pin to 2-pin plug adapter, weight of car 2.05kg, water resistant, can adjust steering trim and steering rate and invert controls on remote control, can set throttle threshold so the car moves without you pressing the throttle on the remote, front headlights, recommended age 14+
FTX Tracer RTR Monster Truck
Our score and verdict Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Also available from ModelSport (Blue) (£67.99), ModelSport (Orange) (£67.99)
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Cons Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Max battery life 31 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 750g, water resistant, can limit speed and adjust steering trim on remote control, available in blue and orange, recommended age 14+
FTX Vantage 4WD Brushless Buggy
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Also available from ModelSport (£189), RC Geeks (£189)
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Max battery life 23 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 4x AA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 1.6kg, water resistant, can adjust steering trim and steering rate and invert controls on remote control, can set throttle threshold so the car moves without you pressing the throttle on the remote, recommended age 14+
Maverick Phantom XT
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Also available from ModelSport (£134)
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Max battery life 18 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 4x AA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 1.9kg, water resistant, can limit speed and adjust steering trim and steering rate and invert controls on remote control, recommended age 14+
WL Toys 124019 RC Car
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Max battery life 58 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 4x AA batteries for the remote, comes with rechargeable battery for the car, weight of car 1.1kg, water resistant, can limit speed and adjust steering trim on remote control, recommended age 14+
Scalextric vs Carrera vs Anki Overdrive: seven crucial things to know before you buy
Best remote control cars for toddlers
Only logged in Which? members can view the best remote control car test results below.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Remote control car | Price | Score | Fun rating | Speed | Max battery life | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 72% | |||||
| 71% | ||||||
| 61% | ||||||
| 58% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: November 2024. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to check every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Fun rating includes an overall score from a panel of testers, plus assessments of how easy the controller is to use, how well the RC car handles corners, and how frequently it topples over.
Score and star ratings for remote control cars are done separately for kids, toddlers and adults - e.g. the fun rating for kids' cars is not directly comparable with the fun rating for toddler and adult cars.
The remote control cars for toddlers we tested
All of the remote control cars for toddlers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged in Which? members can view the best RC cars from our tests.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
Fisher Price My First Thomas RC Train
Our score and verdict Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Also available from Smyths Toys (£16.99), Argos (£20)
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Max battery life Two hours 27 minutes
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 3x AAA batteries for the remote and 3xAAA batteries for the car, weight of car 250g, makes noises while moving, recommended age 1.5+
Jada Spiderman Miles Morales RC Web Crawler
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Max battery life over three hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote and 3x AAA batteries for the car, weight of car 300g, recommended age 3+
Spin Master Paw Patrol Chase RC Car
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Also available from Argos (£20)
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Cons Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Max battery life over three hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AAA batteries for the remote and 3x AAA batteries for the car, weight of car 350g, recommended age 3+
Tippi My First RC Car
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Max battery life over three hours
Typical speed reached Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal
Need to know Requires 2x AA batteries for the remote and 3x AA batteries for the car, weight of car 300g, three buttons on the car to make noises, recommended age 1.5+
How we test remote control cars
We picked remote control cars sold at major toy retailers such as Argos, Amazon and Smyths, as well as RC cars that are popular on specialist websites.
Brands cannot buy their way into our testing – we pay for all the cars we test and don't accept freebies.
We revamped our RC cars test in 2024, bringing in a larger panel of testers and tougher durability tests. This means some previously tested RC cars have new scores under the new test.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Test track
- A panel of mixed ages and genders assesses each RC car as it travels around our test track. The track includes sharp turns, off-road sections and a ramp for the fast adult cars.
- Panel members rate each car on how fun it is to drive and how easy the controller is to use.
- They also rate how well the car handles corners and how frequently it topples over when turning or braking sharply.
- The best remote control cars balance speed and precision with intuitive controls. Any extra features they have add to the fun, rather than making them feel overcomplicated.
Durability
- We ram each RC car into a wall five times at top speed to assess the damage.
- The best remote control cars drive away with just a bit of cosmetic damage.
- The worst models break after just one hit, making them suitable only for very open spaces.
Battery life
- We measure the absolute maximum each car lasts on a single charge by running them continuously on their backs.
- If the cars take batteries, we use AA batteries of capacity 2,450mAh and AAA batteries of 750mAh.
- The best remote control cars still go after three hours, while the worst don't even make it to the half-hour mark.
Speed
- We repeatedly drive each car over a set straight distance and time how long it takes. This gives us the typical speed you can reach with each car.
- The best RC cars quickly get up to fast speeds, making them a fun, nippy drive.
Turning circle
- We measure how wide each car's turning circle is from a standing start. We turn the car as sharply as possible and drive it as fast as possible.
- The best remote control cars can turn on the spot; others have a turning circle of up to about two metres.
How much do you need to spend to get a good remote control car?
You can spend anywhere from £15 to more than £500 for a remote control car.
Many of the models we tested from main UK retailers are slower than the hobbyist grade cars you can get from specialist retailers.
While they do sell RC cars that cost hundreds, we found some for between £50 and £100 that were fast, fun and durable.
What age are remote control cars suitable for?
A remote control car can be an exciting gift for any age, if you buy the right one.
We tested some cars we think are too fast for very young children, and in the wrong hands could potentially cause injury or damage.
The RC cars for toddlers have slower speeds, and can only turn when going backwards. These will typically have a recommended age of 1.5 or 3 years and up.
Kids' RC cars can go faster, though not as fast as the hobby-grade adult cars. They are generally lightweight and have simple controls, and will usually have a recommended age of 4 or 6 years and up.
Remote control cars for adults are sold at specialist retailers, drive fast and have more complex controls.
Some cars let you limit the speed, so if your child wants a turn, we recommend doing this so they can control the car more easily. They usually have a recommended age of 14 and up.
Five things to look out for when buying a remote control car
- Watch the speed The faster the car, the more fun our testers had driving it. But, typically, they were more prone to breaking in our durability test. Some of the cars we test have maximum speeds of 30mph, which is dangerous for younger children.
- Broaden your shop Specialist retailers have lots of RC cars you won't find in the major toy retailers.
- Make space RC cars for adults, and some RC cars for children, can go fast. So you'll need a decent amount of space to play with them, such as a park or large garden.
- Avoid the beach We've taken some of the RC cars to the beach to see how well they drive on sand. We found it's a really quick way to cause damage to a car. Sand gets everywhere, including inside the wheels and motors as well as in the suspension.
- Don't sweat breakages if you buy from a specialist retailer The cars from specialist retailers (most adult RC cars in our guide) have spare parts that are readily available online. So if you need a new shell, wheel, or even suspension, you can easily find spares.