My job, among other things, is to test battery-powered ride-on cars for kids. Here’s my ultimate ranking along with hands-on reviews, as I focus on weight, engine power and battery capacity.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. ELEMARA - 12V XL 2-Seater (135 lbs. Capacity)
Top-rated: 416 ratings | 61 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Parts can be replaced within 2 years by contacting customer service.
Helpful review: "My Husband & I are avid trail riding, hill climbing, explorers on our CFmoto. After seeing the shocking comparison between these & the CFmoto sxs we have; we bought it as a Christmas gift LAST YEAR (2022) for our Daughter who loves to ride just as much (if not more) than we do. To say she was over the moon would be an understatement.
Putting it together was easy, but to answer the questions we all wanted to know…
This thing is a TANK I mean an absolute TANK! My husband drove it UP our couch ‘to see if it works.’ That was just the start.
Once it warmed up? It. Was. ON.
First day of spring, she flattened my fire pit in the backyard like a pop can. Couple months later? She drove the SOB up and over the new and improved CENTER-BLOCK fire pit, but didn't phase it. Bluetooth radio doesn’t have the best range, maybe 20ft. I’d recommend getting a cheap mp3 player if it’s that big of a deal to you. Max weight we’ve had in it was roughly 135 lbs and it pulled just fine just running the battery down a bit quicker. Battery life isn’t terrible. It’s only 12V so don’t expect the world. Hour and a half - two hours running full speed is about average for us.
Overall I’d recommend buying this 1000 times again to anyone looking for something that’s dang good quality & will hold up against rough kid(s) We have had NO issues out of it. We do keep stored out of elements.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
Pretty look, solid materials, and a reliable set of motors on a children's toy. The packaging was top notch. Every piece arrived in its own packaging within the outer carton, lots of bubbles to protect everything from damage during shipping. Everything unwrapped easily, there were no films or covers that needed to be peeled off and thus no glue!
The instructions were fairly clear, step-by-step with pictures. Almost every piece just snapped together and was then bolted. The only piece that was mildly difficult was the back lamp bar and the netting, where it didn't want to slide perfectly into its mount without a bit of wiggling. Otherwise, every piece just went on without any issue or effort.
Operation-wise, this is a great little car! My children have had a good time with it, taking it all over our property and exploring their limits. It went over uneven, natural terrain with as much ease as it did on paved terrain. With 120 lbs in the unit, going up a mild hill, there was no hesitation or stress on the motors, and it held traction without any spinning. Rather impressive!
The battery charged quickly, about two hours before it was at peak operation and a total charge time of around 5 1/2 hours before it was running at full capacity. It held an optimal charge for about four hours of operation, alternating between one child and both riding (so between 50 and 120 lbs) on both paved and natural terrain.
Cleaning it up after it gets dirty was easy. A quick rub down with a wet towel and it was good. I could have likely hosed it down without issue, as the electrical assembly is secured within the hood and there aren't any exposed terminals. The controller works just fine, at a distance of around 40-60 ft before it got a bit delayed.
My kids love it, so I'm happy with my purchase. This isn't my first time purchasing a product from Elemara, so I know if I have any issues, the customer service is fantastic to work with. I highly recommend it!" — Caitlyn Preece
Get it from Amazon now: $389.99 & FREE Returns
2. Best Choice Products - 12V Ride-On Truck (65 lbs. Capacity)
Top-rated: 15,857 ratings | 1000+ answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Realistic behind-the-wheel experience.
Helpful review: "This has been great for our 3 and 1 year olds to share. We had previously bought a Peg Perego Case III tractor that my oldest son loves (and he has been so hard on it and it has lasted so well! If you need a one-seater, I highly recommend it!), so we figured we needed to get another vehicle for our younger son to ride along as the tractor was only a one-seater.
First off, this truck is more of a Cadillac or Rolls Royce compared to the Case III being more of a Porche. The Case has 2 speeds and will really get up and go and can take tighter turns, but as far as features that's where it stops.
1. This truck has great suspension, but it does not go very fast and the turning radius isn't very tight.
2. A radio with 1. pre-programmed mp3's (about 5 or so), 2. a USB plug for your own music to plug in, 3. it picks up local radio stations too! And it has volume controls as well.
3. The seat and included seatbelt will fit 2 small children (one is about 30 lbs, the other about 25 lbs).
4. The headlights and tail lights work!
5. There is a second cutout under the hood if you would like to beef up the stereo and add a second speaker (it only comes with one speaker).
6. There is also considerable space under the hood if you want to add any weight. Sudden reverse to forward movements can cause the truck to want to pop a wheelie since the seat is near the rear moving the center of gravity where the kids are sitting.
7. The "mirrors" on the doors are adjustable and the steering wheel has a working horn button and radio station change button.
8. The parent remote is a great feature (be careful not to push the parking break button and not remember to turn it back off or the kids can't drive the truck on their own). The remote has a pretty short range though so you pretty much have to follow them around with it to keep the signal. But it does seem to have more than one speed when using the remote. I haven't tested it yet to see if setting the speed on the remote carries over when they they go back to driving themselves.
9. The battery life I would say is pretty short compared to the Case. It has to be charged every night after a day of play while the Case can go a couple days on a charge.
All in all it's been great so far in the few weeks we've had it. The kids will drive around outside for hours and just get such a kick out of it!" — Dyna Oak
Get it from Amazon now: $299.99 & FREE Returns
3. Peg Perego - 12V John Deere Ground Force Tractor with Trailer
Top-rated: 9,822 ratings | 597 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Farm tractor wheels provide traction on grass, dirt, gravel or pavement.
Helpful review: "First, let me say that this tractor is terrific. It is powerful and my daughter loves to drive it around the yard. She is learning the concepts of: turning left and right, start and stop, on and off, fast and slow, etc. Although the manufacturer clearly states not to use it on "hills", the fact is, we have hills.
The plastic tires are terrible on wet and/or very dry grass (i.e. summer drought grass), the tires also spin on asphalt/blacktop if you are on a grade. This is because the tractor has so much initial torque that it doesn't gradually accelerate - it just takes off. If you look closely, the plastic tires have a small grove in the center. Other Peg-Perego models actually have a red rubber band that fits into those groves for traction - they are called "traction bands". I did some research to fix the constant tire spinning problem and here is the easiest, least expensive, best option (in my opinion):
- The rear tires measure about 12.75 inches. I went to the local department store and purchased one 12.5 inch kids bike tire.
- I removed each sidewall of the bike tire using the edge of the tread as a guide (I cut it with heavy duty all-purpose scissors/cutters).
- I then cut the tire in half directly down the center (first by making a slit with a utility knife, then using the all-purpose heavy duty scissors/cutters to make the cut) - the center of the tire has a mold mark, so it is easy to follow the center.
- Then, I stretched each half of the bike tire over each rear plastic tire on the tractor - sliding the tire to the center so that the smallest part of the bike tire fit into the groove on the plastic tractor tire.
- Viola! The tractor has excellent traction for both starting and stopping. A 30 minute fix for about $10.
Overall, we are very happy with this toy! It should last my daughter for many years to come.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
Let me just start off by saying my son is in love with this tractor. I got this for my 3 year old son's birthday this year and he does so well with it. I think he would have done well with it even on his second birthday. It has a lock to where I could prohibit him from going into the second gear which is the fastest. It has 2 gears: Level 1 and Level 2. It also has a reverse which he does well with also. Let me tell you Level 2 is fast! I'm talking I don't know if I've ever seen a kids toy go that fast before. But It is perfect for my 3 year old because he loves fast and yet it seems very safe for him to do.
Also the steering is great, and the battery power is amazing - about an hour and a half on the fastest level. He is rarely on level 1 but I'm sure it would last for hours.
Now there are a few downsides. It can be difficult to open the hood to charge. But it will open if you know what you're doing. It also does not take too long to charge in my opinion. Another downside though is that it is made of mostly plastic. Even the wheels are made of plastic. I could imagine it would be hard to get around in tall grass. We keep ours fairly kept though so we never have a problem with that.
Even though it is made of plastic I think It is still a nice buy and seeing how much my son loves it is priceless to me. I really suggest this product if you are looking at different ride along toys. Because this one is a great one!" — Larry Powell
Get it from Amazon now: $299.00 & FREE Returns
4. TOBBI - 12V Police Ride-on Car (66 lbs. Capacity)
Top-rated: 1,941 ratings | 133 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Powered by two 30W powerful motors and one 12V rechargeable battery.
Helpful review: "I purchased this gift for a 3-year-old and he fits in it perfectly and still has room to grow! The battery lasts about 45 minutes, and having the remote for the parent to override the control of the car is a super nice feature. The design of the car was nice. The plastic seemed to be a little on the cheap side but nothing that wouldn't hold up.
A FEW POINTS:
1. Turn radius is so huge, that at times it needs going back and forth.
2. Handle to pull the car could be more comfortable to hold. The rear support wheels could be built better.
3. Opening the door is not easy for a toddler, my kids just cross over it.
4. Volume control, which would reduce the annoyance.
5. The door is a little hard for the child to open and close on their own.
6. The wheels also skid from time to time, and don't do too well on grass (because they’re made of plastic so they just become slippery).
Overall this was a great buy and the child loves it.
MY FRIEND’S REVIEW:
Easy to assemble. Fast arrival time. Great features. Love the remote. I purchased this for my granddaughter's 5th birthday and she absolutely loves it. The PA system, as well as the life-like sounding sirens and horn is a great addition to this Police SUV. Everything was in the box that was supposed to be and nothing was damaged. I looked at many 12v rides on vehicles before choosing this one and found that although many have similar features they do not all share the same quality materials or craftsmanship. I am extremely pleased with my purchase of this product from this company and will be purchasing again when her little brother gets big enough to have his own ride-on toy.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
We absolutely love this car! It was super easy to assemble. I am impressed how long the battery lasts! We went for a walk for about an hour, and the battery was still working. The lights and siren are not to loud. The quality of plastic seems to be good. Needless to say, my 3 yo loves it. We were very skeptical while buying the car as we had a really bad experience before getting a similar car on the internet that didn’t work from the get go. However this time, no complaints and I'm very happy. Also the shipping was super fast. Recommend!" — Alicia Beaulieu
Get it from Amazon now: $179.99 & FREE Returns
5. Costzon - 12V 4-Wheeler Quad
Top-rated: 1,708 ratings | 107 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Features advanced 'Slow Start' technology intended to protect kids.
Helpful review: "This is an awesome ATV. It is strong and it is capable of carrying a 150 lb man. I was testing this out myself without my son (he was asleep at the time). Installation was a lot easier than I thought because I expected it could be a long night putting this thing together but I was wrong. I only need to put a few things together.
I was able to get it up and running within 30 minutes. It is powerful and has lots of features. It can run backward and forward with a button switch because there’s only 1 pedal. This pedal is only to apply power to run. There’s not a break, just simply release the pedal to stop.
The body has strong and thick plastic, also the red color makes it look so crazy cool and mean. The LED lights look cool as well. It also has a radio, music presets, USB for mp3 player, etc…
This is a sweet ride. The kids will be appreciated and loved!
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
This ATV is beefy looking. It fits larger kids compared to single seat rides on cars. The wheels are huge and can go over obstacles like garden hose and rocks without any problem. It’s 12v and it gets decent speed at fast mode.
The assembly takes some time since you’ll have to connect the axle, gears/motors, steering sticks, etc. You’ll want to assemble this on carpet or some cushions because the steering stick protrudes out on the bottom. Most of the assembly is done with the car upside down and the stick will poke out about an inch beyond the base of the car. I put it on my giant bean bag so it doesn’t scratch my hardwood floor.
The instructions are great and show each step clearly. All the L and R parts are labeled so it’s hard to go wrong. Before screwing on the seat cover, you’ll want to connect three wire connectors (left gear, right gear, and power control). The rest of the steps were easy. Because of the size, it does have a wider turning radius than other ride-ons. But not by much. My daughter loves to ride over grass and puddles so I’m pretty glad that I went with the ATV.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
It was easy to assemble. Kid loved it. Looks just like the pic. We got the blue one. We opted into this one because our boy is tall for his age and he would have grown out of a car too fast. He is 4 going on 5 soon but looks about 7. He had a blast riding it.
The controls are buttons in the center of the console for forward and reverse. It goes at a safe speed in fast mode. Wish it were a little faster though. Rolls over small medium rocks and rides on grass decently. I recommend it for young kids under 6, any older and it would be too slow. Oh, and we couldn't get the radio to scan to find local stations. So let us know if you figured that part out. I heartily recommend this for little ones. It's fun. Oh right and battery life is ok, you can get about an hour out of it. That's fine for us or we'd be out there all night, lol." — Buckey Cagle
Get it from Amazon now: $199.99 & FREE Returns
6. Best Choice Products - 12V Ride-On Truck (61 lbs. Capacity)
Top-rated: 17,864 ratings | 740 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Let your child drive manually or use the remote control to safely guide them yourself.
Helpful review: "Wonderful for my 2 year old, almost 3 year old. We bought her a minnie mouse car that is petal only and she does NOT understand how to drive it , steer it, or press the gas and let off.
If you have a toddler, you need the jeep or car with the REMOTE control. The parent can steer. There's emergency shut off, and you can control speed and direction. No worries about a car coming down the street. You are in control!
The other car has sat in the garage since Christmas and we will give it to her in another year when she can comprehend better. I saw other parents down my street at Christmas without the remote cars with a child my age. Their battery cars are sitting at the house not being used because their child can't figure it out yet either. The remote is a must. We bought a similar jeep last year that was more expensive, but it had Bluetooth music and did a little more or had a little extra to the look.... this one is just as good.
We left that one out in the rain. Make sure to put these up. They can get spiders and stuff in them, even on a covered porch. You can spray the underside with bug spray to help. A great buy, and the best gift for any toddler. Instead of chasing them in the yard, you can walk beside them at the pace of your choosing. 2 speed choices. My daughter loves it.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
This was the best gift for my son! Set up wasn't too difficult, the size works well for us since we store it in the house and didn't want it taking up too much space.
Battery life is great! My mom lives about a quarter mile from our house and my son always wants to drive over to see his grandma. He'll do like 6 laps at a time from our house to hers just so he can wave to her and honk his horn. The longest we've gone is on a 3-mile walk and it didn't die. I wonder how far it can go on a charge, but we haven't taken it to that point. I'm impressed that it didn't die on us by the end of 3 miles.
The "fast" speed setting is perfect for us as it matches a comfortable walking pace. The slow speed is way too slow, but great for when we get to an open area so he can practice steering the wheel on his own.
The remote is great, though we go through a lot of batteries. I have my son control the gas, and I just use the side to side buttons to help control the steering wheel. Maybe when he's 2 he'll figure it out on his own, but it definitely comes in handy now. I thought the remote didn't work well at first, but I kept hitting the force stop button on accident. Now that I use the correct buttons, it's perfect!
The radio works well, as do the headlights. It has gotten daily use since it was delivered 2 and a half months ago. I imagine he'll continue fitting well in the car for a couple more years. Our neighbor's grandson is 5 and still fits, though his knees are squished.
We'll probably upgrade to a bigger model around 3 or 4, depending on how comfortable he seems. I'm very happy with this purchase, and so is my son!" — Nicole Ross
Get it from Amazon now: $199.99 & FREE Returns
7. Best Choice Products - 12V 2-Seater Licensed Land Rover (128 lbs. Capacity)
Top-rated: 5,250 ratings | 410 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Double seating.
Helpful review: "Product was well packaged and arrived on time. I was apprehensive about assembly, but there were only 6 small screws and 4 bolts. The only tool needed was a Phillips screwdriver. The wrench for the bolts came with the car. Everything else snapped into place. Instructions were easy to follow. I had the car ready to go in 30 minutes. The initial battery charge required 12 hours, so you'll need to start assembly the day before you plan to use it. Have only operated via remote control for a short period. Remote is simple. Front wheels don't turn smoothly with the remote and the turn radius is big. You can't make sharp turns but that may be how all these electric cars work. So far so good. I hope my grandkids like it.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
This car is so much fun and worth every penny. It has two seats that kids can be buckled in. Parents can drive it by remote until the kids are old enough to drive it themselves. We plug it in after each use and have never used it long enough for the battery to die on us. It can play music via Bluetooth, which the kids LOVE. They also love to honk the horn / rev the engine using the buttons on the steering wheel. The doors are a little hard for the kids to open, but easy to get in and out of once open. The hood opens and can be used for storage, which the kids also love. It works well on our gravel driveway even. This car is expensive, but I am VERY pleased with it.
MY FRIEND’S REVIEW:
Everything about THIS car is fantastic. We had a hard time finding electric toy cars for both our girls that fit our criteria. For our 3 1/2 yr old and 1 year old it's absolutely perfect! The doors keep them from falling out, the seat belts are great keeping them safe, the remote control is a must for our young babies that can't drive safely on their own, the sounds and music capabilities are soooo fun, and the power and battery strength is amazing. One feature that is a bonus is the truck space in the hood. We take our girls for walks and picnics and it's the perfect size to hold everything we need. Our girls NEVER want to get out. Probably the best purchase we could have ever made for a gift for the both of them! If you're on the fence considering, let me assure you it's definitely worth every penny." — Seth Arnold
Get it from Amazon now: $399.99 & FREE Returns
8. Costzon - 12V Ride-On Truck (3-7 Years Old)
Top-rated: 3,672 ratings | 419 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Four wear-resistant wheels made of superior PP materials, meaning no inflating, leaking or tire burst.
Helpful review: "My wife bought this for the boys after our last ride on toy kicked the bucket while we were camping. Our boys kind of beat these things up so needed one that was rugged and this thing in beefy and has large wheels- no problem going on grass/gravel/up hills etc. The only thing I wish was for the seat to be bigger cause the boys sometimes fight over it and usually the 2 year old sits on my 6 year old's lap. It looks great and we ordered some “Jeep” stickers on amazon to complete the look. There a few things that make this ride on car better than all the others we have used:
1. Parental remote: GUYs. This is the best think ever. My 2 year old cant currently reach the pedal while in the 4 point harness so I can drive him all around with this and he loves it! Even my 6 year old can drive him from afar. We often take family walks at night and I strap the baby into this and drive him while we all walk. It’s a complete blast and the boys giggle like crazy and just love it
2. Lights up. Has real working headlights and also red and blue fog lights- the power button and dadh also have lights- this is a legit looking vehicle! For this reason we take it out at night and can be easily seen for safety and to know where you are going. This is also a must for camping
3. Music. YES It can be hooked up by Bluetooth and play music as well. It comes ready with a few nursery rhymes and a cute little Chinese song my kids have already memorized and are singing haha!
4. 4 point harness and speed control. These are great safety aspects- especially having access to the remote.
Careful to not leave out where it can wet and take good care of it- I suggest in a garage. I hope it lasts a long time cause it rocks! Hands down, this is better than I ever could have expected. My wife picks out great stuff for the kids but I almost feel like this was for me. I mean its an rc car you can strap your kid i to lol!" — Jason & Stefanie Schumann
Get it from Amazon now: $249.99 & FREE Returns
9. TOBBI - 12V Tractor with Trailer
Top-rated: 1,401 ratings | 36 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Added handrails beside the seat and an adjustable safety belt with a buckle to prevent your child from falling off.
Helpful review: "Instructions are rough but manageable. Some parts indicated (mainly screws) were not the same as depicted, so I had to make some assumptions. Could do without the music buttons, why does everything have to make noise? The startup noise is fine because it doesn't remain, but they have these built in music modes that will get on your nerves. The gear selector feels a bit flimsy but is holding up so far. It's a bit difficult for my two and half year old to manage. But he is capable of driving and turning it on. Just needs help switching to reverse if he gets stuck. There are two speeds on this.
My youngest likes the lower speed, and the older one likes the faster speed. The rest of the vehicle seems solid enough. The trailer isn't as well constructed, but it holds fine for what you're getting. You're not supposed to put anything in the trailer for their own legal reasons, but you totally can. Had him help move some small plans with it, sticks, etc. You can also get another child in there, but again it's not recommended.
Battery life is great, will last for way more than they'll be interested in playing on it in a single day. The charging instructions make you think it's going to burst into flames if you charge it too long which I don't like. Could have been better to include a battery tender capable charger so the consumer can leave it on and not have the anxiety over their head about having to unplug it after a certain period of time. The plug is on the outside so no unscrewing anything, just plug it in. All in all: it's cute, it's fun, and your kids will enjoy it.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
This is a great ride-on toy for a 3 year old boy! Assembly was ok but directions could have been clearer. After a few trips around the yard, he decided he wanted to go faster. The shift lever must be moved to the side, then up or down so it took a little practice for him to get the hang of it. He loves the reverse gear. It's nice that the second he takes his foot off the pedal, it immediately stops.
The tunes the tractor plays on the so-called radio are upbeat and keep his head boppin from side to side. Bluetooth is a nice feature and works very well too.
The headlights and tail lights are a nice feature because as I said, he doesn't want to stop riding this tractor He rides in the dark all the time. It seems to be very sturdy and we haven't had any problems. The battery has a good long life and so far it hasn't died, even after hours of driving. We put it on the charger whenever he gets off so it will be ready for his next trip. Definitely recommend this toy for 3 or 4 year olds. I'm not sure if my grandson will be able to fit in the seat at age 5." — Greg Arnold
Get it from Amazon now: $199.99 & FREE Returns
10. TOBBI - Licensed Mercedes Benz for Kids
Top-rated: 2,571 ratings | 189 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Suitable for kids 3-8 years old.
Helpful review: "I bought this car for my nephews first birthday and it was the perfect gift. I just have a couple problems with the overall details of the car: It rides very smoothly, though when you go to make turns it’s a bit choppy since you have to constantly reverse and drive forward just to make a simple turn around the corner.
The radio is far too loud and there doesn’t seem to be a way to lower the volume. So if you plan on taking this outside make sure the volume on your cellular device is low.
The charger lights green when it’s “charged” but there’s no percentage indicator to let you know how charged the car actually is. The speed calibrations for the controller are far too confusing so you might want to read the box instructions carefully before driving the car to make sure it doesn’t go too fast.
Also, the instructions that came with the car on how to build it were also very confusing to follow so you’re better off watching the how-to video that amazon included with the pictures of the car. But aside from all of that my nephew seemed to enjoy it.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
It is a quick and easy assembly. The produce runs nicely. I love all the safety features on the car from the 5 point harness to how the door opens and closes. When opening and closing you have to slide the switch over and then push close. I love the added security especially since my child decided to stand and lean against the door. I love the light feature on the car and the underneath pulley to move the car around when it dies.
The only con is the battery life isn't the best. I got exactly 25 minutes before the battery died. I reached out to the seller and the seller reported you will only get about 25-45 minutes of use on a full charge depending on whether or not you are using it on a flat surface, weight on car, etc. My son weighs 22 pounds and we used the car on the wooden floor in the house and got exactly 25 minutes before I had to charge it again completely. I would have liked to get a little more run time hence the 4 stars.
Overall, the produce is great and the seller was helpful and knowledgeable about their product. I would recommend this purchase and will most likely buy another one but this time for my niece.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
Super cute and easy to put together. I’m terrible at constructing things, but my husband was still at work and our daughter was so anxious to play with the car. It took about 15-20 minutes to put together & she loves it. She had a red Benz that we purchased around Christmas time from Walmart and this one is 10x better. The remote control is super helpful. Although our toddler thinks she now has a chauffeur lol… & I love that it has a seat belt and plays music. Also, I like that the battery is in front of the seat, instead of under it, so we don’t have to remove the seat for charging. It’s only been a few hours since she received it, but so far... so good. I’ll keep you all updated." — Braxton Smith
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns