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)
Highlight: Two-year warranty lets you replace parts if they break.
Helpful review: My husband and I ride trails, climb hills, explore everywhere we can and we wanted to get our daughter to love the ride just as much as we do. She's been watching us for a long time. She wanted to take the plunge, so we finally got her this, and she couldn't have been happier. Set up and assembly was super easy.
Let me tell you this thing got going...it was as strong as they come. Once you put my daughter on this, she channeled her inner truck driver. She flattened every spare branch in the backyard. She ran over the mailbox believe it or not.
It comes with Bluetooth radio but it's not the greatest range. Maybe only 1525 feet, so depending on how far you are from the house. It wasn't a big deal for us. My nephew tried it out, and he’s about 130 pounds, 140 pounds (after the holidays ha ha) and it worked just fine although the battery went a little bit faster without him on it. The entire battery life in general isn't too bad. Just don't have too high expectations. It really only runs about two hours max, maybe an hour and a half at best.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
Looks great. Made of durable materials and has a surprisingly reliable motor for a kids toy car. The packaging was better than I expected. Lots and lots of bubble wrap. Even better, I could unwrap it without having to peel anything off a.k.a. no glue to peel off. The instructions had good pictures. Everything bolted together and snapped easily. The netting had a little bit of issue going into the mount but other than that, I didn't have any issues. It goes over dirt and mud and uneven terrain and does just as well as if it was on flat ground. It also went up small hills without screeching out in pain. The traction was pretty good, and I was really impressed by it. Recharging the battery went pretty fast, maybe about two hours minimum, five for four capacity. It even ran about four hours and that was both with one kid and with two--aka 50 pounds versus 120 pounds. I noticed that the battery didn't even make a difference whether it was paved or uneven ground. Cleaning up was also really easy. Just rub it down with a wet rag. I also could've hosed it, and I probably will in the future, because I noticed that the electrical part of it was hidden beneath the hood, so it wouldn't short circuit. Overall, I love this thing. The customer service was also awesome, so I'm not worried if anything breaks. Don't waste your time researching other products–get this thing now. — Caitlyn Preece
Get it from Amazon now: $389.99 & FREE Returns
2. Best Choice Products - 12V Ride-On Truck (65 lbs. Capacity)
Highlight: Feels like you're driving a real car.
Helpful review: My two children are three and one respectfully, and they both love to share this thing. My older son really liked his Peg Pergo case three tractor but the younger one was starting to get jealous, so I figured it was time to get him his own. It has awesome suspension, but beware that the turning radius isn't great and the speed is on the slow side.
This actually has a USB plug so you can put your own music into it, and it even picks up local radio stations. This is better than my first car! It effortlessly fits two small kids, mine are between 25 and 30 pounds to give you a reference. Oh and the lights on both the front and the back actually work. You can even add a second speaker which is optional as it only comes with one, but there is enough room.
If you feel like it's a little too late you can pop the hood and add extra weights to weigh down. If you like to drive fast like my wild crazy ones do beware reversing suddenly or moving forward too fast can cause it to pop onto one wheel.
You can even adjust the mirrors and there's a horn in which my three-year-old loves to press a little bit too much. It comes with a remote although it has a short range, so it forces you to follow them, which is great exercise, and makes it fun for the whole family. Compared to the other model I had, the battery life is a little short. I have to charge it every night, but even that being said I still love this thing. And one thing is for sure, my kids definitely do too. — Dyna Oak
Get it from Amazon now: $299.99 & FREE Returns
3. Peg Perego - 12V John Deere Ground Force Tractor with Trailer
Highlight: Two gears make this ideal for the adrenaline lovers.
Helpful review: I feel like this is exactly what I need to make my life easier when my daughter gets her permit, and I have to teach her how to drive. With this thing, she's already learning the basics of how to drive.
It says you shouldn't use it on hills, but can't help that we have hills in our yard, and that I have an adventurous kid. And guess what? It works. Keep in mind this tractor has so much torque that it goes from zero to fast. Just beware–the plastic tires aren't great on wet dress or super dry grass. They can also spin on sleek cement. I did a little googling on how to fix the tire spinning issue and this is what I found out: Essentially I replaced it with bike tires. Using utility knives, I slit the bike tire and stretched it over the plastic tire on the tractor. Creating extra traction was necessary for my kid, but I don’t think all kids will need this, so I think even without doing this, I think you're going to find that this is great for young kids.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY NEIGHBOR:
I waited until my son's third birthday to get him this gift but honestly, I think I could've given it to him on his second. I love that there's parental controls that stop it from letting it get too fast. And with two gears, it definitely helps. It also reverses, which is awesome, but take my word for it when I say that level two goes really fast. I didn't know kids' toys were legally allowed to go this fast. Fortunately, my kid loves a little adrenaline rush, though you don't have to worry too much because the steering is great. The battery lasts forever, almost an hour and a half, even when it's going the fastest. Level One would probably last even longer. Just a couple negatives: It's hard to charge, so you have to play with it a little bit to open the charging case. It does charge pretty fast though. Just remember that the wheels are made of plastic which can make it a little bit hard for offroading. This is one of the coolest toys I've gotten for my son, and I've officially been promoted to cool dad! — Larry Powell
Get it from Amazon now: $299.00 & FREE Returns
4. Power Wheels - 12V Jurassic Park Jeep (for Preschool Kids)
Highlight: Parental remote makes this one a win.
Helpful review: The first car I bought for my toddler, she had no idea how to use it, but I ended up going with this one mainly because of the parental remotes. Not only does it add an extra layer of safety, it lets me control the car for my kid. I can actually steer it, adjust the speed, and turn the wheel for her just by using this remote. There's even an emergency shut off. If a car is coming down the road about to hit the jeep–no problem. All you have to do is reverse.
I had a previous one that was more expensive, and honestly this one's just as good. This is great for younger kids, too, who don't fully understand how to drive a car. It's one of those things they can learn later but having the remote element right now really makes this one great for my two-year-old.
I do recommend spraying it with bug spray to keep bugs off, but other than that, I have no complaints. This really is the best gift I could get for my child. Now I don't have to chase her in the yard, and I can just walk beside her at the pace that I'm controlling it. There are two speed choices as well.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
Set up was super easy and this made the best Christmas gift for my son. The size was ideal. Doesn't take up too much space, considering I want to store it inside to keep it safe. It worked out great. The battery life is better than other options I've tried. My mom lives a quarter mile down the street, and my son always wants to drive the little car over to see her, and it actually makes the distance. We actually took it on a 3 mile walk once, and it still didn't die which was really impressive. The fast speed matches my walking speed perfectly, but I have to warn you that the slow speed is way too slow. However it's good for him to practice steering. I feel like by the time he gets his license he's already gonna know how to drive. My son can control the gas and I use the remote to control the steering, but I think when he gets older, he will be able to do this without me using the remote. There's also an emergency button on the remote, which is great for emergencies. The radio and headlights also function exactly how they're supposed to and I have no complaints there. I've used this thing daily for three months, and it's still functioning perfectly. I also think my son can still grow into it, so he will have a few more years before we will have to upgrade. One thing is for sure. It makes me less concerned about him getting his license when he's sixteen — Nicole Ross
Get it from Amazon now: $349.99 & FREE Returns
5. TOBBI - 12V Police Ride-on Car (66 lbs. Capacity)
Highlight: Powerful motor and battery makes it last.
Helpful review: My three-year-old kid fits perfectly in this, and they're still a little extra room for when he hits a growth spurt. The battery level is just a little under an hour and having a parental control remote really helps keep things under control. The plastic came off as a little cheap but most of the cars were made like this. It doesn’t bother me too much, it'll still hold up.
A couple thoughts--it turns great and can do full circles around me. Pulling the car with the provided handles is a little uncomfortable but you get used to it. The door sticks but it's short enough so my kids can just jump over it to get in and out. The wheels skid occasionally, especially on grass, but that's because they're made of plastic. I still highly recommend this.
MY FRIEND'S REVIEW:
This arrived on time and super fast and the set up was a breeze. The features were exactly what I was looking for .and I really love the parental remote. It was a gift for my granddaughter's fifth birthday party, and it quickly became the highlight of the day. It comes with a PA system just like a regular police car and sirens, plus a horn. My little girl was telling me she was going to become a cop after using this. Although a lot of these types of cars have similar features, not all are the same quality and I have to say I'm really happy with how this one came out--the delivery, the setup, the final result--everything was great.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
This little baby has so much battery, I was seriously impressed. It was also really fast to put together. Even better, the lights, horn, and siren that come with it are really not too loud. I was a little concerned about that. I've had bad experiences buying cars like this before, but this is a game changer for me and my three-year-old. Zero complaints. Oh... and the shipping was so fast! — Alicia Beaulieu
Get it from Amazon now: $189.99 & FREE Returns
6. Costzon - 12V 4-Wheeler Quad
Highlight: Extra technology takes precautionary safety measures.
Helpful review: This ATV is amazing. Seriously, it can carry a 150 pound adult. I know because I tried. Putting it together was a lot simpler than I expected and there was a lot less to do than I thought there would be. I had it up and ready to go in under 30 minutes.
It's a powerful machine that can run forward and flip to reverse with the switch of a button. I like that there's no break, that all you have to do is let go of the one pedal for it to stop. I think that makes it a little bit safer for my kid. The exterior is solid plastic and I love the maroon coloring.
The LED headlights are bright, but they look great. There's even a radio and a USB hook up for an MP3 player. It's an awesome ride. I would've loved to have had this as a kid–which is probably why I've been using it more than my own child. But he loves it too.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
This extra large ATV can fit bigger kids, and personally I think it's better than those single person rides. The wheels are large enough that there’s no issue going off roading on it. It even goes over gravel and the hose in my backyard. The 12 V gives it a fair amount of speed when it's in fast mode. When you put it together you will have to connect the motor axle and the steering aspect, and it can be a little time-consuming but once you get the hang of it, it's easy. Just a little pro-tip: get some cushions underneath you before you put it together both to protect your floor and your knees. The instructions really do help and, thankfully, it's labeled correctly. Just make sure you have the gears wired correctly before you screw in the seat cover. Because it's a little bit larger, the turning weight radius is pretty wide. but it's an easy sacrifice considering how well this goes over grass and other obstacles.
MY NEIGHBOR'S REVIEW:
After I assembled it, it looked just like the picture. Not to brag, but my son’s in the 99% for his height, which is one of the reasons I wanted a larger vehicle for him, mainly so he didn't grow out of it too fast. When it's in fast mode it still operates at a safe speed which was a relief, although I do wish it could go a tiny bit faster. Any kids under six might think it's a thrill ride, but older kids might be a little bored by the limitations of the speed. I did have a little trouble using the radio, but that's because I haven't used a real radio in a really long time, so I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. Some people complained that the battery life was too short, but honestly it lasted an hour and I think that's a perfect amount of time because otherwise my kid would refuse to get off it. 100% I definitely recommend this. — Buckey Cagle
Get it from Amazon now: $199.99 & FREE Returns
7. Best Choice Products - 12V 2-Seater Licensed Land Rover (128 lbs. Capacity)
Highlight: The double seating makes this the perfect size.
Helpful review: This car arrived just on time and the packaging was great. I was a little unsure how the set up would go, but the assembly actually was pretty easy. You won't need many tools, just a screwdriver. It only took 30 minutes to get it together, and fortunately the instructions were really simple to follow. Just keep in mind, it takes 12 hours for the first charge before you can use it. I love that it comes with a remote to help control the steering; however, the steering does work better without the remote, but it is still an awesome plus. This is going to make me the best grandparent in the neighborhood.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
I'm so happy I spent my money on this. The double seating is perfect for my kids, and they can be buckled in. The remote lets me control it until they are old enough to do it themselves. I always plug it in after each use and I find that the battery life lasts the entire entire time we use it. And it even comes with Bluetooth, which is awesome so my kids can play whatever they want. The horn gets annoying, I have to warn you, but my kids love it. The doors stick a little, but with a little shifting around, my kids can open it. You can store extra things inside the hood, which is cool. It’s expensive, but the fact that it can even drive on gravel is awesome. Trust me–it is worth it.
MY FRIEND'S REVIEW:
This car is amazing! I researched all the different electric cars on the market to find the perfect one for my almost 4 year year-old. I also wanted something that could fit my one year-old, and the double seating on this really makes it worth it. I don't have to worry about them falling out because the doors are stable. The remote control is an extra safety precaution that definitely makes me less nervous when they're in it. There's even trunk space in the hood, which is awesome for carrying things so I don't have to carry them. My girls never want to leave this thing. It's one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. This is worth the money. Take my word for it. — Seth Arnold
Get it from Amazon now: $399.99 & FREE Returns
8. Costzon - 12V Ride-On Truck (3-7 Years Old)
Highlight: Strong tires make this worth every penny.
Helpful review: Our last car didn't do great off-road. My boys are kind of rough. My wife did a lot of research to make sure that whatever we spent money on would last, and man she killed it. This puppy is meant for rugged driving. It has large huge wheels that can roll over gravel, and even goes up hills that have grass on them.
I have a two and six year-old, and they fit a little tight in the front, but I think that's just because of their age differences. Two kids of smaller sizes might fit a little better inside it, but even so it still works. My favorite things about it? The remote for parental control is the coolest thing ever. When it's just my two year old riding inside it, I use the control to guide it for him, and he has no idea that he's not doing anything. It even has an emergency stop in case my six-year-old gets a little out of control.
The headlights are perfect. They even have fog lights even the dash has lights. Honestly I wish this existed when I was a kid. It works great for our camping trips. and it's so much fun. Oh and did I mention that you can play bluetooth through the car? It comes prepared with nursery rhymes that are really awesome. There's even a harness for extra safety control and a speed control option which is just really great so my wife doesn't worry about their safety. — Jason & Stefanie Schumann
Get it from Amazon now: $249.99 & FREE Returns
9. TOBBI - 12V Tractor with Trailer
Highlight: Handrails and adjustable belts add an extra safety precaution.
Helpful review: The instructions could be better, but I figured it out. I'd like it better if the music buttons didn't make noise but it is a kid’s toy after all. The gear shifter is a little flimsy but so far it's holding up. My two-year-old needs a little help to reverse but with two speeds honestly it's still worth it. My youngest child likes the slower speed, and my older child likes the fast one. It's cool that it can work for both of them. The exterior as a whole seems pretty solidly built, and although the trailer is a little flimsy you can still put stuff inside it even though they don't recommend it.
The battery life is the best part about this. My kids are usually tired, and ready to go take a nap before this thing even dies. There is a warning about the battery charger that seems a little much. It would have been nice if I didn't have to worry about the battery getting too hot from overcharging it. All in all it's a good purchase.
A FEW WORDS FROM A NEIGHBOR:
This is perfect for my three-year-old son. As others have noted the assembly can be a little challenging, but once you get the hang of it it's pretty easy. I like the different speeds. My son was nervous at first so he used the slow one and pretty quickly he decided he was ready to go fast. The gear shift took a little bit of time to figure out, but now he’s obsessed with going in reverse. I really like that as soon as he lifts his foot off the pedal it stops and slows down, so I don't have to worry about it rolling anywhere. The headlights are an added bonus, plus the tail lights make it easy to spot him when he rides this in the driveway at night. The battery lasts really long and I've never seen it die yet, granted I do charge it after each use. This is ideal for three and four year-old toddlers. I'm not sure older, larger kids will get much use out of it but I'm certain this will be a core memory for my toddler. — Greg Arnold
Get it from Amazon now: $199.99 & FREE Returns
10. TOBBI - Licensed Mercedes Benz for Kids
Highlight: Ideal for toddlers.
Helpful review: I became the best aunt in our family after buying this for my nephews first birthday party. Overall it was a great gift, but I do have a couple issues with it. The ride is smooth until you try to make a turn and then it gets a little rough. You end up having to do a three-point turn to reverse it ,which is annoying. Lord knows I failed my drivers test doing a three point turn--a toddler doesn't know how to do that.
The radio is very loud, and I can't figure out how to turn it down other than connecting it to my phone, so just make sure you have your cell with you when you use the music. I don't like that I can't see the number of the charging percentage, and that it just goes to green when it's charged. It's annoying that I can't figure out how much time is left. Make sure you read the instructions when it comes to speed so you're sure it doesn't go too fast.
The instructions were confusing so I recommend watching a YouTube video on how to put it together. I'm just being a little picky, though my nephew doesn't notice any of this, and he's obsessed with it. I'm officially the favorite and my sisters are jealous.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
Assembly was fast, and although some people complained about it I didn't have issues with it. It runs smoothly, and the safety features are an added benefit. The harness is a nice plus. The doors don't open if your kid leans against it, you actually have to slide a switch to open it and then shove it closed. I don't think the battery life is that great. I barely got a half an hour out of it. I did contact the seller about this, and they said it can go up to 45 minutes when it's fully charged but it will depend on things like the surface you're using it on and the weight of the child. I don't really believe that, since my son doesn’t weigh that much, and we only used it on smooth floor, and didn't even get 30 minutes. That's the main reason I'm only giving this four stars instead of five. Overall, my child loves it so I love it and I do appreciate that the seller had good customer service. I'm most likely going to buy another one for my niece.
MY NEIGHBOR'S REVIEW:
I love how cute this is and that the assembly was so easy. I'm really bad at putting things together, but I still managed to do this on my own. and it only took 20 minutes. My daughter's last one was from Walmart and it was a red Mercedes and this one is 15 times better. I love how the remote is so helpful, and that I can drive the car for her. My toddler thinks that I'm an Uber driver, but I think it's funny. The seatbelt and music are an added benefit, and I like how the battery isn't underneath the seat, so I don't need to take the seat out to charge it, it's in front of the seat. To be fair I only put it together a few hours ago so we'll see how it ends up doing overtime but I will definitely update this review. Either way I'm very happy with this so far. — Braxton Smith
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns