The best remote controlled cars in the UK 2023

No matter if you are an adult or a child, remote control cars are a lot of fun, whether you use them on the road or off. There are many models available on the market, and you'll have no trouble finding the right remote control car for you or your kids. Read our guide to learn more about these little gems.

SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car 1
9/10

Best value for money

SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car

The best remote control car

This small car is equipped with a rechargeable battery. It can also perform a 180° rotation and 360° tilt. It also has an easy-to-use 2.4 GHz remote control that has no signal interference.

22,39 £ on Amazon

This little car is equipped with improved rubber tires. It is a TRP rubber. With this tire, the car offers a stable grip on surfaces and better control on lawns, beaches, outdoor parks and indoor carpet. The battery power is 4.8V 700mAh and you can use two 1.5V AA batteries for the remote control. The charging time of this little car is 3 to 4 hours and the playing time is 25-30 minutes. You can drive around with other RC cars without any interference, because the frequency of this remote control car is 2.4GHz with a control distance of 60m.

The main advantage of this little car is that it has a 4WD drive system and you will be able to connect it with a USB cable as well to charge it. But be careful, the cable must be an original one otherwise it will not pick up. And it should be noted that the charging device must meet the parameters: output voltage 5V and current less than 2 A.

Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White 2
7/10

Best value for money

Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White

The best entry-level remote control car

Ford and Shelby are synonymous with high performance. Bburago and Maisto Tech bring you the high performance Mustang in a beautiful radio control replica at an affordable price.

15,99 £ on Rakuten

Here you have a very faithful replica of the famous Ford Shelby GT350. It is a replica produced under official license and you can only appreciate the quality of the work for the reproduction of this mythical car.

This radio controlled car has a scale of 1/24. It has been manufactured in an elegant and robust plastic. It comes with a gun control that has a range of 10 m. The car can go up to 5.8 km/h and is battery operated (2 x AAA). If you are looking to give an original gift, this very detailed RC car model will be perfect: it is intended for a child from 8 years and adults.

VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car 3
9/10

Best premium value for money

VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car

The best high-end remote control car

It is a small all-terrain car with a speed of 52 km/h. It is a 2.4 GHz 4WD track. It can be very well for children, but most of the time, it is the grown-ups who use it most for racing.

104 £ on Amazon

The brushless motor in this little car gives it incredible power. It is faster and more durable with a lifespan 2 to 3 times that of the brush motor. Its energy consumption is only 1/3 of that of the brush motor. This car is equipped with the latest 4-wheel drive independent shock absorber technology suitable for off-roading and 2.4 GHz radio technology with a range of 60 meters or 196 feet.

The scale of this small car is 1:16 and its dimensions 30 * 23.5 * 12.5 cm (11.5 * 9.25 inches * 4.92 inches). Its battery is rechargeable lithium-ion 7.4V 1000mAh and the transmitter can be recharged by 3 AA batteries of 1.5 V (not included). As a function, the car can perform forward, backward, left turn, right turn, drift, brake and it can climb over obstacles.

Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3 4
8/10

The best alternative choice

Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3

The best alternative remote control car

If your child is a fan of the Cars cartoon, this Flasc McQueen replica is sure to please. It is stylish, sturdy, easy to handle and has a scale of 1/24.

79,20 £ on Amazon
Buying guide • November 2023

Best remote controlled car

Any specific needs?

The best remote control car

The best entry-level remote control car

The best high-end remote control car

The best alternative remote control car

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best remote controlled cars

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE ALTERNATIVE
SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car 5
9/10
Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White 6
7/10
VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car 7
9/10
Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car
Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White
VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car
Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3
This small car is equipped with a rechargeable battery. It can also perform a 180° rotation and 360° tilt. It also has an easy-to-use 2.4 GHz remote control that has no signal interference.
Ford and Shelby are synonymous with high performance. Bburago and Maisto Tech bring you the high performance Mustang in a beautiful radio control replica at an affordable price.
It is a small all-terrain car with a speed of 52 km/h. It is a 2.4 GHz 4WD track. It can be very well for children, but most of the time, it is the grown-ups who use it most for racing.
If your child is a fan of the Cars cartoon, this Flasc McQueen replica is sure to please. It is stylish, sturdy, easy to handle and has a scale of 1/24.
Remote control car type allien
Faithful replica of a mythical car
Powerful speed and anti-shock system
Super light and ultra strong remote control car
Frequency of 2.4Ghz without interference with other frequencies
Rechargeable battery power + 2 AA1.5V batteries
Control distance to 60m
Full driving function
25 to 30 minutes of autonomy
Easy-to-handle remote control
Suitable for children and adults
Car can rotate 360

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Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!

Buying guide - remote controlled car

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How to choose your remote controlled car

#1 - The battery

The key factor to consider is battery life. Also, take a look at the charging time of all cars with rechargeable batteries. The last thing you want is to have to stop in the middle of a race to recharge the car's battery every 20 minutes.

Some of the best remote control cars come with multiple batteries, so you (or your child) can keep driving while the second battery charges. The best single batteries can last up to an hour.

#2 - Upgrading

Likesmartphones that get a new version almost every year, remote control cars can also get updates from yearto year.Make sure the RC car you want to buy has an upgrade feature, that you know what upgrades are available and how they work.

#3 - Maintenance

The way a car is maintained will be one of the factors to consider when buying a remote control car. A car that requires too much maintenance will not be easy to use. So make sure when you buy the RC car that you don't have to service it after every run. Also, make sure it is not too fragile or it will be damaged at the first maintenance.

#4 - Age range

Remote control cars come with a variety of features. Simple cars with easy-to-use controllers tend to work best for young children. Basic remote controls may have only one or two trigger buttons. These remote control cars are designed to help young children improve their motor skills.

More complex cars with higher speeds and more complicated controllers are better suited for teens or adults who enjoy cars. With the more advanced remote control cars, experienced drivers can take them to a variety of terrains for races. It's even possible to go professional.

#5 - Handling

The ease of use of the car depends on the remote control. Typically, the remote control has at least two cranks: one to manage speed and the other for steering. If the remote control offers several levels of control, it means that the remote control car has strong maneuverability and at the same time, it offers a good grip.

How do remote control cars work?

Electric remote control cars are most commonly used by beginners. They don't require much mechanical knowledge or breaking in the engine before starting. To use, you just need to charge the battery and put the car on the road. As for maintenance, it is rather easy and generally the parts most likely to be changed are the suspensions, the chassis, the transmission or the steering components.

Thermal remote control vehicles, on the other hand, are used by model car experts, who can modify and improve their car by changing settings and parts at will. They can tinker with their engine to adapt the mini-vehicle to their driving style.

Contrary to electric remote control vehicles, the start-up of thermal vehicles requires mechanical knowledge. This is due to the fact that thermal remote control cars are dedicated to long races of 30 to 45 minutes with the use of a single fuel tank. In short, instead of charging the battery, here you use fuel like in real life.

One of the advantages of thermic cars is that the driving experience is very close to reality and that filling up the tank on a small car, seeing the exhaust and hearing the sound of acceleration gives you a huge adrenaline rush.

The different types of remote controlled cars

Off-road remote controlled vehicles

They are remote-controlled cars with all-terrain chassis. They can therefore drive on any type of terrain, even the most rugged. They can also drive on dirt or grass. Here are some examples of off-road vehicles:

  • Buggys: these are the most suitable vehicles for off-road circuits. Thanks to their lightness, their power and their off-road chassis, they can drive on the roughest tracks.
  • Truggy: they have the body of a truck with large tires.
  • Monster Trucks: These are vehicles with huge wheels. They are not as fast as all the other types of off-road vehicles, but thanks to their giant wheels, they can overcome any obstacle.

On-road remote controlled vehicles

Unlike off-roaders, these are remote-controlled cars that are meant to be driven on smooth tracks or flat tracks, paved tracks are ideal. They are specially made for roads. They can also be driven on rough terrain, but will not have the same performance as off-road remote control cars.

These small vehicles are miniatures of drift cars, touring cars and single-seater racing cars. In general, these are the cars equipped with tires with little grip and are dedicated to the lovers of sliding. You can find them in Porch or Ferrari models, or Ford Mustang, etc.

Electric remote control car or electric car for kids?

Electric remote control car

Electric remote control cars are powered by electric motors and rechargeable nickel metal hydride or lithium polymer cells. These motors are small, but still powerful. There are two types, brushed and brushless motors.

Brushed motors are often installed on children's RC cars, while brushless motors are used for racing RC cars. Brushed motors are more limited in their settings and emit more heat and friction. This means that brushless motors are more powerful.

Electric car for children

These types of electric children's cars are miniature replicas that your child can ride in. Their motors are electric and are powered by a battery of accumulators called fuel cells.

These electric cars are therefore adapted to the morphology of children. They can be comfortable and drive like adults with their own vehicles. They are equipped with safety belts to ensure the safety of children but also to make the small replica realistic.

Verdict

The choice depends entirely on your taste, but the biggest difference between electric cars and electric cars for kids is that small replica cars can be driven while remote control cars are to be handled. In this buying guide, we are more interested in remote control cars because they are made for both children and adults. While children have fun discovering the features of remote control cars, adults experience driving in a different way and can race at the speed they want without fear of causing an accident.

Tips

Consider the brands

As with all electrical appliances, you should always consider the most reliable brands to avoid unpleasant surprises or disappointments. The most famous remote control car brands are: Playmobil Action 9091, Carrera RC Mario Kart, WLtoys, Top Race RC Monster Truck, etc.

Make sure you get the right scale

Remote control cars come in different sizes that correspond to scales. The most commonly used scale is 1:10. This scale means that in reality the size of the model is 10 times larger than the scale model. However, you can find very large models with ¼ or 1/5 scales. And conversely, you can also find micro cars. The 1/10 scale is a standard scale. Cars of this size are easily maneuverable and can be driven on any terrain, they are also easy to transport and repair.

Choose a remote control car with a wide range

Already a remote controlled car is great when it manages to perform the different movements you want it to do. But it would be even more than great if it could go as far as you want it to go. For this, the remote control must be able to cover a long range. Remember, the longer the range, the more possibilities.

Make sure your remote control car has spare parts

Just like full-scale cars, running out of parts is always a headache for the priority person. For this, never choose a car with an unknown brand because it will be very difficult to find spare parts afterwards. It is more interesting to choose the brands that are already known, this is to make it easier for you to find parts.

How do I make my small car faster?

If you feel that you don't realize your potential as a radio-controlled driver and in fact, it is your vehicle that is holding you back, think about changing your tires, adjusting the gear ratio, reducing the weight of your small car, improving your engine. In short, do a maintenance of your small vehicle.

FAQ

What is the best remote control car?

The best remote control car depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide for the best products out there.

Can I use two remote control cars at the same time?

It all depends on the frequency of the remotes. If you buy two cars and the frequencies of the remotes are the same, the frequencies will have interference and the cars won't work. When buying multiple remote control cars, make sure you buy one with remotes that have different frequencies. This will prevent the signals from getting mixed up.

What types of batteries do the cars take?

Batteries are usually specific to each remote control car. Most remote control cars come with rechargeable batteries. Others may simply require AA or AAA batteries. These cars do not need to be recharged, but their batteries will need to be changed frequently.

On what surfaces can the remote control cars drive?

The surfaces on which the car can run vary depending on the type and design of the car. Most have little or no problem driving on smooth interior surfaces or asphalt. But, when it comes to all "off-road" conditions, it varies specifically by car. Look for a high-end 4WD remote if you want to drive it over rough terrain, such as grass and dirt. Make sure you know where you plan to drive the car and choose a model that fits your needs.

How big are they?

As a guide, most models are "scale" models, labeled with a fraction such as 1/8, 1/10, 1/18, 1/32, but what does that mean? In simple terms, it is the size ratio to the "real" full size vehicle.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. The (almost) COMPLETE Guide to Electric RC Cars, instructables.com
  2. Buyers Guide - Best Remote Control Cars 2021, rcgeeks.co.uk
  3. Frequently Asked Questions | RCReboot, rcreboot.com
  4. A beginner's guide to buying your first RC car, motofomo.com.au
  5. Radio Control Vehicle FAQs, newbright.com
  6. 10 Best Remote Control Cars For Kids [Buying Guide] | Autowise, autowise.com
  7. Choosing Radio Control Cars, hobbyone.com.au
  8. Considerations when choosing the rc cars, mobile-sg.com
  9. Things to Consider When Buying an Off-Road Remote Control Car, hobbiesdirect.com.au
  10. Important Factors to Consider When Buying an RC Car, alterblogging.altervista.org
  11. Remote Control Cars : The reference of remote control cars ..., voitures-telecommandees.com
  12. Amazon.co.uk : remote control car, amazon.co.uk
  13. The 10 Best Remote Control Cars - Test (November ..., ecomparatif.fr
  14. Remote control cars and other vehicles - JouéClub ..., joueclub.fr
  15. Remote control car : best RC car | Comparative ..., voiture-telecommandee.net
  16. Remote control vehicles on Maxi Toys - Game Store and ..., maxitoys.fr
  17. Remote Control Vehicles : Vehicles, Circuits and Garages ..., carrefour.fr
  18. PicWicToys, picwictoys.com
  19. Remote Control Car: Comparison and Top 10 Best ..., voiture-telecommandee.fr
  20. Remote Control Cars & Electric Boats - RC Team, rcteam.fr
  21. Best Remote Control Cars Comparison 2021 ..., jejoue.fr
  22. Remote Control Cars and Radio Controls Cheap at ...., auchan.fr
  23. Remote and radio controlled cars | Black Friday fnac, fnac.com
  24. Amazon.co.uk : remote control car all terrain, amazon.co.uk
  25. ≡ Best Remote Control Car → Comparative | Best ..., selectronic.fr
  26. Remote Control Car the site to choose and buy a ..., voiture-radiocommandee.net
  27. Model RC : Electric and Thermal RC Cars, modelisme-rc.net
  28. What is the best remote control car, 20minutes.fr
  29. The Best Remote Control Car 2021 [Comparative & Test], selectos.eu
  30. Remote Control Car 100 km h - Cdiscount, cdiscount.com
  31. Remote Control Car - Breizh Modelisme, breizh-modelisme.com
  32. TEST & REVIEW : Remote Control Car, voiture-telecommandee.net
  33. Remote Control Cars - Vehicles, Circuits & Toys ..., king-jouet.com
  34. Remote Control Car | Car-Kids, car-kids.fr
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

See more
Our selection
SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car 9
SGILE -RC Remote Control Car - 4WD Stunt Car
Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White 10
Bburago-Maisto - M81088 - Ford Shelby GT350 - Radio Controlled - Scale 1/24 - White
VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car 11
VATOS - Brushless Remote Control Car
Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3 12
Dickie Voiture Radio Contrôle Rayon McQueen de Cars 3

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