The 10 Best RC Cars
Updated by · How we research
Ten hobby-grade and toy RC cars and trucks compared on parts support, speed and what's missing from the box. The Traxxas Slash 2WD Brushless leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Ready to run doesn't always mean ready to drive: many hobby-grade RC trucks from the best-known brands arrive without a battery or charger, and those add real cost. Hobby-grade cars use replaceable parts and proportional radios, while toy-grade ones are cheap and hard to fix. This list covers both, for first-time drivers, backyard bashers and young kids.
At a Glance
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Traxxas Slash 2WD Brushless now leads this list. A rear-drive truck with parts in nearly every hobby shop is the safest first hobby buy, and a long-term family review backs that up.
None of the old picks made it through. The Arrma Granite V3, Losi Mini-T 2.0, Traxxas Rustler, Arrma Typhoon V3 Mega and Traxxas XO-1 are no longer sold in the versions we listed, the Arrma Notorious and Orrente 360-Degree listings are gone, the Hosim 9156 listing now sells a different truck, and the Midea Tech Lamborghini Sesto Elemento was an old toy.
The new list follows what readers look for: a first hobby truck, small and big bashers, a crawler, cheap trucks that still use hobby parts, and the Monster Jam 1:24 RC for young kids. The most useful evidence was what Traxxas and Arrma leave out of the box, since several of the best-known trucks ship without a battery or charger.
Earlier notes
April 30, 2021, by Christopher Thomas:
As is usual with products like RC cars and drones, even the best models are refreshed from time to time, so most of our best suggestions are new or significantly upgraded. This includes the Arrma Granite V3, which offers excellent value for bashing, and the Losi Mini-T 2.0, which is relatively small and a ton of fun to zip around parking lots and mild off-road terrain. The Arrma Typhoon V3 Mega and Traxxas Rustler are a touch more expensive, and if you really want to bash with the best, the Arrma Notorious is difficult to beat.
If you're buying for a novice, we recommend the Hosim 9156 as an entry-level hobby-grade model. Alternatively, young children will love the Orrente 360-Degree, which has a bit of a learning curve but is a lot of fun and also hard to break. The Midea Tech Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is another small and inexpensive option that can occupy the kids for a while, although it's not suitable for any kind of off-roading.
January 4, 2020, by Brett Dvoretz:
Revisiting this list after our last update two years ago, we learned that many of our previous recommendations were no longer available. We also decided to completely revamp our selections to focus mostly on hobby-grade models, since we feel anyone looking for the best RC cars will want something a bit better than what you can find at your local Wal-Mart. However, just to be sure there is at least something to suit every need, we did still include the Midea Tech Lamborghini Sesto Elemento and Hosim All-Terrain Buggy, which are both reasonably priced, and, while not hobby-grade, slightly better than the average toy-grade model.
If speed is what you are after, there is no better option than the Traxxas XO-1. Touted as being the fastest production RC car, it can cruise at speeds in excess of 60 MPH right out of the box, and with the addition of 3s LiPo batteries, it can get up to 100 MPH in less than five seconds. If you can't quite stomach the high price tag though, the Traxxas Slash 4x4 Platinum Edition and Arrma Typhoon 3S BLX should satisfy most speed demons for a considerably more palatable price. These two models also have the added benefit of being able to take on some rougher terrain than the XO-1. Of course, if you really want to tackle rugged off-road trails, you are better off with a rock crawler or RC truck.
If drifting around turns is how you get your kicks, you'll want to look to the Redcat Racing EPX, Traxxas LaTrax Rally, and Exceed DriftStar 350 Carbon Red, all of which come with slick tires specifically for that purpose.
Of all the models on our list, the Kyosho Inferno GT2 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the largest, built to 1/8 scale. Right out of the box it runs at about 35 MPH, but can reach well over that after some modifications. It is nitro-powered too, so you'll never have to worry about running out of juice while on the track and having to wait hours to recharge the battery.
Special Honors
Tamiya America Tamiya sells RC car kits that you build yourself from a box of parts, a slower, build-first way into the hobby than a ready-to-run truck. Most kits leave out the radio, battery, charger and paint, so the full cost runs higher than the kit price. Its range covers buggies, touring cars and trucks, and the instructions are known for being clear. tamiyausa.com
Hobby Grade Or Toy, And What Ready To Run Leaves Out
Toy-grade cars cost far less, but when something cracks, the whole car is usually done.
Hobby-grade cars are built to be fixed. Arms, shocks, gears and motors come apart with ordinary tools, and parts for the big brands sit in hobby shops and online. The Drive put parts support near the top of its own list of what matters, after watching a Traxxas Slash survive years of family use (The Drive). Toy-grade cars cost far less, but when something cracks, the whole car is usually done.
Ready to run, or RTR, means the car comes built with a radio. It doesn't always mean a battery and charger are in the box. Traxxas sells the Slash 2WD Brushless without either, and Horizon Hobby lists the battery and charger as extras on the Arrma Mojave Grom and Arrma Senton 4x4. A UK hobby retailer gives the same warning about many higher-end models (RC Geeks). Budget-brand trucks usually include batteries, which is part of why they look cheap.
Scale tells you size. One-tenth scale is the common full-size hobby truck, good for parks and big yards. One-sixteenth and one-eighteenth trucks suit smaller yards and cost less to run, while very small cars are mostly for indoors.
Brushed Or Brushless, And What Speed Claims Mean
A brushed motor is cheaper and slower, and it's a fine start for a younger driver. A brushless motor is stronger, more efficient and lasts longer, which is why it costs more (RC Geeks).
Top speed depends on the battery as much as the motor. Arrma rates its 223S trucks at more than 35 mph on a two-cell lithium pack and more than 50 mph on a three-cell pack (Horizon Hobby: Arrma Quake 223S). Traxxas rates the Slash 2WD Brushless at 35-plus mph on a nickel-metal-hydride pack (Traxxas). Treat any figure as the maker's best case. Watch the units on budget trucks, too: many quote kilometers per hour, so a 48 km/h claim is about 30 mph.
For a new driver, speed you can turn down matters more than speed on paper. Arrma's 223S trucks pair a stability system with a throttle limit on the radio, and some budget brushless trucks ship with a speed cap that the owner unlocks later. One hobby-shop review found the Mojave Grom steady on dirt and grass, with a chassis that took jumps well (RC Visions).
Batteries, Safe Charging And Where To Drive
Most hobby trucks run on lithium polymer (LiPo) packs, which hold a lot of energy in a small space. Charge them with a charger made for LiPo, on a surface that can't burn, ideally inside a fire-resistant bag, and never leave a pack charging alone. Stop using any pack that swells, gets punctured or smells hot. Speed controls can fail too: in 2016 Traxxas recalled about 4,900 X-Maxx trucks and speed controls over a fire hazard and fixed them with new firmware and a fuse (CPSC). We found no recalls for the trucks on this list.
"Waterproof" on an RC truck means the electronics resist splashes and puddles, not that the truck can be driven underwater. Dry it after a wet run, since bearings and screws can rust.
Hobby trucks are labeled for ages 14 and up, and a truck that runs past 30 mph can hurt a person or a pet. Drive in open space away from streets and parked cars. Younger kids are better served by toy-grade trucks rated for their age, such as the Monster Jam line from Spin Master.
How we researched this
We compared 20 RC cars and trucks, from toy-grade trucks to brushless hobby models. We read the makers' spec pages from Traxxas and Horizon Hobby (Arrma) for motors, drive, speed ratings and what each box leaves out, and the seller pages for budget brands. We used a long-term family review from The Drive, a hobby-shop review of the Mojave Grom and hobby forum reports for durability. We searched CPSC recall records for every brand. We found no independent test for several picks, so for those we rely on maker specs and parts support.
Sources (8)
- Traxxas: Slash 2WD Brushless
- Horizon Hobby: Arrma Mojave Grom 223S
- Horizon Hobby: Arrma Senton 4x4 223S BLX
- Horizon Hobby: Arrma Quake 223S 2WD
- The Drive: Best RC Cars
- RC Visions: Arrma Mojave Grom review
- RC Geeks: Buyer's guide to remote control cars
- CPSC: Traxxas X-Maxx and VXL-6 ESC recall (2016)
Frequently asked questions
How fast do RC cars go?
Most budget toy trucks run under 20 mph. Hobby-grade brushless trucks are rated at about 35 mph on a two-cell LiPo battery and more than 50 mph on a three-cell one. Those are the makers' best-case numbers, and a fast truck needs open space.
What else do I need to buy with an RC car?
Check the box contents. Many Traxxas and Arrma trucks need a battery and a charger bought separately, and some radios take AA batteries. A few spare parts, such as suspension arms, are worth having for a fast truck.
Is brushless or brushed better for a beginner?
Brushed trucks are cheaper and slower, which suits a young driver. A brushless truck with a power limit on the radio is a better buy for a teen or adult who will want more speed later.
Are RC cars waterproof?
Most hobby trucks have water-resistant electronics that handle puddles, wet grass and snow. They aren't made to be submerged, and they need drying afterward so bearings don't rust.
What age is right for a hobby-grade RC car?
Traxxas, Arrma and Redcat label their hobby trucks for ages 14 and up. Toy-grade trucks such as the Monster Jam line are rated for ages 4 and up.
