For the young vehicle aficionado, you’ll know that everything must be car-related at all times.
Every piece of clothing, every book and every toy must be all about cars - a simple walk down the street invites all kinds of questions and comments about every single vehicle that passes by.
That’s why there’s truly no better gift for a car-loving child than their very own electric car. Suitable for kids of two or three upwards, you can buy mini replicas of vehicles you’d see on the street, from fancy sports cars and hefty tractors to flashing police vans and speedy motorcycles.
The best kids’ electric cars will allow young children to exercise the independence they so crave. They can sit in their very own driver’s seat, accelerate or reverse at will, learn to turn corners and even control accessories such as the radio, the headlights and the horn.
Electric cars come at a variety of prices, but they aren’t just a luxurious, frivolous gift. Using an electric car can teach children a whole range of skills, including road safety, consideration for others and how to take care of their possessions. Getting to grips with the challenges of an electric ride-on car can help to promote motor skill development, spatial awareness, and imaginative play, too
Safety-wise, parents should always supervise the use of the cars. They should come equipped with a seatbelt, and most will have either remote controls or push handles so that parents can operate the vehicles themselves (handy if your child hasn’t quite mastered the concept of a brake yet).
A word of advice before you buy: the cars come flat-packed, and take around half an hour to put together. So if your kids are blessed with the typical impatience of children, we advise building it, charging it and making sure it all works well before surprising them with it to avoid any tantrums when they see a giant box without a fully-fledged car inside.
How we tested
We tested out a variety of kids’ ride-on electric cars in all shapes, sizes and budgets. We took into account aesthetics, functions and value for money, and put our mini-testers to work trying them out both indoors and outdoors, so that you can make sure you find the perfect kids’ electric car for you.
Best kids’ electric cars at a glance:
- Best for wow factor: Kids Lamborghini Veneno 12v Ride on Electric Car with Remote- £164.99, Amazon
- Best for pushing your kids in: XOOTZ Land Rover Sport SVR Kids' Electric Ride-On Car- £209.99, Currys
- Best for if you’re short on space: Electric Ride On Police Truck-£59.99, Electric Ride On Cars
- Best for a great all-rounder: Kids Mercedes GT R AMG 12v Electric Ride-on Car with Parent Remote - £109.99, Amazon
- Best for tractor obsessives: Ride On Electric Tractor Trailer Green- £199.99, The Entertainer
- Best for affordability: Hyper Jaguar F-Type 6V Powered Vehicle - Blue- £135, Argos
- Best for bubble lovers: Wilko Toyrific Electric Ride On Fire Engine - £124, Wilko
Lamborghini Kids Veneno 12v Ride on Electric Car with Remote
Best for: Wow factor
- Max speed: 7 km/h
- Suitable age: 2-6
Every time an adult drives down the road in a Lamborghini, everyone stops and stares - and there’s no difference with the kids’ version. This ride-on car is a truly spectacular creation that kids will adore. Just like the adult version, this sports car comes with plenty of luxurious perks, such as leather seats, side-opening doors and functioning lights.
Our mini testers were obsessed with the various functions, which included a setting that rocks them back and forth, and another that reads them stories out of the car’s very own integrated music system. The engine sounds are incredibly realistic too, making it a perfect buy for a mini petrolhead.
It comes with a remote control so parents can drive the car for their kids (warning: this soon becomes addictive). The seat is also big enough to fit two smaller kids side by side, and there are five colours to choose from. The only downside? You’ll be gutted you can’t get an adult-sized version for the same price.
Buy now £164.99, Amazon
XOOTZ Land Rover Sport SVR Kids' Electric Ride-On Car
Best for: Pushing your kids in
- Max speed: 1.7 mph
- Suitable age: 2+ years
For a sturdy car that looks great and has myriad clever features, look no further than the XOOTZ Land Rover Sport SVR Kids' Electric Ride-On Car. This gorgeous vehicle looks just like the swanky Land Rover Sports cars you’ll see on the roads. It comes with so many features your kids will love: its own foot pedal, horn and headlights, and the standout for our little testers, a built-in music player with an aux input so they can blast their favourite tunes.
It can take a little bit of time for a child to master driving their very own car, meaning your furniture and doorways may get a bit bumped and scratched on the way. We loved the fact that this ride-on car comes with a push handle, meaning parents who find remotes tricky can indulge in some backseat driving and take more control over the vehicle, whether your child is driving it in the house, garden or park.
Buy now £209.99, Currys
Electric Ride On Police Truck
Best for: If you’re short on space
- Max speed: around 2-3 mph
- Suitable age: 2-4
If you have a young motorhead who wants to drive their own vehicle, but doesn’t have a lot of space to store a large ride-on car, this electric ride-on police truck from kids’ car gurus Electric Ride On Cars is a great compromise that’s wallet-friendly too.
On the smaller and more affordable end of the spectrum, it’s a great starter vehicle for younger children, that can be used electrically or manually by them kicking their feet. Our young testers loved the realistic engine noises and smaller size, with younger toddlers finding it easy to manoeuvre. Plus, it comes with lots of police stickers so your child can “pimp their ride” as they see fit.
Buy now £59.99, Electric Ride On Cars
Mercedes Kids GT R AMG 12v Electric Ride-on Car with Parent Remote
Best for: A great all-rounder
- Max speed: 3-5km/h
- Suitable age: 2-5
The Kids Mercedes GT R AMG 12v Electric Ride-on Car with Parent Remote ticks lots of our boxes. Well-priced? Tick. Available in several colours? Tick. Stylish design? Tick. Super realistic dashboard? Tick.
This convertible Mercedes was a hit with our mini tester, who found it easy to drive, even around tricky corners, and who enjoyed the sounds, using the integrated radio and beeping the horn. There’s a remote control so parents can drive the vehicle themselves. This car also gets brownie points for being the easiest of the bunch to build - so it’s a good option for the less DIY-savvy among us.
Buy now £109.99, Amazon
The Entertainer Ride On Electric Tractor Trailer Green
Best for: Tractor obsessives
- Max speed: 5km/h
- Suitable age: 3-8 years
Many toddlers are obsessed with inexplicable things: carrying spoons everywhere they go, only drinking from cups of a certain colour, or, in many cases, talking about tractors every waking minute of the day. If you have a young tractor fanatic at home, blow their mind with this very realistic child-sized version, which is available in four different colours.
The largest of all the cars we tested out, this tractor is a giant statement that kids will become obsessed with. It has plenty of features to impress even the fussiest of children, including an integrated music player and a trailer they can remove and empty. Kids can either ride it themselves, indoors or outdoors, or parents can control it with the included remote. Extra points are given for the super-realistic and varied tractor sounds.
Buy now £199.99, The Entertainer
Hyper Jaguar F-Type 6V Powered Vehicle - Blue
Best for: Affordability
- Max speed: 1.9mph
- Suitable age: 3+
After a large, impressive ride-on car but don’t want to break the bank? The Hyper Jaguar F-Type 6V Powered Vehicle from Argos is reasonably priced, while matching up to the rest of the market in terms of size and aesthetics.
Our little testers adored the accelerator and reversing feature, pressing the horn and opening the doors and boot, while our adult testers enjoyed trying out the parent-controlled remote perhaps more than they should have.
Buy now £135.00, Argos
Wilko Toyrific Electric Ride On Fire Engine
Best for: Bubble lovers
- Top speed: 2.5 km/h
- Suitable ages: 3-6
This eye-catching fire engine is packed with features kids will adore. Not only is it instantly recognisable as a fire truck with its traffic-stopping red colour, but it has realistic siren sounds, flashing lights and a moveable ladder at the back. With both forward and reverse gears, it’s a doddle for kids to drive with the foot pedal and steering wheel.
But the real standout feature - that, warning, you’ll struggle to drag your kids away from - is the included bubble gun that kids can operate themselves, which will provide endless hours of fun putting out pretend fires. We also loved that it’s a more compact size, making it a good option for those who are short on space. Points are also awarded for presentation - it comes in a bright, exciting box, making it great for gifting.
Buy now £124.00, Wilko
Verdict
Kids and adults alike will be blown away by the style and features of the Kids Lamborghini Veneno 12v Ride on Electric Car. In terms of sturdiness and features, we also particularly loved the XOOTZ Land Rover Sport SVR Kids' Electric Ride-On Car.
