If your kids want a real car of their own right now and not ‘when they get a little bit older’, a ride-on car is the perfect consolation.
This is a miniature kid-size car that a child can comfortably get into and ride.
They either push the car along with their feet or if the car is electric, they drive it like a normal car but at much reduced speeds. Some manual ride on cars also have pedals.
Some of these ride on cars, especially the electric ones, are almost-perfect replicas of popular cars from BMW, Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz. They are great for kids who’d love to ride their dream car.
Best ride on car for kids
1. Children’s Ride On SUV Car Toy Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS
Electric ride on Mercedes-Benz cars can be quite pricey. This manual ride on is a much more affordable option and a great gift for kids who are crazy about Mercedes-Benz cars.
It comfortably sits one kid with space underneath for them to push off the ground with their feet. So you don’t have to worry about them going too fast.
The design is quite realistic including the front grill and badge, fake vents, non-working headlights, a speedometer and a functional steering wheel that controls the front wheels.
It also comes with a horn and other fun sound effects.
Note that these sound effects require 2 AA batteries which are not included.
The car includes hidden storage under the seat where kids can stash their toys and take them for a ride.
Recommended age is 3-7 years old and the max weight limit is 23kg.
Why we love it:
- Affordable – great for parents/grandparents looking for a budget gift.
- Easy and fun to ride.
- Fun extras including horn, sound effects and hidden storage.
2. Milly Mally 3-in-1 Happy Ride On Car
This is the best choice if you are looking for a ride car that is fun and safe for younger kids.
The MIlly Mally 3-in-1 ride on car is designed for kids as young as 12 months and up to 36 months.
For 1 year olds who can’t yet walk properly, you can use it as a push along car. There’s a convenient handle at the rear to push the car along.
As they learn to walk, you can convert it into a walker and finally into a full ride-on car.
The ride on car comes with a couple of safety features including safety barriers, footrests and a comfortable backrest.
It requires a bit of assembly when it arrives including putting on the included stickers. It should take about half an hour.
There is a functional steering wheel, a horn and a hidden storage under the seat for their toys and stuff.
Why we love it:
- Perfect for younger users.
- Safe for toddlers and younger kids.
- Versatile 3-in-1 design.
3. Dolu My First Pedal Car
This is another great option for toddlers who are not yet ready to ride an electric ride on car.
It comes in a bright red sports car design complete with racing decals. There’s a steering wheel which kids can use to turn the front wheels, a horn and side mirrors.
There are two ways kids can ride the car.
They can use their feet, pushing them against the ground to move the car along. Or they can use the included pedal.
With either method, it’s easy for them to move forwards and backwards.
The rubber wheels are ideal for different kinds of surfaces including tiles, pavement and grass.
They are made from rubber which makes for a more comfortable ride compared to ride-on cars that use plastic wheels.
The body is made from extra-light ABS plastic. The lightweight design makes it easier and more fun for kids to ride.
The max weight limit is 20kg. So it should be good to use until around 5 years of age.
Why we love it:
- Affordable.
- Lightweight.
- Cool race car design (stickers are included).
4. Ricco S2388 Red 4×4 Kids Ride on Car with Remote Control
If you are looking for a cool electric ride on car for an older kid (2-4 years), this is a great choice.
It’s much bigger than toddler ride on cars and has a much more realistic design which resembles that of a Jeep off-roader.
While the manufacturer says that it’s big enough to seat two kids, users say only one kid can sit comfortably in it.
The car is easy to ride and steer. But if your child is too young to ride it safely, use the included remote control to guide the car around.
Older kids can use the foot pedal accelerator to increase speed and the steering wheel to turn the car.
Like a real car, the Ricco S2388 has reverse, forward and neutral gears. It also comes with a horn, LED headlights and music.
If your kid gets bored with the preset music in the car, there’s an MP3 socket where you can play music from your phone or MP3 player.
The car has two powerful motors powered by a 12V battery with a total run time of around 1 hour.
The wheels are large and can move easily over any surface. They come complete with spring suspension for an extra-comfortable ride especially when going over bumpy surfaces.
The max speed is around 4.5km/h. With the remote control, you can control how fast the car moves to ensure they don’t ram into anything.
The ride on car is available in 3 colours: red, black and white.
Why we love it:
- Powerful electric ride-on car.
- Realistic design and sound effects.
- Includes remote control for safety.
5. Turbo 12v Range Rover Style Evoque Ride on Jeep Car with Parental Remote Control
If your kid’s dream car is a Range Rover, this is the perfect gift for them.
This powerful twin motor miniature Range Rover Evoque comes in three colour options: white, red and pink.
The car is an almost-perfect miniature version of a real Range Rover Evoque. Everything from the front grill to the wheels and headlights looks so realistic.
It comes with two opening doors, a light up dashboard complete with voltage display, LED lights, horn and car sound effects.
Driving it is super easy.
There is an accelerator pedal and a steering wheel to turn the car. The car can go forwards or in reverse.
For kids too young to safely steer the car, there’s an included remote control which overrides the car’s main controls and lets you control the direction of the car and how fast it goes.
Why we love it:
- Realistic design and sound effects.
- Powerful twin motors.
- Includes remote control.
How we chose the best kids ride on cars
We focused on two important factors when choosing the best ride on cars for kids: safety and fun.
Safety was an especially crucial factor for electric ride on cars which can be dangerous for kids who are not able to properly control them.
We picked electric cars that come with a remote control to allow the parent to override the car’s main controls.
As for the fun factor, we picked ride on cars that look great and are a blast to ride.
Some of the features we looked for include realistic design, stickers, colour options and sound effects.
What to consider when buying a ride on car for your kid
Focus on the two important factors we did – safety and fun – and you’ll find just the perfect ride on car for your kid or grandkid.
Here’s a breakdown of all the things to keep in mind when comparing among different types and models.
1. Electric vs. Manual
Before you even start shopping, decide which type of ride on car you want to get. There are two main types: electric and manual.
With a manual ride on car, a child has to either pedal or push their feet off the ground to move the car.
Manual ride on cars have a simple design and are usually quite affordable. Most have slots for AA batteries to power extra features such as lights and sound effects.
Manual ride on cars are the best for toddlers (1-3 years) and for parents looking for an inexpensive gift.
The biggest advantage of a manual toy car is that they can enjoy it all day without having to recharge it.
The obvious downside is that they are not very fast and require effort to ride – but that’s part of the fun.
Electric ride on cars have rechargeable batteries which power a motor (or motors).
The toy car comes with some of the controls of a real car including an accelerator pedal, steering wheel and reverse.
While they are tons of fun, electric ride on cars are expensive with most costing well over £100. The batteries also need to be recharged after around 1 hour of use.
2. Design
Next, decide what car design your kid would love.
Are they crazy for race cars? Do they have a favourite car brand like Range Rover or Jeep?
Cheaper manual ride on cars come with simpler designs. They are also smaller and lighter to make them easier to ride.
Most electric ride on cars are smaller versions of popular car models such as Jeep Wrangler, Ford Ranger and Range Rover. They look very realistic.
Also keep in mind your kid’s favourite colour. Chances are that your toy car of choice comes in several colour options.
3. Fun
Get a ride on car that your kid will enjoy playing with.
This means getting something that is appropriate for their age.
A 2 year old will not have a lot of fun trying to figure out how an electric Jeep car works. A 5 year old on the other hand may find a basic ride on car boring.
Some of the fun features to look for include;
- Stickers and decals
- Horn and sound effects
- Music
- Hidden storage for their toys
- Lights
4. Safety
Finally consider how safe your kid will be riding the car.
If you are getting it for a 1 year old, make sure it has safety barriers to keep the child from falling out. For 2 and 3 year olds, check that the toy car is not too heavy for them.
If you decide to get an electric ride on car, make sure it comes with a remote control. This lets you control the car safely while your kid is in it.
