The best RC cars for Christmas 2023
RC cars can make a great gift for someone (or yourself) for Christmas!
...if you pick the right style of car for where it is going to be driven. If the car is going to be driven at a bmx track or a park, then a drift car isn't going to be a great choice. But if you've got a huge concrete driveway, it's time to get sideways, Tokyo style. You're really going to want some dirt and gravel for your monster trucks and buggies, or at least some super-short grass to put your home-made jumps on. Maybe you even have a local RC track to cut some laps at, like the Geelong RC Racers.
As I wrote in another article four (FOUR!?) years ago: "Complaining that a crawler is too slow or a drifter can’t handle gravel is like saying a sandwich is terrible at being a shoe. It was just never supposed to be.
But a good car? A good car is one that does what it is supposed to do and does it well."
So without further dudes, here's some Christmas-budget-friendly cars and trucks that we think are the best options to get this Christmas.
Kyosho 1/10 Fazer Mk2 on-road cars
Like realistic model cars, except they are RC as well.
Every car on this list comes with a battery and charger so that they are truly ready to run. But there's one car I simply had to mention, even though you'll need to drop another $100 to $150 on a battery and charger to get to actually drive it. This list won't feel right if I don't recommend any one of the magnificent on-road or drift cars based on the stunning Fazer mk2 chassis by Kyosho. The options start with the drift-Supra at around $350.
There's also a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, El Camino, Subaru Impreza, Pontiac GTO, Chevelle, Drift Mustang GTR, Camaro, Charger, Renault Alpine, Mercedes AMG, Toyota Tundra, and the range-topping so-detailed-you-won't-want-to-drive-it Skyline 2000. These cars are faster than their brushed motors would suggest, easily topping 40km/h with a 2s lipo battery.
They drive and handle so well, and they are so well made, that many RC clubs are running one-make racing classes featuring the Fazer mk2.
Sure, you gotta get a separate battery and charger, but who cares when the cars look this good?
Pros
- Really, really, ridiculously good looking
- Top speed of 42km/h-ish
- Great handling, even on wet roads
- Seriously tough parts
- Very easy to tinker with and work on
- Fantastically good range from the included Futaba-based radio system
- So many body style options
Cons
- They are so well detailed and pretty that you won't want to actually drive it in case it gets scratched, leading you to develop an irrational fear of small stones
Xinlehong 1/16 Spirit Electric 4WD Off Road RC Monster Truck
This little guy is the smaller brother of the 9125, but don't let the size fool you!
The 9130 Spirit, is small, so it can be driven in smaller areas. It's also tough; it doesn't appear to weigh enough to really hurt itself. Sure, you can brake stuff if you really send it, but the cheap price of parts and how easy the car is to work on makes it a winner in my books. Up and running, the Xinlehong 9130 Spirit will set you back less than $125 (and that's including buying 3x AA batteries for the remote; the only thing the car doesn't already have!
Get ready for some fast (36km/h to be exact) off-road action with the Xinlehong 1/16 4WD electric truck! Don't be fooled, this may have the price of a toy but it's a whole lot more! Featuring IPX4 waterproofing, ball bearings, 2.4Ghz remote controller, 7.4v lithium battery - the list goes on!
This little beast can drive over mowed grass, gravel, dirt, and on-road surfaces making it super versatile.
Introducing...BlackZon!
That's actually a pretty cool name.
BlackZon is one of the newest beginner-friendly entry-level RC brands on the market. Like Maverick before them, BlackZon are under the HPI Racing banner of brands representing some of the best value, and quality products available.
The BlackZon Slyder is a tough, reliable little Radio Control car that's easy and fun to drive. It's new big brother, the Smyter, adds in even more power and ground clearance for serious off-road adventuring!
Both vehicles are equipped with LED lights, making them great for driving during the sunset hours, and both the Slyder and Smyter have waterproof electronics, so don't let puddles or rain stop the fun!
The top speed of a Blackzon Slyder is about 30km/h, which feels plenty fast for such a small car. For those who are new to RC, you have the option of dialing down the speed on the controller of both cars to reduce the top speed while you master the driving conditions.
Check out the full BlackZon lineup here!
ARRMA 1/10 Gorgon 2WD Electric RTR RC Monster Truck
Jumps and stunts for all!
The ARRMA GORGON MT is a 1/10 scale monster truck designed for robustness and high performance. Fully assembled and ready to go, this RC vehicle is ideal for beginners and seasoned hobbyists alike. Its affordability and ease of upgrade with LiPo batteries and brushless motors make it a versatile choice. The GORGON MT doesn't require any additional features to grab attention. It comes in red or fluorescent yellow, boasting colour-matched parts and durable graphics. Its rugged build includes a composite chassis and impact-resistant bumpers.
ARRMA 1/18 Granite Grom Mega 380 4WD Electric RTR RC Monster Truck
Awesome things come in small packages.
The GRANITE™ GROM 4X4 Monster Truck by ARRMA® is a fun-sized, tough, and ready-to-run RC vehicle. It’s small, durable, and perfect for bashing anywhere, anytime. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, it fits into your lifestyle. It’s engineered to high standards like larger ARRMA vehicles and has a clipless body mount design for easy removal.
The ARRMA GRANITE GROM 4X4 Monster Truck withstands any punishment. It has impact-absorbing bumpers and a strong composite chassis. Its 4WD transmission with metal gears powers the MEGA 380 brushed motor. The Spektrum™ SX110 steering servo is waterproof, like the IC2® connector-equipped Spektrum SLT™ 2-in-1 25A ESC and receiver. The Spektrum 2.4GHz SLT2™ transmitter helps beginners learn control skills by limiting the truck’s speed. Recharging the included battery is easy with the supplied charger. The truck body comes in three-colour schemes, and upgrade parts are available to enhance its capabilities.
Take advantage of small scale value and versatility with the GRANITE GROM 4X4 Monster Truck RTR, and experience ARRMA RC bashing excellence for yourself.
Xinlehong 1/10 Sprint 4WD Truck
For beginners on a budget.
There's one car at Hobbies Direct that I can't imagine anyone not having fun with, and it's from budget-friendly brand Xinlehong, henceforth referred to as XLH. Aside from some AA batteries for the remote controls, the rather brilliant 9125 Sprint comes completely ready to run (RTR) with an included battery and USB charger.
It's smooth, easy to control, and a blast to drive for anyone of any age or skill level, all the way up to the advertised 46km/h top speed. If you had a Remote Controlled Car years ago and want to get back into it, if you haven't had one before and are keen, or even if you know nothing about them and want to see how a modern Remote Control car performs, XLH has the 1/10 Sprint 4x4 ready to go whenever you are.
Pros:
Top speed of 46kph
4WD
7.4v LiPo battery
IPX4 waterproof
50% low speed mode for beginners
Replacement spare parts available and are cheap
Cons:
Very few upgrade parts available
USB charger (no 240v wall plug)
The only, and I mean only, criticism I have for all Xinlehong cars is that they aren't *quite* Hobby Grade. They are the best semi-hobby grade/really-really-good toy grade cars ever. All this means is that a lot of the electronics and parts are not of an industry-standard size or fitment, so when it comes to parts, you are pretty much locked in to XLH factory parts. Granted their parts are super cheap, and the cars themselves are tougher than you might think, but what if I want to upgrade or customize?
HSP 2WD Range (Storm, Crusher, Viper, Mongoose)
Best value true hobby grade RC.
By far the best value, true Hobby-Grade cars are the excellent 2 wheel drive off-road cars from HSP - both the $200-ish brushed models and the $300-ish high performance brushless BL models. We've got a youtube video here where I go on a bit of a rant about how good these cars are, but these cars are such good value it really deserves to be repeated.
The Mongoose, Viper, Storm and Crusher are all based around the same chassis, so the same electronics, gearbox, steering, suspension, everything under the shell is the same. The cars are morphed into their different forms by different wheels and body shells.
This doesn't mean they all drive the same though - The Mongoose is the best on hard, grippy surfaces. The Viper the best at gravel, Storm thoroughly enjoys short grass, and the Crusher kind of just bounces its way over anything in a chaotic-but-fun level of uncontrollability.
Add in the fact that they are super-easy to repair when you crash too hard, and easily upgradable thanks to being full Hobby-Grade in their design, the HSP 2WD cars are some of the best value cars on the market.
Pros
- Top speed of 30km/hh, or 55km/h for the brushless models
- Powerful brushed XL 550 brushed motor or 3652 size brushless motor
- 30 minute run time
- Full ball bearings
- Steel driveshafts & axles
- All standard & optional parts available
Cons
- Some plastic drivetrain gears (steel upgrade gears available as an optional part)
- Steering servo has plastic gears (upgradable)
For more info on the HSP 2WD cars, click the respective links below:
Brushed Cars:
Brushless Cars:
Traxxas 1/10 XL-5 2WD Electric Off Road Cars
The best parts support in the industry.
Finally, just barely sneaking in under budget, is a couple of 2wd brushed XL-5 Traxxas cars, the Bandit and the Rustler. Fine, I'll even let the Slash get in on this too. Just pretend we had a 10% off coupon or something.
Let's get something not-so-good out of the way before we get to all the good points - the included charger. It will only run off a 12v socket, like the one found in your real car. This is fine, I guess, but you also can't have the engine running while charging, so forget charging the battery on the way to your local track. Technically though, it is an included charger, and it does get you up and running, so points for that.
Why these cars are on this list though, is not because of what they come with, but what you can get for them: parts. Any halfway-decent Hobby Shop on the planet has Traxxas spare parts. There's also aftermarket companies if your local has sold out of oem parts. RPM, GPM, Yeah Racing, Pro-Line, Power HD, Hobbywing, Louise, and more are there to help should you need something to get your Traxxas back up and running, so you'll never be out of action for too long.
The latest versions of these cars come with a new, strengthened gearbox called the Magnum 272R and LED Head and Tail Lights, and retain all the great handling, tough materials, and perfect quality control that has made Traxxas famously the go-to for generations of RC fans' first cars.
Pros
- Industry leading parts support, both factory parts and aftermarket
- Top speed of 45kph
- 7-cell 3000mah 8.4v nimh battery
- 2s lipo compatible (battery and charger sold separately)
- 550 size 12 turn motor
- 50% throttle mode for beginners
- LEDs…
Cons
- …but they aren't remotely switchable
- I don't like the DC charger
UDI 1/16 Brushed Drift/Touring cars
Garage drifter and budget racer.
There's another smaller-scale car on this list, this one really shines in a garage or smooth driveway. UDI have a few cars in their 1/16 scale range, which are all the exact same thing underneath.
Underneath being a 4 wheel drive touring car chassis with stability control, and a choice of either rubber or hard plastic drift tyres for each model. With 6 different body styles to choose from, your garage, some traffic cones, and 5 mates is all that stands in the way of you creating your own miniature race event. These are some of the best RC cars to drive with friends on a rainy day.
Pros
- 6 different body styles on the same chassis
- Remotely switchable LED headlights (I'm seeing a pattern here)
- Adjustable stability control makes drifting easy
- Ball bearings
- Both grip and drift wheels included
- Replacement spare parts available
Cons
- Few upgrade parts available
- USB charger (no 240v wall plug)
HSP Flying Fish 1/10 Drift Car
For those who love going sideways, tinkering, and tuning.
If you want to get even more into going sideways and tweaking and adjusting geometry and suspension components, HSP's venerable Flying Fish drift car is sure to satisfy every drift addict that craves a tunable platform.
All drift cars have inherently long run times, thanks to the almost totally grip-free tyres that allow you to slide around on smooth surfaces. The Flying Fish though, doesn't seem to realise that grip-free fact and will still wind it's way up to 30+ km/h…eventually. This makes it an absolute blast to hoon around tennis courts and parking lots - and the Hobbies Direct warehouse after hours.
Pros
- Metal 4WD drivetrain
- Ball bearings
- Adjustable oil filled shocks
- Adjustable toe and camber
- 30+ minute run time
- All standard & optional parts available
- ~1hr charging time
Cons
- Low ground clearance and is unable to go on rough terrain
Tamiya 1/10 TT-02 Electric RC Car Kit - any of them really.
The shaft-driven 4WD TT-02 chassis employs a longitudinal layout with the battery on the left and the motor on the right, to give excellent stability. In addition, it features identical left and right suspension arms and uprights for ease of assembly, plus easy-to-maintain gearboxes. It is a highly adaptable chassis, as it offers 2 different wheelbases, 2 ground clearance settings and 2 tread set-ups in addition to a range of 10 possible gear ratios. It is not short on looks either, with brake disc-shaped wheel hubs and stylish front bumper supports. Black mesh-type rims are paired with racing slick tyres. Or in the case of the TT-02D variant, hard plastic drift tyres.
Check them all out here!
If you want to go all in on a proper competition grade touring car or drift car, don't worry - XRAY and MST have got you.
Xray Model Racing Cars was established in the year 2000 by Juraj Hudy, an engineer who started with designing and building his own championship-winning slot cars in the early 70s.
Production is all inhouse - a fully unique design, administration, distribution and manufacturing facility opened in 2006 in Slovakia. Since the creation of X-Ray, the Hudy brand is now used for its own range of high quality tools and accessories.
With a design team now led by Martin Hudy - founder Juraj Hudy’s son - the company only produces competition specification cars of the finest quality.
Now known for national and world championship winning chassis across many different classes, Xray are synonymous with cutting edge performance and innovation.
MST, or Max Speed Technology is a premium-level RC company, creating some of the most impressive designs currently on the market.
Ahead of the curve in both design and performance, MST RC offers some truly high-end Rock Crawlers and Drift Cars that stand out from the crowd.
Focusing on incredibly realistic scale looks across the entire model range, MST’s body shells sit on top of state-of-the-art chassis that feature carbon fibre and reinforced plastics for both aesthetics and strength.
MST are known for their range of high performance drift cars featuring licensed shells from Toyota, Mazda and more. However, they haven’t limited themselves to just sideways or racetrack action. Their range of crawlers varies between super-realism, and full blown competition crawlers.
Check out XRay here, and MST here!
All right. Last one. Lets throw in something for the petrol heads. I know, like the others, the giant 5th scale Baja 5B doesn't really fit in with the "stocking stuffer" budget of the others. But what if you've got a mate who's birthday is in the middle of December? Combine the gifts! Solved. Even better is if you have a group of friends you can split the cost with - but then you'll all want to get one each to race each other. You've been warned.
Rovan 1/5 29cc Baja 5B 2WD Off Road Petrol RC Baja Buggy
2-stroke power!
Sick of charging your batteries or mucking around with your nitro engine? Go petrol and never look back! Cheap running costs, 40 minute run-time (on a single tank), easy to maintain and easy to start! The Baja 5B, simply the most popular 1/5 chassis to date. Compatible with 99% of the parts from the original HPI Baja 5B. Unlike the original, Rovan has pre-installed a 29cc 4-bolt petrol engine for that extra power we're all looking for!
Check out all of Rovan's cars here!
