These Aren't Toys—the Best Adult and Hobbyist RC Cars for 2024

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This story was updated in March 2024 with new products and information.

When most of us think of RC cars, we imagine the little plastic cars and trucks that kids lose their minds over on Christmas morning and have become an afterthought (or, worse, destroyed) by the new year. There is, however, a world of radio-controlled cars that aren't toys. These things are serious; they're bigger, faster, more complex, and even sometimes powered by real fuel. These are not kids' toys—they're for teens, adults, and, more specifically, hobbyists.

Some RC cars are tuned to drift, some to wow you with face-melting speed, and some to replicate their life-size counterparts with a stunning attention to detail. With so many options out there, the Gear Team experts came together to figure out which RC cars and trucks are most worth it. These are our favorite RC cars for drifting, flat-out speed, and looks—perfect if you've got a lonely stretch of pavement that deserves some action.

Best RC Cars for Kids

Things to Consider When Buying an Adult RC Car

Adult RCs can go faster than the speed limit on a freeway and out-tough a monster truck. And they can cost plenty too. All of which makes buying an RC car for an adult a bit of a crapshoot for the uninitiated. So, here are a few things to consider when buying a remote-controlled car for a hobbyist.

Types

Just like the real car market, the RC-car market offers a variety. The first thing to consider is whether you want to go on-road or off-road. On-road cars tend to go faster—especially around corners, because the tires typically have more grip. On-road cars also include drift machines, which are designed to slide around corners. For most people, though, off-road RC cars are preferred, because they allow you to drive them in more places.

In the off-road RC realm, there are a few main body shapes, including buggies, monster trucks, and rock crawlers. A lot of the components are identical, whether it's the skeletal frame, the motor, or the suspension. But different cars have different characteristics. Monster trucks have tires sitting very wide on the car. The bigger footprint means they're less susceptible to rolling over. Buggies are great all-rounders with a low center of gravity, so they're ideal for those wanting to set a lap record. Rock climbers can clamber over all kinds of obstacles.

Scale

The size of an RC car is measured as a fraction relative to a full-size vehicle. Buying a more common scale of around 1/10th typically gives you access to more spare parts.

Speed

Modern RC cars are fast. Back around 2015, a Southern California man named Nic Case drove the fastest radio-controlled car ever recorded—a face-melting 202 mph. Thanks to improvements in battery and motor tech, Case set that record with an electric RC.

While your average toy RC car will only do a fraction of that speed, adults can easily find models that will do 50 or 60 mph. For a 1/10th-scale RC car, that equates to a scale speed of around 350 mph. Now that's face melting.

Electric vs. Fuel

There are two main types of propulsion for RC cars: fuel and batteries. Fuel RC cars are for serious hobbyists and racers only. They require a lot of maintenance and repair, just like a full-scale fuel-powered automobile. Electric RCs can go even faster than liquid-fuel cars, as evidenced by Mr. Case. RC batteries can cost $100 or more, but they're easier to maintain and simple to charge.

Electric RC car motors use either "brushed" or "brushless" motors. The terms refer to the small carbon blocks (or brushes) within the motors. Brushless motors are faster, so if budget permits, the extra expense is worth the extra fun.

Batteries

The cheapest RC batteries generally use a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) construction and cost around $30 or less. Like all batteries, they tend to degrade over time, but the affordability makes them easy to replace. But the RC market is fast moving to lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries. Typically more expensive and lighter, they can hold more energy, measured in milliampere-hours. Generally, the bigger the mAh number, the longer the drive time.

The Best Adult and Hobbyist RC Cars

Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Kit TT02

Tamiya made its first model, a replica of a Japanese battleship, in 1959 and has since been one of the leaders in replica models and RC cars and trucks. This kit comes unassembled, which we think is pretty neat, and the Martini-liveried Carrera RSR body is just icing on the cake.

The TT02 chassis includes four-wheel drive, racing tires, and a range of adjustability of things like ground clearance, wheelbase, and even gear ratios.

AK-787

The AK-787 may have drawn inspiration from Mazda's famous Group C 787 race car. While we can't say for sure, what we do know is that this ready-to-run kit shows just how impressive RC cars have become. There are too many features to list, but here are the things that matter: It has a range of about 1200 feet (four football fields), a top speed of over 120 mph, a carbon-fiber chassis, and an electrically operated liftable tail fin. All of this sounds more impressive than most real cars, and for under $500.

FCX18 Land Cruiser LC80

This officially licensed Toyota 80-series Land Cruiser has a cult following thanks to its legendary reputation for go-anywhere toughness. It features a roof rack, a snorkel, front and rear off-road bumpers, and working floodlights.

Underneath, the FCX18 chassis features components like crossbeams, suspension links, steering rods, front and rear axles, springs, and shock absorbers. Looking at the underside of this truck, we'd be surprised if you don't go full nerd the way we did. You can also opt to have the truck in blue or yellow, if you find gray a bit drab.

1/10 Super Clod Buster Limited Edition Truck Kit

The Clod Buster is one of Tamiya's best-known models, and it's easy to see why this kit has been popular for years. It features a Silverado-esque pickup-truck body with a blower and floodlights, metal trim, dual motors and gearboxes, four-wheel drive, and even four-wheel steering. This kit will require assembly, but a few hours of putting this together can teach you a lot about how these things work, and the payoff when it's done is sweet.

Lightning EPX Drift Car

The Lightning EPX Drift features aluminum-capped oil-filled shocks with selectable mounting positions, tunable four-wheel independent suspension with adjustable ride height, toe angle, and camber angle, allowing drivers to tune it for any track and driving style.

Rampage XT 1/5 Scale Gas Truck

The Rampage XT is simply insane. First of all, this thing is a massive 1/5th scale, meaning you'll need to have some serious space to run it. On top of its impressive size, it's powered by a 30-cc two-stroke gas engine that drives all four wheels. A 500-cc fuel tank feeds gas to the engine, and a dual exhaust system lets the engine breathe (yes, the truck has an actual exhaust system, and it even sounds pretty cool). The list goes on and on, but what you need to know is this truck is huge and fast, and it comes ready to run, straight out of the box.

XKS All-Terrain RC

This RC buggy loves all kinds of terrain, not just the street. With its rugged components and 20,000-rpm 550 motor, this bad boy can easily reach speeds of over 35 mph in a jiffy. Perfect on a course with a mix of pavement and bumpy stuff.

AWD RC Race Car Chassis

This chassis features the bones to achieve true speed; now you just need to buy a body, a battery, and a charger separately. Thanks to the waterproof VXL-3s electronic speed control and Velineon 3500 brushless motor, 70 mph is easily reachable. If you have some cash to shell out, this is a perfect way to build your dream RC car.

RC Buggy

Fast and rugged, the 3S LiPo-compatible Riaario buggy comes ready out of the box to blast across any terrain. Its brushless 2847-3200KV motor achieves speeds up to 45–50 mph. It features seven adjustable metal pullrods and oil-filled shocks with a coil-over design for simple maintenance, extra toughness, and excellent handling.

Notorious BLX Stunt RC Truck with Spektrum Firma RTR

This 1/8th-scale four-wheel-drive stunt truck can reach 60-plus mph in optimum conditions—if you opt for a 6S LiPo battery and include the optional speed pinion gear. The truck features a Spektrum SLT3 radio, a dual-protocol receiver, and a smart electronic speed controller. Its Fifties-style body offers more than streamlined good looks; its "Real Steel" finish gets better as it becomes more scratched up and dinged. In a word: badass.

EPX Drift RC Car

This sharp-looking RC car from Redcat Racing features slippery drift tires and all-wheel drive for easy sustained slides. Inside, the electronics are waterproof, in case you want to try some drifts in a drizzle.

FAQS

What accessories do I need for my RC car?

In addition to the RC car itself, you may need accessories such as rechargeable batteries, battery chargers, spare parts (like tires and gears), tools for maintenance and repairs, and optional upgrades (like performance motors and suspension kits).

Are there racing events for RC cars?

Yes, RC car racing is a popular hobby with organized events and competitions held around the world. These events typically feature various classes based on factors like vehicle type, motor type, and skill level, allowing racers to compete against others with similar setups.

How do I maintain and repair my RC car?

Regular maintenance and occasional repairs are essential to keep your RC car running smoothly. This may include cleaning, lubricating, and adjusting various components, as well as replacing worn or damaged parts as needed. Many manufacturers provide manuals and online resources to assist with maintenance and repairs.

Why Trust Us?

Road & Track and its sibling publications at Hearst Autos represent three of the most influential automotive publications in the world. We rely on decades of experience in the automotive and gear spaces to help readers make informed purchasing choices. Read more about our testing process here.

With the legacies of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track behind us, the Hearst Autos Gear Team is more concerned with the trust our readers have in us than our bottom line. We won't tell you to buy something if we wouldn't buy it ourselves or recommend it to our friends, and we'll never claim to have used or tested something we haven't.

We've evaluated dozens of product categories, like electric bikes, traction boards, wiper blades, and even ice scrapers and radar detectors. Our picks and recommendations of products and gear are based on testing and knowledge, not hype.

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