Whether they’re scooting, cycling or simply zooming around by foot, kids love to move. If you’re ready to level up their ride, there’s nothing more exciting than a set of the best power wheels. Ride-on vehicles are a wonderful way to get kids outdoors, but they require a few ground rules to make sure everyone stays safe. This is especially true for electric power wheels, which allow children to accelerate and steer a vehicle, and require close adult supervision. “They can be really fun, but consider where the kids will ride,” says Dr. Meghan Martin, pediatric emergency center physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “Areas with cars, roads, hills and ditches can be hazards. Young kids are terrible drivers so we need to completely avoid areas with busy streets.”
Combining safety and fun, we found the best power wheels on the market.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: RetailerAs long as safety protocols are being followed, ride-ons and power wheels are not only exciting toys, but can also help with gross motor development and promote independence. Driving, be it with their feet or an engine, can aid in developing balance and spatial awareness.
Today’s power wheels come with lots of fun features for kids and important safety ones for parents. “Older ride-on vehicles, especially if purchased second hand, may lack many of the safety components found in current ride-on vehicles on today’s market,” says Holly Choi, Child-Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor and co-founder of Safe Beginnings. “Caregivers should seek out ride-on vehicles with seat belts, which can help to keep a child from being ejected if there is a sudden movement.” To learn more about the best power wheels and ride-ons you can buy today, read on.
Amazon
Age range: 3+ | Max weight: 65 pounds | Battery: 12 volts | Max speed: 3.7 mph | Remote control: Yes | Seatbelt: Yes | Additional features: LED headlights, bluetooth speaker, locking doors
Available in a dozen colors, this truck from Best Choice Products has the ideal balance of safety to fun, making it our top pick for most little drivers. A seatbelt, locking doors and remote control gives parents peace of mind, while working LED headlights and spring suspension wheels make the driving experience realistic for kids. The jeep is equipped with a 12-volt battery that can run for up to two hours per charge ( depending on the type of terrain it’s going over), and also has a bluetooth speaker. Parents love how easy it is to assemble and its longevity—more than one reviewer says their model is “still going strong” after a few years of use.
One thing to keep in mind: It’s only designed to fit one child, so families with multiple kids may want take that into consideration, both from a convenience standpoint and a safety one. “It’s not uncommon for more kids to try to pile onto the vehicle than the vehicle can safely accommodate,” says Choi. “Encourage taking turns and enforce the limits of the vehicle to ensure it’s being operated safely.”
Amazon
Age range: 3 to 5 | Max weight: 66 pounds | Battery: 12 volts | Max speed: 5 mph | Remote control: No | Seatbelt: Yes | Additional features: LED headlights, built-in music player
Even at its affordable price tag, this electric truck from Tobbi checks does many things right for both parents and young drivers. Adults appreciate the safety features: There’s a two-point safety belt, windscreen and all-terrain wheels that can go over asphalt, brick, gravel and even sandy patches. Kids, on the other hand, enjoy the truck’s driving functions, such as the LED headlights, pre-programmed music player and beeping horn.
The motor allows for driving backwards and forward at 3 to 5 miles per hour. Parents should take this speed—plus the fact that there’s no remote control—into consideration if shopping for younger kids who aren’t quite as coordinated. That said, the truck is meant for a single driver and may feel snug for bigger kids.
Amazon
Age range: 1.5 to 4 years | Max weight: 43 pounds | Battery: 6 volts | Max speed: 2 mph | Remote control: Yes | Seatbelt: Yes | Additional features: 360-degree spinning
Designed for the littlest drivers, the Radio Flyer Grow With Me Racer allows tots as young as 18 months to get behind the wheel. Parents can backseat drive using the remote control, which allows for full-on adult piloting or the option to simply adjust and correct kids if they veer off course. Once they’re ready, children can also drive on their own using a push-to-go button on the steering wheel.
The racer has a max speed of 2 miles per hour (for reference, the average adult walks at 3 miles per hour) and doesn’t sit as high as other power wheels, a feature that Dr. Martin recommends for toddlers. “For younger kids especially, lower to the ground powered toys will reduce the risk of tipping or rolling over.” You’ll still be able to satisfy your pint-sized thrill seeker, however—the car boasts a 360-degree spinning feature that kids love.
Amazon
Age range: 3 to 7 years | Max weight: 130 pounds | Battery: 12 volts | Max speed: 5 mph | Remote control: No | Seatbelt: No | Additional features: Power-lock brakes
If your kids will ride across grassy lawns or muddy parks most of the time, then you need a vehicle with multi-terrain wheels and strong traction. The Power Wheels Baja Trailster from Fisher-Price has both. The sporty vehicle is designed to roam flat, hard surfaces like concrete and less even ones such as wet grass. It has a rugged dune buggy design with a high back and roof that’s outfitted with a light bar (unfortunately it doesn’t light up). It goes at two speeds (2.5 and 5 miles per hour) and comes with the option to lock out the higher one, which is important considering the Baja Trailster doesn’t come with a remote control or seatbelts.
Amazon
Age range: 1.5 to 5 years | Max weight: 50 pounds | Features: Removable floorboard, cup holders, push handle
The iconic Little Tikes Cozy Coupe has been a childhood staple for decades and continues to be a favorite for good reason. It can be used by toddlers as young as 18 months and holds up for years to come—even preschoolers happily hop in and take the no-frills car for a spin. A removable floor board creates two “driving” options: Keep it on and kids can sit as parents push using the built-in back handle, or remove it and let them power the car with their own foot. The clicking ignition switch and opening gas cap mimics real life for imaginative play (there’s even a matching gas pump). While the yellow and red version is undoubtedly the most iconic, the coupe now comes in a variety of designs—there’s a truck, ladybug, dinosaur and more.
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Amazon
Age range: 6+ | Max weight: 220 pounds | Battery: 24 volts | Max speed: 7.5 mph | Remote control: No | Seatbelt: Yes | Additional features: FM radio and MP3 input, LED headlight
The Polaris RZR Pro is the best option for kids who have graduated from smaller power wheels with age ranges that are typically capped between 5 and 7. A larger version of Peg Perego’s popular ATV, the Pro can hold two kids and a maximum weight of 220 pounds. The seats are independent and adjustable, with seatbelts that go across each one.
A stronger 24-volt battery and two engines allow the vehicle to move forward and backward between 3.5 and 7.5 miles per hour. The large rubber wheels have real shock absorbers installed and are designed to handle different terrains along with sloped surfaces. Kids operate the vehicle via a single pedal that accelerates and brakes automatically when released. They can also play the radio and keep an eye out on remaining battery life on the light-up dashboard. Given the price, it is a major investment, but it can be used well into the tween and teen years.
Amazon
Age range: 3 to 8 years old | Max weight: 130 pounds | Battery: 24 volts | Max speed: 4 mph | Remote control: Yes | Seatbelt: Yes | Additional features: FM radio, lights, rear suspension
This hefty ride-on jeep is every bit as sturdy and rugged as it looks, making it a top off-road power wheel vehicle. The two-seat truck easily goes beyond the usual spins down the driveway thanks to its all-terrain wheels with rear suspension and a powerful 24-volt battery. Kids can drive solo using the foot pedal, but parents also have the option to jump in via remote control.
Other safety components include an adjustment three-point harness for each seat, plus two brake features: There’s both a soft braking system and an emergency brake button on the parental control. The Joywhale vehicle also has some fun bonus features for its pint-sized operators. It’s equipped with lights, plays a real truck engine sound and comes in a few fun colors, including pink and green.
Reviewers do warn that assembly can be difficult—Joywhale itself even mentions that the truck is shipped in two boxes, with the body of the car in one and wheels in another.
Amazon
Age range: 3 to 7 years | Max weight: 85 pounds | Battery: 12 volts | Max speed: 4.5 mph | Remote control: No | Seatbelt: No | Additional features: FM radio, adjustable seats, detachable trailer
Any parent who’s taken their kids to a farm will immediately understand the appeal of Peg Perego’s John Deere replica. This miniature version of the iconic tractor is a fully-functioning vehicle that not only toggles between two driving speeds (2.5 mph and 4.5 mph), but also goes in reverse. The tractor is outfitted with a smokestack, front grill and a working FM radio. It even comes with a detachable trailer so kids can haul items around like the real thing.
The large tractor wheels enable it to traverse uneven terrain like grass and gravel and navigate hills—though experts typically warn against driving in bumpy areas, which can potentially lead to rollovers. The single seat is adjustable so it can be moved to fit longer or shorter legs. There’s no seatbelt, but the chair does have an armrest that can be flipped up for additional stability. From a safety perspective, parents appreciate the lockout feature on the gear shifter, which prevents use of the higher speed.
At Forbes Vetted, we spend hours researching and testing products for babies and kids. We’ve evaluated multiple modes of transportation for children of all ages, including car seats, scooters and bikes.
For this article, I spoke with a child safety expert (Holly Choi) and pediatrician (Dr. Meghan Martin) to better understand safety concerns and protocols when it comes to power wheels and ride-on vehicles. They both emphasized following manufacturers’ guidelines and finding a product that meets your child at their individual developmental stage.
With this in mind, I spent hours researching and evaluating products with different operational features for various age groups and weight ranges. In additional to looking at power wheels with overall high ratings from reputable brands, I also carefully combed through consumer reviews before finalizing this list.
Since safety is a priority when it comes to choosing a ride-on vehicle for kids, we selected products from brands that had plenty of reviews. We looked for safety features that are important to parents, such as a remote control and seatbelts, while also taking into consideration what makes young drivers excited about using their power wheels—since this is a fairly expensive purchase you don’t want them to get bored of easily.
Ride-on toys come in various forms, from scooters to tricycles and balance bikes, and the ideal choice varies depending on your child's age and abilities. Take into account the age and developmental stage of your kid. You may want to start with a simple manual cruiser like the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car for smaller tots, and make your way to a set of electric power wheels like Best Choice Products 12V Kids Ride On Truck as your child becomes more coordinated.
Power wheels can get pricey and whether or not it’s worth the money all depends on how often it’s be used. If it’s something your kids will enjoy regularly and gets them out of the house and off screens, then it’s absolutely worth the investment. But if you don’t have space to run it often and it ends up sitting around collecting dust, you may want to consider a ride-on that has a smaller footprint or price tag like a scooter. To make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, be sure to look at the age range and weight limits and opt for a vehicle that can grow with your child.
Most power wheels require a minimum age of 3 and both of our experts agree that sticking to manufacturer recommendations is best. At this age, kids usually possess the fine motor skills needed to operate an electric car and—more importantly—follow safety rules.
“I would recommend consulting the manufacturer about appropriate age since the speed of these powered toys varies significantly, from about 2 miles per hour to about 12 miles per hour,” says Dr. Martin. “Young kids are still developing their fine motor skills and coordination, and should avoid faster speeds for safety.”