Curated Buyer’s Guides & Reviews on all the Best RC Cars, Trucks, Accessories, Tools, and More…
Check out RC Cars for Beginners by Matt Benfield.
Vehicle Type
Buggy
With sparse bodywork and excellent off-road driving characteristics, RC Buggies are suitable for most surfaces, including loose gravel, asphalt, smooth dirt, and short grass.
Desert Truck
Featuring long-travel suspension and powerful engines, Desert Trucks are designed to cross hundreds of miles over the desert. These true-to-scale 4-wheel drive race trucks are suitable for use on any surface, including loose gravel, dirt, sand, and short grass.
Monster Truck
Monster Trucks have been a staple RC category since the ’80s. Featuring heavy-duty suspension, oversized tires, 4WD drivetrain, and powerful motors, RC Monster Trucks are the go-to choice for hardcore bashers.
On-Road
The on-road class includes Rally Cars, Drift Cars, Touring Cars, Formula One, and Dragsters. Designed primarily for on-road use, these models are most suited for use on smooth asphalt and concrete.
Pan Car
With foam tires, a chassis constructed from Fiberglass or Graphite, and a direct-drive solid axle, RC Pan Cars are designed for competition racing in oval, GT, and LTO (Left Turn Only) classes.
Rock Crawler
Rock Crawlers require precise throttle and steering input skills from the user to enable their off-road scale truck or crawler to scramble up gravity-defying climbs or to traverse gully-riddled and rocky terrains.
Rock Racer
Competitive Rock Crawling and Hill-Climbing, commonly known as Rock Racing or sometimes “Rock Bouncing,” require tackling rocky terrain, vertical sections, and extreme hills in the fastest time possible.
Semi Truck
With realistic scale details such as a ladder frame chassis, metal leaf springs, and geared differentials, RC Semi Trucks are designed to be full-functioning scale representations of the real thing.
Short Course Truck
Similar in design to Desert Racers, but with less suspension travel, Short Course Trucks race on short closed dirt road courses, allowing for easier spectator viewing and access to the pits for mechanical repairs.
Stadium Truck
Similar to Short Course Trucks in many ways, Stadium Trucks are wider with a shorter wheelbase and focus less on scale realism and more on providing exciting driving characteristics, making them better able to tackle high flying jumps and crazy stunts.
Some of our favorite models include the Team Associated RC10, and the Team Losi Racing 22T 4.0.
Truggy
Suited for all-round driving, with stable and predictable handling characteristics, Truggies are great for both bashing & competitive racing. They can be used on most surfaces, including loose gravel, asphalt, smooth dirt, short grass.
Some of our favorite models include the Losi 8IGHT-T Nitro, and the Tekno RC ET410.2 Competition.
Construction
Replicating the various heavy equipment found on construction sites, including Forklifts, Dump Trucks, Front-end Loaders, Cranes, and Excavators with models suitable for adults and children.
Some of our favorite models include the Carson Model Sport Linde H40D Forklift, and the Top Race TR-211 Excavator.
Toys
Although lots of fun and great for kids and newcomers to the hobby, toy grade models generally lack proportional steering/ acceleration, geared differentials, and oil-filled shocks, with limited future upgradability.
Some of our favorite models include the Cyclone Stunt Car, and the Sharper Image Bumper Cars.
Power Plant
Scale
Large Scale
For the biggest of the big, look no further. These large scale RC cars & trucks boast impressive sizes with their 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7 scales with enough space for some serious power.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Mini/ Micro
In the RC world, mini and micro scales generally refer to 1/18, 1/24, Mini-Z, and everything in between. These micro-machines may be small in size, but they are not small in features.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Drivetrain
2WD
2WD drivetrains are inherently more difficult to control than 4WD drivetrains, with more challenging but sometimes more rewarding handling characteristics. With less complexity and requiring fewer parts, 2WD models are generally available at a cheaper price point than their 4WD equivalents.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
4WD
4WD drivetrains, in contrast, provide very predictable handling characteristics with more traction and better off-road performance. Typically favored by bashers, 4WD trucks are generally more expensive due to their added complexity.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
6WD
Reserved for Rock Crawlers, 6WD drivetrains have an additional axle at the rear, with all six-wheels being driven by the motor. The result is much greater traction in tricky off-road situations and the ability to tackle steeper inclines.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Completion Level
Ready-To-Run (RTR)
In the early 2000s, a new type of RC package was born in the form of the Ready-To-Run. Pre-assembled and including almost everything required to use straight out of the box, with only a battery and charger needed to complete. Simply pick a vehicle, charge a battery and you’re ready to go! Learn more about Ready-To-Run (RTR) models.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Roller
Pre-assembled but supplied without electronics, Rollers are perfect for those looking to pick and choose their own equipment. Required items will usually include an ESC, Motor, Servo, Transmitter, Receiver, Batteries, Charger, and occasionally, Bodyshell, Tires, and Wheels.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Unassembled (KIT)
Unassembled kits are available in various forms, but generally include everything required to build a Roller, with the freedom to finish it off with your choice of electronics, and occasionally tires, wheels, body, and paint. Requiring assembly, the build process can be extremely rewarding and provides an excellent teaching tool, making it much easier to maintain, repair, and upgrade your model. Learn more about Unassembled (KIT) models.
Some of our favourite models include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Budget
$200-$300
$300-$500
Top Brands
Arrma
Axial
Kyosho
Losi
Redcat
Traxxas
Radio Systems
Transmitters
Upgrading your Transmitter is a great way to improve performance, with many RTR models including a basic transmitter with slow response times and short-range. Features to look out for include model memory, additional channels, and low input latency. Learn more about Transmitters.
Some of our favorite transmitters include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Servos
Upgrading servos is an easy way to improve handling characteristics, with many RTR models including budget servos that inevitably fail, with plastic gears, slow response times, and low torque. Features to look out for include being fully waterproof, digital circuitry, metal gears, and high torque.
Some of our favorite servos include the Arrma Felony 6S BLX, and the Team Associated DR10.
Parts, Electronics & Accessories
Batteries
Chargers
Electric Motors & ESCs
Trying to make your RC car faster is a priority upgrade for many, and upgrading to a brushless ESC and Motor, can be a simple way to add more power. With confusing terminologies such as Turns, Watts and KV, finding a suitable replacement can quickly become overwhelming. If you’re new to the hobby, check out our guide on how to upgrade to a brushless ESC & Motor.
Bodies
Constructed from plastics such as Polycarbonate and injection-molded ABS, body shells don’t last forever. Although with the help of shoe goo, they will last much longer! With so many different shells on the market, including ultra-realistic licensed designs from automotive giants such as Chevy, Ford, and Mercedes, there is something for everyone. If you’re new to the hobby, learn how to trim, finish, paint, and mount a new body.
Tires & Wheels
Tires don’t last forever, and with a wide variety of different tire & wheel combinations available, Replacing your RC tires & wheels is easy. Features to look out for include belted tires to prevent ballooning and removable hexes allowing for both the damaged hexes to be swapped out and on the fly changes to the wheel offset.
Nitro Engines
There are plenty of choices for replacement Nitro engines, and upgrading is easy with many engines using a standard clutch set up and engine mounting locations. Important considerations include engine displacement, engine start options, side or rear-facing exhaust manifolds, and on-road/ off-road use. If you’re new to the hobby, learn more about Nitro engines and how to replace your nitro engine.
Nitro Accessories
Maintenance
A big part of the RC hobby involves wrenching and if you’re serious about RC, investing in the correct tools, equipment, and supplies required to repair, maintain, and upgrade your vehicles can make a world of difference. Good tools can not only save time but also effort and make difficult tasks more accessible. It’s worth setting aside a dedicated RC work area and the more organized you can be, the more enjoyable the hobby will be.
Ramps
While guides for building custom ramps out of wood are abundant online, it can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. A great alternative can be found in premade ramps used in sports such as skateboarding and BMXing!
Meet our amazing team.
With our team of passionate RC aficionados trying out new products daily and staying up with the latest trends, we can provide unbiased and honest recommendations of the best prodcuts on the market.
Matt Benfield
Contributor – rcracer.com
Matt Benfield has been involved in the radio control hobby for the best part of thirty years. He started out RC racing at club level locally in 1:10-scale off-road, before moving through the ranks of Regional and National competition, and has represented his country at both European and World Championship events. Since its inception in 1997, Matt has had a pivotal role at Radio Control Car Racer magazine, the leading title in its field, with the last twenty years as Editor. He has traveled the world to cover events for the magazine, from 1:12 on-road circuits in South Africa, through to 1:8 off-road in the United States, and many other international races in between. He is also the Editor of Drone Zone, a magazine that covers the latest developments within this sector of RC as well as the helicopter scene. Matt has been commissioned to work on projects for publishers such as Eaglemoss, Haynes Publishing, and Haymarket, and is highly respected in the RC industry. Matt lives in Kent with his wife and son
Michael Freeman
Staff Writer
If it runs on electricity, Mike’s probably tinkered with it. From RCs to PCs, Paintball to Pinball. Whether it’s the newest trending tech or a retro blast from the past. If you need to know if something’s worth your time, he’s the guy to ask.
