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Want to entice your child outside so he’ll stop bugging you about electronic time? Get a toddler ride on toy.
Whether it’s mechanical (push the button and gooooo!!) or kid-powered, these are the wheels that fuel outdoor adventures — for your current toddler and for any toddlers-to-come!
When it comes to the best toddler toys, these ride-ons are the ones that get the biggest, most excited reactions from little faces.
The Best Electric Toddler Ride On Toys
Before you click the “buy” button on these toddler ride on toys, though, there are a few things you should think about.
Lesson #1: Buy the Extended Warranty
Extended warranties are often tagged on as an upsell and aren’t worth the extra money. Not in this case.
You are purchasing an expensive piece of machinery and your little one is going to literally love it to pieces. A $34 investment on an extended warranty will be a huge relief in 6 months when the battery has been run completely down and then again next year when the tires look bald. (It’s going to happen, nothing lasts forever, especially not toddler ride on toys.)
Lesson #2: Purchase Ahead and Put Together Early
Do not (NOT) purchase one of these electronic toddler ride on toys three days before his birthday and have him unwrap the box. (Unless you like him excitedly moving all the pieces while you’re trying to put it together.)
Not only will a little foresight make sure it’s running, you have to charge the the battery for up to 24 hours in some cases before your toddler can give it a drive. Nothing guarantees a tantrum like getting an awesome new toy and not being able to use it until tomorrow.
Lesson #3: Keep the Box
Although it’s not common, occasionally there can be a wire loose or a crack in the wheel. If that happens, and you’ve got that warranty, the manufacturer may request you send it back in the original box for a replacement. So find a corner in the garage and stuff the box in there until the warranty expires!
- Haul Limit: 128 lbs
- Speed Range: 1.8 to 3.7 mph
- Parent Remote Control: Yes
- Passengers: 2
- Battery: 12 Volts
- 5-Star Reviews: 75%
- Haul Limit: 66 lbs
- Speed Range: 1.9 to 5 mph
- Parent Remote Control: No
- Passengers: 1
- Battery: 12 Volts
- 5-Star Reviews: 73%
- Haul Limit: 55 lbs
- Speed Range: 1.24 to 3.1 mph
- Parent Remote Control: Yes
- Passengers: 1 (by design)
- Battery: 12 Volts
- 5-Star Reviews: 74%
- Haul Limit: 77 lbs
- Speed Range: 1 to 2.5 mph
- Parent Remote Control: No
- Passengers: 1
- Battery: 6 Volts
- 5-Star Reviews: 79%
- Haul Limit: 88 lbs
- Speed Range: 1.8 to 3.8 mph
- Parent Remote Control: Yes
- Passengers: 1
- Battery: 12 Volts
- 5-Star Reviews: 73%
The Best Kid-Powered Toddler Ride On Toys
What if you’re trying to avoid electricity-chugging toddler ride on toys? What if you’re looking for something that gets those tiny legs moving and is guaranteed to exhaust him before bedtime? Here are the best kid-powered toddler ride on toys on the market.
- Max. Weight: 42 lbs
- Made of: Steel & Chrome
- Music: Horn Only
- Lights: No
- Rubber Tires
- 5-Star Rating: 80%
- Max. Weight: 220 lbs
- Made of: Plastic
- Music: No
- Lights: No
- Multiple Award-Winner
- 5-Star Rating: 77%
- Max. Weight: 45 lbs
- Made of: Plastic
- Music: Yes
- Lights: Yes
- Moveable Digging Arm
- 5-Star Rating: 68%
- Max. Weight: 50 lbs
- Made of: Plastic
- Music: Horn Only
- Lights: No
- Rolls 360 Degrees
- 5-Star Rating: 86%
- Max. Weight: 50 lbs
- Made of: Resin
- Music: Horn Only
- Lights: No
- Detachable Trailer
- 5-Star Rating: 76%
Ride On Toys for Toddlers: Full Reviews of Electronic Options
The BCP Land Rover is double the car, seating TWO of your happy children! With a weight limit of more than 125 lbs, your toddler will have another year or so of riding fun.
It comes in white, black, pink, and red, and has a remote control that lets you take over at the push of button. Working LED lights, horn, and a vroom vroom startup sound tick all the right boxes. There’s also a storage box under the hood for snacks and a plugin so your child can use a media device for his own music as he’s “crusin’” the sidewalk.
Parents Rave About
- Sleek design
- Higher-than usual weight limit
- Two-passengers with seatbelts
- Extra storage under hood
- Rubber on tires for quiet ride
Parents Concerned About
- Poor customer service
The TOBBI Tractor may not be your traditional toddler ride on toy, but it consistently been a favorite, with working LED lights, horn, startup sound and a bluetooth system for your child’s tunes. You can choose from black, green, red, and pink.
Most toddlers can learn to “drive” with just a little practice, which is good because there’s no parental remote control. It has a wide range of use, since children as old as six will still find it exciting to drive.
Parents Rave About
- Detachable trailer
- Indicator shows when to charge
- Can fit older children (age 6)
- Better traction for off-road use
Parents Concerned About
- Takes a while to charge
- No back on trailer
- No parent remote
This toddler ride on toy has those iconic butterfly doors that make lamborghinis so unique. It’s available in green, pink, white, and yellow, with a weight limit of 55 lbs.
Like the others, it has LED lights, start up sounds and a working horn. There’s a small area for storage and a 4-wheel suspension system that prevents jerking. The variety of safety features that have been added (listed in the “Rave” section) make this the safest toddler ride on toy on the market.
Parents Rave About
- Realistic scissor doors
- Portable handle for parents when battery runs out
- Emergency Button stops all movement
- Slow-Start device prevents jerking
- Parent Remote
Parents Concerned About
- Despite the appearance, designed for 1 child
- Shorter run time on a charge
This darling little toddler ride on toy comes in yellow and pink. It’s less expensive than the others, because the motor is significantly slower. There is also no remote for parents, so you’ll want to give your toddler some careful supervision as she learns to drive.
However, of all the toddler ride on toys I’ve researched, this company (Rollplay) has the highest customer rating. If something happens with your purchase, they are extremely responsive in getting this toy moving again as soon as possible.
Parents Rave About
- Fantastic customer service from manufacturer
- Extra parts included in assembly
- Large enough to grow into
- Lower price
Parents Concerned About
- Doesn’t have a seatbelt
- Has a slower motor (6 V instead of 12 V)
- No ability to play music
- Doors don’t open, child has to climb inside
- Use on paved surfaces only
The TOBBI Mercedes Benz was selected as a “Best Value” because it has many of the features parents wanted without the hefty price tag. (Notice I said many and not all.)
It can seat two children, but they would have to be very young, since this toddler ride on toy runs small. You can purchase it in black, green, red, and white.
It has two driving options: toddler-controlled and remote-controlled with a top speed of 3.8 mph. The doors are also lockable which delights toddlers everywhere. Assembly can be tricky, so make sure you read the directions carefully and watch this video for help!
Parents Rave About
- Seats two kids
- Pull handle and folding wheels for easy transport
- Wear-resistant wheels
- Runs up to 2 hours on a single charge
Parents Concerned About
- Small, top age is 4 years
- Assembling can be confusing
Ride On Toys for Toddlers: Full Reviews of Kid-Powered Options
This adorable roadster is reasonably priced and cute enough to leave out in the living room when not in use. It’s made of steel and chrome, making it a toddler ride on toy that will last for siblings to come.
Assembly can be a challenge, so go slow and make sure you have a flat-head screwdriver. It can take considerable force to snap the wheels in place, so a rubber mallet may also come in handy!
Parents Rave About
- Sturdy construction
- Adorable design
- Very hard to tip over
- Reasonably priced
Parents Concerned About
- Challenging assembly
The most common praise parents have for the PlasmaCar is that it gets years of use. It is not uncommon for teenagers to still be racing and enjoying this ride on toy a decade after getting it. That’s good, because it’s expensive.
The main mechanism to control the speed is actually the bolt in the steering wheel. For a slower ride (perhaps with a 1-year-old on your lap), just loosen the bolt. The tighter the bolt, the faster the ride!
Things Parents Rave About
- Durability
- Indoor/Outdoor Use
- Grows with your child
- Rides easily on carpet/tile/wood
Things Parents Complain About
- Expensive
The POCO DIVO Digger is one of the most unique kid-powered toddler ride on toys. The arm pivots and scoops whatever your child has a mind to collect; dirt, sand, the cat…
Your child will find ANOTHER surprise when he opens the seat and discovers a bonus set of garden tools for him to use as you are puttering around the backyard doing chores. An excellent distraction to keep him busy on sunny days!
Parents Rave About
- Kids love the digging action
- Has storage box under the seat
- Comes with bonus garden tools
- Easy to assemble
Parents Concerned About
- Runs small, 2-3 years max
- Plastic feels flimsy
Does this little car bring back memories? It just turned thirty! (Don’t you feel old now?) Besides the ladybug version, there is also a fairy cozy coupe your child may enjoy.
The most challenging thing about this ride on toy is the assembly. Read the directions carefully, setting out all the pieces to make sure you have everything, and definitely watch this video. It is for an older version of the cozy coupe, but the basics are the same.
Parents Rave About
- Removable floor for walkers
- Handle on the back for parental control
- Grows with your child at early age
Parents Concerned About
- Assembly can be challenging
This kid-powered John Deere tractor and wagon are made of resin, which is a lightweight durable material. It won’t rust or get brittle if left outside in the wind, rain, and snow.
The wagon is easy enough for your toddler to detach on his own. (Which he will want to do over…and over…and over again!)
Assembly can be tricky, many parents mistakenly think the axels for the wagon and the tractor are interchangeable. This is a helpful video that makes assembly a cinch.
Parents Rave About
- Pedal power wears out energetic toddlers fast
- Detachable wagon for helping in the yard
- Very well made
- Lasts outside in bad weather
Parents Concerned About
- Expensive
- Directions can be confusing
- Runs small
Toddler Ride On Toys: Memories for a Lifetime
Most of my favorite childhood memories was driving up and down the driveway in The Little Red Car. This little convertible had a gas-powered engine, working headlines, and a little horn that would terrorize the neighborhood.
I know this seems ridiculous, but I really do think it helped me, years later, as I started driving. I had already mastered the art of driving in a tiny red two-seat hatchback.
These toddler ride on toys are more than just cool. They are a little package of memories, all bundled up and ready to savor on a cold winter’s night. Here’s to a zillion more happy pictures like that one!
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