Best first RC car for Christmas 2026, by age and budget

Every car below is a real ready-to-run model from our list of 50, shown at its lowest in-stock price at AMain Hobbies or Horizon Hobby on the date shown. Prices and stock change fast in December, so tap through to confirm before you buy. Ages are FirstRC's criteria-based suggestion (minimum 7+, with adult supervision); the manufacturer's age on the box always wins.

Ages 7–9Ages 10–11Ages 12+Take the quiz

Order early. Holiday shipping is slower, and cutoffs differ by retailer, carrier and shipping method. Check each retailer's own holiday shipping deadline at checkout; we don't guess carrier dates. Back-ordered and out-of-stock cars are left out below because expected dates can slip.

Ages 7–9

Our 7+ picks are slow crawlers and the slowest small cars, and every one assumes an adult is supervising. Faster cars start at 10+.

Under $100

Losi Micro-B

1/24raceBattery + charger in box

AMain$89.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Losi Micro-T

1/28raceBattery + charger in box

Horizon$89.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Redcat Ascent-32 V2

1/32crawlerBattery + charger in box

AMain$89.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Element RC Enduro24 Sendero

1/24crawlerBattery + charger in box

AMain$89.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Kyosho First Mini-Z RWD ReadySet (Shelby Cobra 427 body)

Mini-Z (~1/27)raceNeeds battery/charger

AMain$39.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2 AA (transmitter) + 2 AA (car)

Details and sources →

$100–$199

Redcat Ascent-18

1/18crawlerBattery + charger in box

AMain$129.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Axial SCX24 Ford Bronco

1/24crawlerBattery + charger in box

AMain$149.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

$200–$299

Axial UTB18 Capra 4WS

1/18crawlerBattery + charger in box

AMain$249.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Redcat Ascent LCG (Everest)

1/10crawlerNeeds battery/charger

AMain$299.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 6-cell NiMH or 2-3S LiPo (T-plug); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

$300 and up

Axial SCX10 III Base Camp

1/10crawlerNeeds battery/charger

Horizon$339.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo (EC3/IC3); charger

Details and sources →

Traxxas TRX-4 Sport

1/10crawlerNeeds battery/charger

AMain$349.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 7+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2-3S LiPo (Traxxas iD); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

Ages 10–11

Faster bashers and small trucks that FirstRC rates 10+ with adult supervision. The 7+ picks above work too.

$100–$199

Arrma Typhon Grom MEGA 380

1/14basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$149.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Arrma Mojave Grom MEGA 380

1/16basherBattery + charger in box

Horizon$169.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Maverick Quantum2 MT

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$179.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 6-cell NiMH or 2S LiPo (XT60); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

Kyosho Mini-Z MR-04 RWD ReadySet (Porsche 911 GT body)

Mini-Z (~1/27)raceNeeds battery/charger

AMain$189.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 4 AAA (transmitter) + 4 AAA (car)

Details and sources →

$200–$299

Traxxas Stampede HD

1/10basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$229.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Traxxas Rustler HD

1/10basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$229.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Losi Mini LMT 4X4 (Grave Digger)

1/18basherBattery + charger in box

Horizon$249.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Arrma Mojave Grom 223S DSC

1/16basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$269.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Traxxas Mini Maxx Brushless

1/16basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$289.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-26. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Arrma Typhon Grom 223S DSC

1/14basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$209.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo (IC2); charger; charging bag

Details and sources →

HPI Jumpshot SC V2

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$214.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 6-7 cell NiMH or 2S LiPo (T-plug); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

Arrma Vorteks 223S DSC 2WD

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

Horizon$249.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo (IC5); charger

Details and sources →

Arrma Fury 223S DSC 2WD

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$249.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-26. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo (IC5); charger

Details and sources →

$300 and up

Losi 22S Dirt Oval Late Model

1/10raceBattery + charger in box

AMain$419.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Arrma Granite 4x4 V4 223S DSC

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$339.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2-3S hardcase LiPo; charger

Details and sources →

Arrma Big Rock 4X4 V4 223S DSC

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$369.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 10+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S hardcase LiPo (IC5); charger

Details and sources →

Ages 12+

The fastest cars we list, including brushless 2S/3S models. An adult should handle LiPo charging and storage.

$100–$199

Traxxas (LaTrax) Teton

1/18basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$149.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

$200–$299

Traxxas Bandit HD

1/10basherBattery + charger in box

AMain$219.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Losi Mini-T 2.0 V2

1/18raceBattery + charger in box

Horizon$229.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-26. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Details and sources →

Team Associated Reflex 14MT

1/14basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$215.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S LiPo; charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

Traxxas Stampede BL-2s HD

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$249.95in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 6-7 cell NiMH or 2S LiPo (Traxxas iD); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

Arrma Gorgon 223S

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$259.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo hardcase; charger; LiPo safe bag

Details and sources →

$300 and up

Arrma Typhon 223S DSC 4x4

1/8basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$339.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2S or 3S LiPo (IC5); charger

Details and sources →

Redcat Valkyrie MT 4S

1/10basherNeeds battery/charger

AMain$359.99in stock

Price/stock checked 2026-10-19. FirstRC criteria: 12+ with adult supervision.

Also budget for: 2-4S LiPo (XT90); charger; 4 AA

Details and sources →

What else to buy

17 of the in-stock picks above don't include a battery and/or charger, per each listing's "Needed To Complete" section; those cards show the listing's own list under "Also budget for." Even "everything included" cars often need AA batteries for the transmitter or a USB wall adapter. See what else to buy and LiPo battery safety.

Not shown: out of stock, back-ordered or discontinued

Traxxas Slash Ford F-150 Raptor BL-2s, Traxxas Slash 4x4 BL-2S, Arrma Gorgon 4X2 MEGA 550, Arrma Senton 223S DSC 4x4, Arrma Granite Grom MEGA 380, Losi Mini-B Brushless, Axial SCX24 Base Camp, Team Associated Rival MT10 V2, Team Associated Reflex 14B Gamma, Team Associated Reflex 14T, Element RC Enduro Trailrunner 4x4, Element RC Enduro24 Trailrunner, HPI Jumpshot MT FLUX V2, HPI Savage XS Flux, Maverick Atom AT1