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Buyers Guide Christmas 2025 - Best Remote Control Cars

Ancuta Lazea

1 June 2025

Looking to buy a remote control car as a present ? Then look no further than our buyers guide showcasing a range of RC cars suitable for all ages and budgets. This guide covers models suitable for driving indoors or out, along with some advice on scale and batteries for first-time buyers.

With so many models available, our editor has set about curating a list of the best models we sell, grouped by budget. Whatever you opt to purchase, you can be sure our recommendations will result in a great gift.

Gift ideas under £50

RCG Racing Rock Crawler

One of the huge surprise hits of last year, this tiny rock crawler has proven a gifting favourite. Customers loved the body detail and dual-drive-motors that make it perfect for kids to roll around the house with.

RCG Racing RC 1/16 Rock Crawler Pro

For those who love adventure, the RCG Racing 1/16 Rock Crawler Pro takes off-road fun to the next level. This compact 4WD crawler is designed for rough terrain, featuring oversized tyres, high ground clearance, and a responsive suspension system that allows it to climb over rocks and obstacles with ease.

What makes this model stand out is its innovative wristwatch-style remote control—allowing you to steer the car with just a flick of your wrist! This motion-sensing remote adds a futuristic feel to the driving experience, making it a fantastic gift for kids and RC enthusiasts alike.

RCG Racing 1/24 Mini Drift Cars

Unleash your inner drifter with our 1/24 scale mini drift cars - perfect for anyone looking to master indoor drifting. They feature a 2.4GHz proportional radio system, LED headlights, hard drift tyres, and come with 6 yellow cones for setting up your own drift course.

Fully ready-to-run, everything you need is in the box – including battery and charger – so you can start drifting straight away. Whether in the kitchen, living room, or any smooth surface, the adjustable steering and fine-tuning options offer precise control for smooth, satisfying slides.

Equipped with 4-wheel drive and hard-patterned drift tyres, they are built for fun. They also include 4 spare tyres, allowing you to customise your setup. Bright LED lights make night drifting possible, so the fun never has to stop.

RCG Racing 1/16 Mini Drift Cars

This mini drift cars are perfect for anyone wanting to drift indoors with a highly-detailed retro drift body. Featuring a high-quality 2.4Ghz transmitter, front and rear LED lights and hard drift-tyres this drifter is ready-to-drift right out the box.

Suitable for in the kitchen, living room, or any hard surface, this mini drifter is great for kids and teens of all ages! Super easy to control, this is a perfect entry into indoor drifting.

Featuring 4-wheel drive and a large 30-degree steering angle for accurate drifting, allowing precise control. With speeds reaching up to 15mph and a runtime of up to 30 minutes, you'll have plenty of time to show off your drifting skills.

RCG Racing E30 1/16 Mini Drift Car also comes in red colour and if you want the same performance but with a different look , you can go for RCG Racing Retro AE86 1/16 Mini Drift Car which captures the essence of the iconic Toyota AE86.

For a closer look at the RCG Racing E30 1/16 Mini Drift Car , you can check our Unboxing and First Impresion of the RCG Racing E30 Mini Drift Car article. This guide walks you through the key features and setup process, offering insights into the quality and performance of this stylish white drift car. It’s a perfect preview to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your collection!

The sweet spot : £50 to £100

We sell more cars in this price range than any other and its easy to see why. Our most popular models are packed with fun and arrive ready-to-run, with model batteries and chargers, just requiring AA batteries for the transmitters. The market is currently so competitive in this price bracket, that you can even bag a buggy with brushless power!

RCG Racing MT-One 1/16 Monster Truck

The RCG Racing MT-One shares the same chassis and parts as the awesome FTX Tracer and Blackzon Slyder, these models are the most popular and best value hobby grade RC cars you can get in the UK and Europe!

Ready-to-run out of the box, including battery and charger, just add AA’s for the transmitter. Capable of speeds of up to 20mph, its fast, and super durable, suitable for driving off-road, over bumps, jumps and humps!

It features an awesome looking monster truck body. Super-cool, chunky off-road tyres. A 2.4Ghz interference-free radio system controls a powerful motor and splash-proof speed controller. The chassis uses aluminium spring shocks, and has great ground clearance and manoeuvrability. The MT-One includes LED lights which make it super-fun to use in darkness!

The MT-One is superb for all ages (above 6 years old), it’s a fantastic first (hobby grade) RC Car for kids and teenagers, and also great fun for adults!

RCG Racing MT-One 1/16 Brushless Monster Truck

Experience the thrill of speed and power with the RCG Racing MT-One 1/16 Brushless Monster Truck. With a 3800KV brushless motor at its core, this compact truck delivers incredible acceleration and can reach speeds of up to 30mph, offering an adrenaline-fueled driving experience. Its four-wheel drive system and durable chassis make it perfect for tackling off-road terrains, from dirt tracks to gravel paths, while maintaining precise control.

RCG Racing 1/18 4WD Drift Cars

The Cyclone and Swifter drift cars are our most popular drifters! Featuring cool LED lights, which can be turned on and off from the controller, with working indicators as your turn, a brake light and reverse light that actually function like a real car! This vehicle is designed for high-speed drifting action.

They are powered by a high-power motor, delivering high-torque for drifting. Their four-wheel-drive system ensures maximum stability and smooth handling, giving you full control as you navigate sharp corners and perform stunning drifts. Whether you're racing on the track or drifting through tight turns, this RC car offers precise manoeuvrability and responsive control that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

RCG Racing Wind Speed and Storm Rider Buggies

For a proper RC experience on a budget, look no further than these Wind Speed or Storm Rider buggies! One of our most popular sellers during the holiday season, this small ready-to-run RC buggy offers hobby-grade performance at catalogue-shop prices. This zippy little buggy features a shaft driven 4WD system and sports a lightly detailed body with roll cage and roof rack, dependant on which model you opt for.

With good ground clearance, it can cut across a mown lawn or gravel carpark with ease. We love the stamina of this little buggy, thanks to the lightweight chassis and body it just keeps on going! Then thanks to the USB charger you can top the battery up from a powerbank or any USB port even when you are out and about.

Both the Wind Speed and Storm Rider are available on our webstore. They are ready-to-run but you will need 3x AA batteries for the controller to get driving. We now have a full catalogue of spares to keep these models running.

RCG Racing MT 1/10 Brushed Monster Truck - Piranha

The RCG Racing MT 1/10 Brushed Monster Truck - Piranha is built for powerful off-road action with its four-wheel drive system and oversized all-terrain tyres. Featuring a 550 brushed motor, this monster truck delivers strong acceleration and steady control, making it an excellent choice for those looking to tackle dirt tracks, grass, and gravel with ease. The oil-filled shocks and durable chassis help absorb rough landings, ensuring a smooth and stable ride even on challenging terrain. Whether you're a beginner looking for a fun and capable RC truck or an experienced driver who enjoys off-road adventures, the Piranha is a reliable and exciting choice.

RCG Racing CT 1/10 4x4 Crawler Truck

The RCG Racing CT 1/10 4x4 Crawler Truck is a versatile and durable off-road vehicle designed for adventure enthusiasts. Whether you're tackling rugged trails, climbing steep inclines, or exploring rocky terrains, this 1/10 scale crawler delivers exceptional performance.

With its Ready-To-Run (RTR) design, it comes fully assembled and equipped with everything you need to hit the ground running. The included 2.4GHz radio system ensures precise control and a strong signal, giving you a smooth and responsive driving experience.

Top quality RC cars : £100 to £150

At this price point you are typically purchasing a high quality, expertly designed model from an established RC manufacturer. Please check the product page details as many of these models will require batteries and chargers.

RCG Racing MT 1/10 Brushless Monster Truck - Piranha

The RCG Racing MT-1 1/10 Brushless Monster Truck is a standout in the world of RC off-road vehicles. Powered by a brushless motor and designed for 3S LiPo compatibility, this truck offers high performance and excellent speed, making it perfect for tackling rough terrains. The oil-filled shocks and beefy, high-traction tires ensure superior control and stability, while the durable, tough plastic chassis can handle all kinds of bumps, jumps, and crashes without compromising performance.

Whether you're tearing up dirt tracks or launching off ramps, the RCG Racing MT 1/10 Brushless Monster Truck - Piranha delivers impressive power and control.

FTX Banzai Drift Car

Whilst UDI hold the mini drift crown, FTX has been the steadfast favourite for anyone looking to get drifting at 'full size' 1/10th scale. The Banzai offers admirable level of adjustment of suspension droop, camber and toe-in at what would be considered a bargain price for a normal tarmac touring car. The S15 style body features tinted windows and a big wing, all sat over chunky 6-spoke TE37 inspired black rims.

FTX's Banzai is available in green or red and includes the radio gear, charger, car battery and more. Shipped with special hard tyres already fitted, you'll only need four AA batteries for the transmitter to get drifting!

The ultimate in RC : £150+

From here on up you can expect the highest quality RC models on the market, highly capable or monstrously powerful cars and trucks from the best brands. Note again, all of these models will require batteries and chargers.

FTX Kanyon 4×4 Trail Crawler

Our budget crawler has made many fans. Beyond its passing resemblance to the Land Rover Defender, FTX’s crawler has a torquey 60T brushed motor, telescopic driveshafts, metal gears and a complex multi-link suspension giving it solid off-road ability.

The value for money is hard to argue with. The model features radio gear, wall charger, a 10.5kg waterproof servo, front, metal output, crown and differential gears, oil-filled adjustable coil-over suspension plus a detailed body with working LED lights!

Shipped with a slightly weedy 1800mAh NiMH, you will need to supply the 8x AA batteries for the transmitter to get crawling. Check out the Kanyon on our webstore here.

FTX RamRaider 1/10 Brushless Monster Truck

The FTX RamRaider 1/10th Monster Truck is perfect for off-road bashing enthusiasts who crave power and durability works with the established Rokatan chassis. With a Hobby wing 50A brushless speed control and a 2500kv motor, this Ready-to-Run beast delivers thrilling speed and control, making it the ideal choice for exciting all-terrain action.

FTX Outlaw Brushless Buggy

Much like the Carnage (and indeed the Vantage) the Outlaw is available with a high-powered brushless power-train! Whilst the standard model isn't lacking power, this brushless model takes it to the next level better energy efficiency and a higher top speed.

We particularly like that you can remove the body panels revealing the tubular roll-cage chassis underneath. When ‘naked’, this setup has a extreme-off-roader look and feel.

We feel the more powerful and more efficient brushless electronics more than warrant the price hike and thoroughly recommend it. For those on a budget, the FTX Outlaw Ultra-4 Brushless buggy can be purchased on our webstore.

Just how big ARE these?

If you are unfamiliar with RC toys it can be difficult to visualise how large they are. For guidance most of our models are ‘scale‘ models, labelled with a fraction such as 1/8, 1/10, 1/18, 1/32, but what does this mean? In simple terms it is the size ratio compared to the ‘real-life’ full size vehicle.

For example the HPI Racing Ford Mustang classified as a 1/10th scale model (although it is on the long side) and measures 431mm, 127mm tall and 200mm wide. This is approximately 10% of the size of the actual production car which (according to Wikipedia) measures 4784mm long, 1381mm tall and 1916mm wide.

As you can see from our example, in practice there is some variation. This is a product of manufacturers taking artistic license to adjust the design due to limitations of their chassis, or pre-existing elements such as wheels and tyres, to produce a design that just ‘looks right‘. To avoid confusion, wherever possible we include the dimensions of the model in our listing.

Looking for a charger and battery to buy? Look no further

Its important to note that all of the models you see on this page are electric, powered by batteries. Whilst some include a battery for the model (and indeed some for the transmitter too) many do not. Further to this, some of the high-end models do not include a charger for the model battery either. Please take note of the ‘in the box’ section on our product listings to avoid disappointment on Christmas morning!

For the majority of the cars that include a battery, it will arrive at a ‘storage‘ level of charge, requiring a full charge before first use. Consider charging the model up a few days before wrapping and handing over the present to cover this off.

The batteries and chargers section of our webstore will have all the supporting products you need to get your RC car running. If you need assistance in selecting the correct parts to match your model, feel free to drop us a message.

Note that many model batteries are user removable (often without tools) allowing them to be ejected for charging, or replaced for batteries with larger capacity/higher burst rate for increased performance. Power systems can appear full of jargon and proprietary standards, so to address this we have put together this article to help beginners understand the basics and also guide you through the more difficult elements of charging.

Finally, here at RC Geeks, we’re often asked how fast a specific car will go. We’ve written this short article to help you understand the variables which will contribute to an RC cars top speed, and hopefully give you some idea how fast your RC car can go.

Spares and hop-ups

Accidents can occur, so its good to know that we have your back. Should the worst occur and you damage your model, we can provide the parts you need to get back on the track; Simply use our simple spares finder to find them.

Take your car further with our selection of RC accessories. Many of these models are ripe for modification and we stock a wide range of parts such as bodyshells, motors & ESC's and more to hop-up your car.

Wheels and tyres

Ready to Drift? Create Your Own Custom Track

Found the perfect drift car? Take your setup to the next level with the right accessories.

At RC Geeks, we stock a range of mini track mats, cones, barriers and more - ideal for building your own drift course at home. Whether you're aiming for a realistic layout or want to add obstacles for extra challenge, our accessories make it easy to customise your space and sharpen your skills.

RC Geeks – Quality Gifts and support

Gifting something so specialised can be complicated so feel free to drop us a message if you require buying guidance.

At RC Geeks, we offer top-quality RC products with expert advice and reliable service to help you get the most from your hobby. Shopping with us means peace of mind and support every step of the way, from purchase to play.