These days, RC cars have skyrocketed in popularity amongst most children and adults, and with these cars comes a strange fascination for enjoyable entertainment. If you are the sort of person that loves off-road driving or speed racing, remote controlled cars are perfect for you. With the help of the transmitter’s signal, you can easily control and drive your RC car to wherever you want around your vicinity. Sounds like what you might love to do, right? We thought as much. This article is aimed at the best RC cars under $200 to ease the fears of people who might actually be thinking RC cars were unaffordable.
However, finding the ideal RC car is an entirely different ball game. You have to scour through the hundreds, if not thousands, of brands and models available on the market, which can be very overwhelming at times. But, to make things a bit simpler for you, we have done all the scouring for you. We have compiled the best RC cars under $200 by considering several key criteria such as the type of car, scale, battery life, speed, and frequency. This way, we were able to put together a list of the absolute best RC cars sold for less than $200.
Before we could be able to put this guide together, we invested around 50 hours in research alone. We included offerings from the most reputable manufacturers such as Redcat and Traxxas. From our very detailed table to the reviews of all the products we have picked to our comprehensive buying guide and tips, you will surely find all the information included in this guide very interesting and useful. Begin your journey from the table below to know a couple of things about the products we have reviewed.
More features: includes two sets of free rechargeable 3.7V 1500mAh lithium-ion batteries
The VCANNY Remote Control Car is, in our opinion, the most noticeable RC car on this list, and with its strong and durable wheels, it’s easy to see that it’s specifically built for heavy-duty tasks. This allows it to run at a very high speed and it is capable of withstanding any sort of environment and pressure that it may be subjected to. It comes with a bouncing spring which enhances its performance.
The RC car comes with high-quality wheels, which are remarkable because they are strong and made with bouncing materials. The wheels are also protected against any shock, which means you don’t need to worry in the event of dropping. This will enable you to enjoy your ride throughout.
This RC car boasts an outstanding speed of 30 mph (almost real city road traffic!). The body design of the car makes sure that you have lifelike racing experience. The car is capable of reaching a speed of 30 mph, which is made possible by the powerful motor engine of the car. While the 20 minutes runtime of the battery is average at best, it is still better than what you get from similar products of the same price range.
More features: aluminum capped oil filled shocks; bead-lock rock crawling tires
Redcat Racing is another leading RC manufacturer in the world, and their experience is evident in the Redcat Racing Everest-10 Electric Rock Crawler. The RC car comes with a powerful spring suspension system and a beautiful design. When it comes to features, it includes everything required for a superb climbing experience. Despite being rather affordable, the RC car has waterproof electronics, a powerful brushed motor, and texturized oversized wheels.
All these features mean the Everest 10 delivers very high performance. With the superbly springy and independent suspension springs and ball bearings all through the chassis, the RC is capable of doing a lot of wonders. In regards to battery, the car comes with a powerful 7.2Volt 2000 mAh NiMH battery, which is capable of delivering around one hour of play, which is remarkably impressive.
More features: includes front headlights, strong shockproof body, TPR anti-slip tires
This is an all terrain off-road RC truck with a spring suspension system that protects the vehicle during falls and impacts. The SZUX is well suited to running on a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces, including: mud, sand, stone and more. This RC car comes assembled which means you can use it straight out of the box for instant driving fun.
This RC truck has some interesting features, including: cockpit, frame, shock absorbers, front headlights, anti-crash wheels and more. When you use the front headlights it’s possible to drive this RC truck in dim-light conditions. This is a very different experience to traditional RC driving and it’s a lot of fun. Despite the extensive feature set, this RC truck is great for RC driving enthusiasts of any age.
The body of this RC truck is made from a tough alloy material that increases collision resistance. This shockproof body can resist falls from higher altitudes and the rubber tires are made from high grade PVC materials. The tires are durable enough to dive over uneven terrain and they are soft enough to provide plenty of grip for slippery surfaces. The 2.4Ghz controller has a range of 165 feet and the top speed is 25km/h. Power is supplied from a pair of rechargeable battery packs which will keep you driving for at least half an hour.
More features: waterproof electronics; mirror-chrome All-Star wheels
Over the years, Traxxas has worked tremendously to become one of the leading manufacturers of RC toys, and they have established themselves as a reliable company by churning out high-quality RC drones and cars consistently. One of their most popular offerings, the Traxxas RTR 1/10 Rustler is one the best RC cars sold for less than $200 for many reasons. Running on Titan 12-turn 550 modded motor, this RC car has a very powerful motor which allows it to be capable of many things.
Apart from the powerful Titan 12-turn 550 modified motor, it also comes with the XL-5 electric speed control, and the RC car can effortlessly reach neck-breaking speeds of around 35 mph, which is very impressive considering the relatively affordable cost. Besides, the Rustler has full waterproof electronics, which means it can drive across mud, snow, and puddles without any issue whatsoever. In addition to that, the Rustler also has a decent seven-cell NiMH battery that can provide you with 20 minutes of play.
When it comes to the durability, you don’t have anything to worry about because this RC car comes with steel gears, durable frame, and like we already mentioned full waterproof electronics. If everything is taken into account, nobody should really bat an eye when it’s said that the Traxxass Rustler is one of the best RC cars under $200 available on the market currently.
More features: low voltage protection: the receiver stop working when batteries voltage is lower than 6.5V
Established in 2010, HOSIM is a manufacturer of different kinds of RC cars, and this pick is one of their best off-road RC vehicles. The most impressive thing about this RC car is the wide tires. Since off-road driving requires a wide tire that is capable of creating more grasp on the ground, this car is absolutely perfect for a situation like that.
Just because it is an off-road RC car doesn’t mean that it cannot be used for high-speed races. This RC car is capable of reaching a speed of 30 mph, which is quite impressive since this RC car costs a little more than $100. So, if you are the sort of person that likes speed, then you will love this car a lot.
The remote control of the car has an impressive range of up to 260 feet. It features an incorporated throttle, and also a very responsive steering system. In addition to that, it comes with an ergonomic transmitter system, which enhances its control. This car also features utilization of S-truck suspension technology, which makes it deliver strong and durable performance. As such, it’s perfect for specialized operations like flip, turn, and drift.
If you are new to RC cars, it will be quite hard for you to choose the best one. Whether you’re a new user or a professional, the following guide is designed to help you make a well-informed decision.
The main reason why you might want to own an RC car is the incredible fun they offer. There is nothing so fulfilling as watching this little car speed through the patio and rapidly blasting over your street as you control it yourself. While your children will require some supervision when playing with these toys, the play is generally independent, so they will be able to learn and form opinions about their surroundings.
While a lot of people only compete through online games, RC cars provide a perfect chance for them to engage in real life completion, which is much healthier and more exciting. A child who likes RC cars will want to race with a friend or a family member, which generally boosts the spirit of competition in your family. This is truly the most appealing part of RC cars, an opportunity to bond with other family members.
Your children will surely make new friends playing with RC cars. There is a high probability that you will come across groups with RC gatherings or clubs, and RC cars are a fun and exciting way for your children to make friends and bolster social skills. Over the years, RC cars have seen a great evolution which means they’re now regarded as small cars. As a result of this, it’s easy for your kids to find others who share the same interest as them.
Like video games, RC cars are capable of helping a player improve hand to eye coordination. However, they do this better than video games particularly due to how they utilize real-world navigation. In addition to that, crashing and damaging cars is physical, so playing with RC cars can really improve reaction and reflex. Ranging from basic designs to advanced ones, there is a wide range of RC cars to choose from online.
Before shopping for an RC car, you need to be conversant with some features and aspects. Below are the most important features to consider when shopping for an RC car.
There are different types of RC cars on the market like drift cars, street cars, trucks, RC rock crawlers, and more. Each type comes with different pros, cons, and unique features. Depending on your demand and hobby, you should pick the most suitable model.
Since your budget is under $200, it is apt to go for off-road or rock crawler cars which are the most common and quality in this price range.
If you’d like to save even more while shopping, take a look at the best RC cars under $100 – there are some fantastic models available on the market!
There are basically three scales or sizes: small size with 1/18 scale, large size with 1/8 scale, and the regular size with 1/10 scale. The most popular scale for the best RC cars under $200 is 1/10. With appropriate size, all the RC car parts can perform effectively.
You run the risk of having a shattering crash each time you take your RC vehicle for a spin. There are no two ways about it: RC cars are toys, and toys tend to break at times. Most people like buying the sturdiest car possible to reduce this risk. The secret behind buying a robust RC car is finding a model with a durable body and a sturdy chassis.
Speed is one of the most vital elements you need to take into consideration when purchasing an RC car. If you love speed, then you should clearly consider this feature. The average RC cars speed range is 10 – 70 mph. normally, while the speed of a remote control car below $200 is around 20mph – 30 mph, so you shouldn’t expect an outstanding racing performance from such products.
Frequency shows the transmitter’s controlling capacity. A weak radio signal cannot control your RC car properly. The normal frequency of the best RC cars under $200 is 2.4 GHz. You should, however, try to check whether the frequency is adequately strong to control the RC car.
You should choose RC cars with longer battery life like the Redcat Racing Everest-10 Electric Rock Crawler. Contemporary RC cars that operate on just regular batteries alone are rare. You will have either a charging station for both the remote and car, or you will have a remote control that operates on AA batteries and an inbuilt car battery that is charged in AC outlets.
While a regular NiMH battery is capable of lasting you a long time, the battery could actually die out if allowed or used in the sun for a long period of time. To maximize the life of your battery, recharge the RC car until it is full. During lengthy inactivity periods, the RC car should still be recharged once weekly.
Warranty is always a very important consideration when buying any electronics. Most RC cars provide rather good warranty terms. Ensure that you check out the coverage and support, as they are useful whenever you need it.
Depending on the type of RC car you purchase, the remote control may allow you to do additional things such as a horn, honk, or light up. While all these might sound appealing at first, don’t allow yourself to be deceived by basic additions that could run out the battery quicker since they are on standby constantly. In a lot of cases, they are merely marketing additions and aren’t really important.
The winner of this round goes to the VCANNY Rock Crawler for how it perfectly packs high performance and affordability in a single unit. Being a 4-wheel drive, it is obviously suitable for heavy-duty tasks. It has a high speed and great control, thereby ensuring a very realistic racing experience.
Coming up at second place is the Redcat Racing Everest-10 Electric Rock Crawler. With the independent suspension springs and ball bearings all through the chassis, the RC is capable of doing a lot of wonders. Apart from that, the car also comes with a runtime of one hour, which is the longest on this list.
Our third pick is the SZJJX Remote Control Car. With its maximum speed of up to 25 mph and its ability to run on a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces, the SZJJX Vehicle is worth its weight in gold. The RC car has a durable, shockproof body that can resist falls from higher altitudes, and its rubber tires are durable enough to dive over uneven terrain.
