Packaging Dimensions: Length: 31 cm Height: 15 cm Width: 7 cm All measurements are approximates to the nearest 0. You plug one end into the toy and the other end into a power adapter (like the kind you use to charge your phone) or into your laptop to give the batteries their juice. The body and wheels are super lightweight, which helps it bounce over obstacles in true monster truck fashion. This fun little vehicle can do tricks, including wheelies, spins and drifts, like the moves featured in the video game. Lights and sounds raise the overall play value, and those are also set off using the remote control.

Small remote-controlled toys are fun indoors, but big RC vehicles are hard to maneuver around furniture. To that end, we've sent samples to homes to get real-life feedback and also tested many remote-controlled cars in our Lab.I tend to steer clear of remote control toys because my little ones can never seem to use them properly and get frustrated! Our testing has shown that it's strong enough to be raced down a staircase or smashed into cabinets without damage to the toy or to a home. It's a great toy for a preschooler or an elementary-age child who likes to play imaginative superhero games, but it's also fun for big kids who just want a cool Batmobile. Once the child is a bit more experienced in handling the control, the professional mode can be activated.

The biggest surprise is that this monster truck does what it promises: It goes on land or through water , even traveling through a swimming pool, which is a unique thrill.

We also look at how a vehicle gets its power, and whether it needs fresh, disposable batteries or uses a rechargeable battery. Kidults" (grown-ups who've retained their childhood enthusiasm) love to race this outdoors, and it's a good step up for a teen who's ready for more of a hobby RC car versus a toy RC car.

Because of its soft wheels, the Flippin' Frenzy is ideal for indoor use, where it's unlikely to mark walls or scratch furniture, though you're welcome to use it outdoors too. It's both a remote-controlled car and a play set, able to be driven around and then parked and transformed into Batman's base of operations. Then our experts check for pinch points (spots on a toy where a small child could hurt a finger) and conduct a drop test to be certain the toy won't shatter into small pieces with sharp edges or pose a choking hazard. But to some extent, gradual depletion is expected with any rechargeable battery (as we all know from life with our smartphones). With previous versions of this Air Hogs RC car, users reported that the rechargeable battery got weaker over time and held for only 15 minutes or so — still a respectable amount of time in the RC vehicle universe, but worth noting.When testing any kind of toy, our engineers and analysts begin by ensuring that each toy meets all federal safety standards. It's not speedy, and it is, in fact, slower than toy cars for younger kids, but the way it spins, climbs, flips and keeps going is a delight. We also take notes on whether the car works best indoors or outdoors, and if it leaves any marks on walls or cabinets that it bumps into. Thomas will move forward and backward as toddlers direct him with the easy-to-use, easy-to-hold remote control.