Best Ride On Toys for Kids

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best ride on toy for kids is, I’d recommend the Best Choice Products 12v Ride On.

If you have a child who loves speed and being outdoors, a ride on toy might be what you’re looking for. Ride on toys can provide your child with hours of fun while helping them develop gross motor skills. We’ve pulled together a list of some of the best ride on toys for children to make your shopping process a little easier.

Here are the kids ride on toys I will be reviewing:

• Best Choice Products 12v Ride On
• John Deere Ride on Tractor
• Jurassic Park Ride On
• Power Wheels Lil’ Quad
• Rollplay Truck Ride On

What Is A Ride On Toy?

Ride on toys are child-sized replicas of full-sized vehicles. They’re available in trucks, cars, motorcycles, and a whole variety of vehicles in between. You’ll find them in exact replicas of popular cars—right down to the hood ornament—and in movie and superhero themes.

Ride on toys are generally designed for outside use. So they can make a great addition to your child’s collections of bikes, scooters, and outdoor swings. Some are more suitable for smooth terrain than off-roading. They’re made for your child to sit on or in, depending on the style. They’re available at a wide variety of price points and some may offer fun features like working radios and doors.

What To Consider When Shopping For A Ride On Toy

Before you go to make your purchase, you’ll want to have a good idea of what to look for. Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind while shopping:

• Age of your child: Ride on toys are available for a wide range of ages. The older your child, the larger the vehicle should be. You’ll want to factor in weight as well as leg length. Ride on toys for younger children may include a speed cap and parent override. 
• Where the toy will be used: Not all ride on wheels are created equal. If your child will mostly be riding on grass or rugged terrain, you’ll want to opt for an off-road model.
• Extra features: Are you looking for a basic ride on toy or something that comes with bells and whistles? Identify which features you can’t live without and go from there. Some features you may want to consider are seat belts, remote controls and parent overrides, sound and light effects, and Bluetooth capabilities. 

While doing your shopping, don’t forget to consider using helmets and other safety precautions. Always discuss rules and expectations prior to bringing home a ride on toy.

Reviews Of The Best Ride On Toys For Kids

Ride on toys can be a lot of fun for kids. So, I have taken a look at what’s available, and reviewed my top five. I’ve also picked my favorite.

​Best Choice Products 12v Ride On

This ride on model features an SUV look and rugged tires that are suitable for on-road and off-road use. It’s a single-child rider and comes with a foot pedal accelerator and a working steering wheel. This unit is suitable for children up to 65 pounds.

If your child is still too young to be trusted on their own, this ride on also offers a remote control option. You can be in charge of your child’s ride from afar. That way, they can enjoy the experience and feel the independence while still being safe.

This unit is designed for use by young children, and safety has been at the forefront of its design. A seat belt helps prevent your child from being dislodged from the vehicle while you can choose from a preset speed. There are three options—low, medium, and high—so you can select the speed that suits your child’s current needs best.

This ride on toy also provides music. Preloaded options are included, but you can also listen to your own music through the use of an AUX cord. One is included with the product at the time of purchase.

The materials used are high-grade and non-toxic. This unit runs on a rechargeable 12V battery and has a suspension system in place. This suspension system helps make off-road use more fun and safer.

To add to the realistic detailing of the ride on, this unit comes with working LED lights. The battery will require 8–10 hours to fully charge. Each charge will give your child 1–2 hours of use. The battery for the ride on is included, but the AAA batteries for the parental controller need to be purchased separately.

John Deere Ride On Tractor

If you’re looking for something that’s more than just a toy, you might be interested in this child-sized tractor. Your little one will especially love this model if you spend a lot of time outside and your child likes to help with yard work.

This tractor offers two different speeds for your little one. You can set it at 2.5 miles per hour or 4.5 miles per hour. When your child is ready to take on a little more speed, you can easily change the setting. This is a great choice for a family with multiple children of different ages or someone who’s looking for a ride-on that will give you years of use.

This ride on toy also operates in reverse and maxes out at 2.5 miles when going backward. This unit has an accelerator pedal as well as an automatic brake system in place. It also offers an adjustable seat with flip-up armrests to make getting off and on a little easier.

This ride on offers one feature most others don’t. An extra-large stake-side trailer is included and designed to be towed by the tractor. This can be a fun way to get your child involved in carting yard tools, flowers, and leaves.

The wheels on this unit are designed for off-road use. They offer a heavy tread and provide great traction, even on dirt and gravel. This ride-on is for children 3 years of age and older and can support up to 85 pounds of weight.

Jurassic Park Ride On

This fun ATV-style ride on prominently features a dinosaur in its construction. Your child can feel like an adventurer while riding this raptor around the yard. The dinosaur’s mouth can be manually opened and closed and encourages creative and imaginative play.

This ride on runs on a 12V rechargeable battery. When fully charged, you can expect to get 1–3 hours of use out of the ride on before needing to recharge. To charge, you’ll just need to plug the unit into a wall outlet with the included power cord. Expect to dedicate at least 12 hours to charging.

This unit offers parental controls. You can determine what speed is best for your child to prevent them from going too fast. The top speed for this unit is 6 miles per hour. It’s capable of moving in reverse as well, where the speed maxes out at 3 miles per hour.

The wide, treaded plastic tires are made for off-roading. While this unit runs well on smooth and paved surfaces, it’s also great on gravel and grass. This unit also features a power lock system, which stops the vehicle when your child stops depressing the accelerator. This makes stopping simple and helps keep your little one safe while riding.

Assembly is required with this unit to cut down on shipping costs. All tools needed for assembly are included with purchase. Two people working together can cut down on the time and difficulty of assembly. This unit is designed for one rider and can support up to 65 pounds.

Power Wheels Lil’ Quad

This ride on is a great option for a younger child. It offers a simple push-button function that controls stopping and going. It sits low to the ground so it’s easy for little ones to get on and off. The low center of gravity also helps prevent accidental tip overs while riding.

Mastering complicated maneuvers can be difficult. This unit is designed specifically to cut down on those complications. This model only moves forward, not backward, and it maxes out at 2 miles an hour. There’s still plenty of fun for your little one to have at this lower speed point.

The wheels on this unit are wide and heavily textured. Though they’re made out of hard plastic, they work well on both smooth surfaces and grass.

This unit uses a 6V battery. Though it offers less power than the larger 12V battery, it is still plenty of power for the reduced speed the unit offers. A charging cord is included with purchase.

Styled after Minnie Mouse, this ride on toy is pink and aqua with matching wheel rims. The iconic pink polka dotted bow sits front and center on the handlebars. A secret storage compartment beneath the bow will keep your child’s treasures close. Additional Minnie Mouse decals finish off the look.

This is a great option for younger children. While it’s sturdy and safe for a little one, it may be quickly outgrown as your child ages. With the cap on the speed and the smaller size, you should anticipate moving up to a larger unit as your child ages.

Rollplay Truck Ride On

If you’ve been looking for a ride on toy that two children can use at once, you may want to consider this option. It’s styled after the popular Chevy truck model and has two working doors. The tailgate also works, folding down so your little one can easily store items for their trip.

Like the vehicle it’s modeled after, this unit is designed for off-road use. The wheels have rubber treading for superior traction that’s perfect for grass and gravel use. Cup holders and a usable truck bed will have everything your children need just within reach—wherever their backyard adventures take them.

In addition to these features, this ride-on has working lights and features realistic car noises, like a honking horn. This unit also has music capabilities. An included AUX cord will allow you to tap into your own music selection and play what your child loves.

This ride on goes both forward and backward. It can go up to 5 miles per hour, but there is a high-speed lockout. This feature allows you to set the top speed to a lower rate (2.5 miles) to keep younger children at a safer speed.

An integrated battery display keeps your child (and you) aware of how much battery life is left. It will take 8–12 hours to fully charge the battery. The maximum recommended weight for this ride on is 130 pounds. Though it’s heavy-duty and built for two, it’s also physically heavy—you’ll want to plan on putting it together with another person.

Final Thoughts

Any of these ride-on toys could be a good addition to your child’s outdoor play time. If I were bringing one home, it would have to be the Best Choice Products 12v Ride On. I love that it comes with a safety belt and remote control. It’s the perfect kind of introduction to a ride on toy for a child.