The Hyper Go range is where a lot of people discover what brushless power feels like, and the 14303 is the pick of it for mixed use. It is a 4WD 1:14 rally car with a Lancia Delta-style body, small enough for a car park or a short-cut field and quick enough to stay interesting long after the first weekend.

Best for: a first hobby-grade car for a teenager or adult who wants speed without spending £200. Watch out for: the low ride height. It is happiest on tarmac, gravel and short grass, and long grass will stop it.

This is the car we sell more of than any other, and the reasons are simple: a brushless motor, an aluminium chassis and oil-filled shocks at a price where most rivals are still brushed and plastic. It is listed at 75 km/h, comes with a 7.4V battery and radio, and spare parts are easy to get.

Best for: almost anyone buying a first proper RC car, and bashers who want a second car that can take a beating. Watch out for: the speed. It is too quick for young children on full throttle, so use the transmitter’s throttle limit while they learn.

A monster truck is the most forgiving type of RC car: big tyres and long suspension travel roll over ground that would stop a buggy. The Omni-Terminator adds a centre differential, steel spiral-cut gears and a gyro to keep it straight under power, and the included 5000mAh battery gives it long run times.

Best for: bashing in parks, fields and BMX tracks, and drivers who care more about jumps than lap times. Watch out for: its height. Like any monster truck it will roll if you turn hard at speed, which is half the fun but hard on bodyshells.

Crawling is the opposite of everything else on this page. The aim is to pick a line over rocks, roots and steps at walking pace, and it is absorbing in a way speed runs are not. The RGT 18100 is a full-size 1:10 crawler with metal construction, a high-torque motor and waterproof electronics, at a price well below the big-name alternatives.

Best for: woodland walks, garden rock courses and anyone who wants an RC car they can use for an hour without chasing it. Watch out for: expecting speed. It is geared to climb, not to race. Our best RC crawler guide covers the alternatives.

The QuantumRX is Maverick’s brushless rally car: a 4WD shaft-driven chassis with independent suspension, oil-filled coilover shocks and gravel-pattern tyres on rally-style wheels. It is built for 4S LiPo power, which puts it a clear step above the 1:14 cars for pace, and it is as happy on a gravel car park as it is on tarmac.

Best for: drivers who want realistic rally looks with real pace, and a step up from 1:14 and 1:16 cars. Watch out for: space and extras. On 4S it needs a large, empty area to run safely, and you should check the product page for whether a battery and charger are included.

HPI’s WR8 is the rally car people aspire to. It is built on the Bullet chassis with metal differentials and rally-tuned suspension, the electronics are waterproof and 3S-capable, and the officially licensed 2001 WRC Subaru Impreza body is as good as scale rally gets.

Best for: rally fans who want a car that looks right standing still and drives properly on mixed surfaces. Watch out for: the extras. Check the product page for what is in the box and budget for a suitable LiPo and charger if they are not included.

The MP10 platform has won world championships, and the MP10e Readyset is that chassis in ready-to-run form: a 4WD brushless 1:8 buggy that is as happy at a club race as it is on a rough field. Nothing else on this list is built to this standard, and every part of it can be serviced, tuned and replaced.

Best for: experienced drivers, and anyone thinking about club racing. See our best RC cars for adults guide for more at this level. Watch out for: the running costs. A 1:8 buggy needs larger batteries and a capable charger, and it is far more car than a beginner needs.