Not every 12 year old is ready to jump straight into brushless territory, and that’s fine. The H16E’s smaller 1:16 footprint and GPS speedometer app let them track their own top speed and improve on it, which is a genuinely good way to build throttle control before stepping up to something quicker.

Best for: a 12 year old who’s new to RC or stepping up from a toy-grade car and wants to see real progress, not just a top speed number. Watch out for: the smaller scale means smaller, more fragile parts outdoors on rough ground — it’s best kept to smoother surfaces while confidence builds.

A brushed motor sounds like a downgrade next to all the brushless options here, but it’s actually a sensible choice for everyday bashing. Brushed power is more forgiving, cheaper to run, and the 124018 V2’s 1:12 buggy format is a proper size step up from the H16E without jumping straight to full brushless pace.

Best for: a 12 year old who wants a bigger, tougher buggy for the garden or park without the running costs of brushless. Watch out for: brushed motors wear out and lose power over time, so budget for a replacement eventually if it sees heavy use.

A metal chassis matters once speed and knocks go up — it shrugs off the inevitable clips against kerbs and fence posts far better than a plastic tub. The XTS-P12 pairs that durability with brushless power, giving a proper step up in pace from the brushed buggy without needing any aftermarket upgrades.

Best for: a 12 year old who’s shown they can handle the brushed buggy confidently and is ready for real brushless acceleration. Watch out for: brushless 4WD is noticeably quicker off the throttle — a quiet word about throttle control before the first run is worth it.

Same spec as the blue version above, just in red — which is actually the main reason it’s here. Buying two matching XTS-P12s in different colours is a straightforward way to get two kids (or a parent and child) on genuinely even footing for side-by-side racing, rather than one child always driving the faster car.

Best for: households buying a second identical car for fair head-to-head racing. Watch out for: as it’s mechanically identical to the blue version, there’s no reason to pay the difference unless colour matching is the point.

Drift cars are deceptively good teaching tools. The low-grip tyres mean the back end steps out well below the car’s top speed, so a 12 year old learns to catch slides and feather the throttle at a pace that’s actually manageable, rather than only ever driving flat out.

Best for: a 12 year old who enjoys the technical side of driving as much as speed, and wants something a bit different from straight-line bashing. Watch out for: drifting takes a smooth, hard surface — it won’t do much on grass or gravel.

80km/h out of a 1:12 car is a serious amount of pace, and the 3S-ready electronics mean there’s headroom to go faster still once a bigger battery is added. This is the car to work up to once a 12 year old has genuinely proven they can handle the slower brushless options cleanly, not the one to start on.

Best for: a confident, experienced 12 year old who’s outgrown the Rlaarlo and 14304 and wants a car that can genuinely keep pace with their skill. Watch out for: stick to the 2S battery it comes ready for first — 3S power at this scale needs supervision and a big, open space.