The RX12 is a 1:12 4WD rally and drift car with an alloy chassis, a 2845 3600KV brushless motor and an electronic gyro to help keep it pointing forwards. It is listed at up to 80 km/h, which is 50 mph from a car small enough to carry under one arm.

Best for: tarmac and smooth car parks, and anyone who wants real speed on a small budget. Watch out for: the battery. The top speed is quoted on 3S, so check which pack is in the box, and a small car at that speed needs a smooth surface.

A 1:16 buggy listed at 80 km/h sounds unlikely until you look at how it is built: a rigid CNC-machined chassis, full metal differentials and long-stroke shocks. It comes ready to run with battery and radio, and it copes with dirt and short grass as well as tarmac.

Best for: experienced drivers who want a pocket-sized car with proper pace on mixed surfaces. Watch out for: its size. Small wheels and high speed do not mix with rough ground, so pick your surface.

On paper this is the fastest car on the page: a 1:8 truck with a 3670 2500KV motor and a waterproof 80A speed controller, listed at 100 km/h and more. It has hydraulic shocks, a reinforced aluminium chassis and a wheelie bar, and the 4000mAh LiPo is included.

Best for: drivers who want big-scale speed at a small-scale price. Watch out for: expecting premium parts. It is very quick for the money, and that is where the money has gone.

The QuantumR is Maverick’s 1:8 street car: a low, wide 4WD chassis under a muscle-car body, built to run on 4S. We do not quote a top speed for it, but a 4S brushless car of this size and shape is the natural choice for speed runs on smooth ground.

Best for: large, empty tarmac areas and drivers who want a fast car that looks like one. Watch out for: the extras. Check the listing for what is included, because a 4S pack and a charger that can handle it add to the price.

A 1:8 buggy is the most stable shape there is at speed: low, wide and long. The BX-8E is listed at 90 km/h with a 4068 brushless motor and a CNC-machined aluminium chassis, and it comes with a 5000mAh 3S battery and a charger.

Best for: the driver who wants to use the speed, not just reach it once. Watch out for: the space it needs. See the distances below before choosing where to run it.

The MT8 puts a 4076 1900KV motor and a 120A waterproof speed controller in a 1:8 monster truck with a 6061 alloy chassis, 16mm shocks and 4.5mm steel driveshafts. It is listed at 90 km/h and arrives with a 3S 5000mAh battery, charger and radio.

Best for: bashers who want top speed and big air from the same truck. Watch out for: rolling it. A tall truck at this speed will flip if you turn hard. Our best RC monster trucks guide covers the calmer options.

FTX describes the DR8 as big, brutal and fast, and at 6S that is fair. It is a 1:8 desert racer with scale looks and the most electrical power of anything here. We do not list a top speed for it, so treat it as the pick for power and presence.

Best for: experienced drivers with open land who want the full large-scale brushless experience. Watch out for: the running costs. 6S means two large packs or one very large one, and a charger to match.