Best Ride-On Cars for 5 to 8 Year Olds

For most 5- to 8-year-olds, a ride-on car needs two things: a listed age range that goes up to 8, and a weight limit with room to spare. Many 12V cars in our range are listed for ages 3 to 6 with limits of 55 to 66 lbs. A 5-year-old can use one of those, but a 7-year-old is close to outgrowing it. For a longer-lasting buy, look at 24V jeeps, UTVs and SUVs listed to age 8. Some of these support up to 110 lbs. Confident 6- to 8-year-olds can also move up to a kids’ go-kart rated for their age.

Below are the models in our current range whose listings fit this age group, grouped by type, with the specs that decide whether a child will fit now and in two years.

Why 5 to 8 is a tricky age to buy for

A 5-year-old and an 8-year-old can differ a lot in height, weight and confidence. A car that fits one may not fit the other. Three things decide the right choice:

• Weight headroom. The maximum rider weight is the hard limit. A child already near it will outgrow the car within months. Weigh your child and compare before you look at features.
• Listed age ceiling. A car listed for 3 to 6 is sized for preschoolers. A car listed for 3 to 8 is usually larger inside. Seat width, legroom and steering position all matter more as children grow.
• How much control they want. Most kids at this age want to drive themselves. Speed settings let you start slow, and a parental remote is still useful for a nervous 5-year-old. By 7 or 8 it is used less.

Our age guide explains general age bands across all ages. This guide focuses on which models in our range suit the 5-to-8 window.

Options in our range listed for 5- to 8-year-olds

Specs come from each product listing. Where a listing does not state a value, the table says “not listed”. Check with us before buying if that value matters to you.

Cars and SUVs: best for smooth driveways and two riders

A 12V car works for a 5- or 6-year-old who mostly drives on pavement. Pick one listed to age 8, such as the Mou Mou or the Dodge Challenger, rather than a 3-to-6 model. On a lawn, a lighter 12V car may struggle, so check the tire type and drive system on the listing.

The 24V Range Rover is the strongest all-round option here for families with two children. It has two seats with a belt for each, a 110 lb combined limit, EVA rubber tires and suspension. Its listed runtime of up to 70 minutes also helps. The two-seater layout matters because siblings or friends will usually want to ride together. Our two-seater guide covers how to split a weight limit between two riders.

Jeeps and UTVs: best for grass and uneven yards

If the riding happens on a lawn, power and traction matter more than styling. Four-wheel-drive models send power to every wheel, so they are less likely to stall on soft ground than a car that drives two wheels. The 12V Mercedes Unimog is unusual because it has four motors, a raised suspension and EVA tires on a 12V system, plus a 100 lb limit. That makes it a sensible choice for a child who wants off-road ability without higher speed. Its listing does not mention a parental remote.

The 24V UTV-MX and 1928 UTV Clash add three speed levels and shock absorbers, with a parental remote. The low speeds suit a 5-year-old, and the higher ones keep an 8-year-old interested. The 48V Can-Am sits at the top of this category, with two seats and four 200W motors. It is the heaviest and largest option here at 114.8 lbs and 57 inches long, so check your storage space. Browse all of them in the ride-on jeeps and trucks collection, and see best ride-on cars for grass if your yard is the main track.

The 24V J618 ATV gives the same four-wheel-drive idea in quad form, with two seats and a 110 lb limit. The kids’ ATV buying guide explains how ATVs differ from jeeps.

Go-karts: for confident 6- to 8-year-olds

A go-kart puts the child low to the ground with a steering wheel and pedals, and it feels faster than a jeep at the same speed. In our range, the 24V Drift Kids Go-Kart is listed from age 5 with a speed of up to 8.5 mph and two speed settings. The low setting is for the first sessions. The McLaren 24V drift kart starts at age 6, runs about 4 to 7.5 mph and supports up to 130 lbs. Both are built mainly for smooth pavement. The McLaren listing rules out grass and gravel, and the Drift Kids kart’s listing says it only handles short, firm grass. Their listings do not describe a parental remote, so the child needs to be able to brake and steer on their own.

Not every kart suits this age. The 24V Drifting Gokart, for example, is listed for riders around 12. Read the kids’ go-kart buying guide before choosing, and use a properly fitted helmet. The Drift Kids Go-Kart listing itself calls for a helmet and closed-toe shoes.

Motorbikes: training wheels first

The 12V D7 Superpower bike is listed for ages 3 to 8, with training wheels and a 3 to 5 mph range. It suits a 5- or 6-year-old who wants a motorbike look without needing to balance. The 24V electric dirt bike is the next step. It is listed for ages 8 to 12, with inflatable tires and speeds up to 14.29 mph, so it only suits children at the very top of this age range who already ride a bicycle well. See the motorbikes and dirt bikes collection.

12V or 24V for this age?

For a 5-year-old on a flat driveway, a 12V model listed to age 8 is usually enough. For a 7- or 8-year-old, two riders or a grassy yard, a 24V model is generally the better fit. That is because higher voltage typically supports more power for heavier loads and softer ground. Motors, weight and tires still affect real performance. The full comparison is in 12V vs 24V ride-on cars.

Frequently asked questions

Is my 8-year-old too old for a ride-on car?

Not if the model is listed to age 8 or older and your child is under its weight limit. In our range, the Range Rover SUV and J618 ATV support up to 110 lbs. The kids’ go-karts are listed up to ages 12 and 13.

Does a 5-year-old still need a parental remote?

For a first powered vehicle, it is worth having. Many 5-year-olds steer well but react slowly to obstacles. Most cars, jeeps and UTVs in the table include a remote. The go-karts’ listings do not describe one.

Which option lasts the longest as a child grows?

Look at the gap between your child’s weight and the listed limit, and at the upper age. Models listed to 8 with a 100 to 110 lb limit, or a go-kart listed to 12 or 13, have the most room to grow.

Try them before you choose

Children in this age range often have firm opinions about how a car feels. Both of our Georgia stores offer test drives, so your child can sit in a jeep, an SUV and a go-kart and compare legroom before you buy. You can also browse the full 24V ride-on cars collection online.