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Fisher-Price Power Wheels have skyrocketed in popularity for the electric car industry. Parents, Grandparents, and all other family-favorite people are looking for the best Power Wheels vehicle to give the kids. Luckily, they offer a variety of vehicles and themes that will bring happiness to anyone!
The best Power Wheels vehicle for most 3-year-olds is the Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. It offers a realistic style jeep look, improved stability, roomy area, and even a parent-controlled speed lock-out! However, there are still many other vehicles that are popular choices.
In this article, I will first discuss what to look for when purchasing a Power Wheels vehicle. Then, I will look at what makes the Jeep Wrangler our top pick and other alternatives that are also available. Also, if you're looking for other power wheels ages, click here.
What to Consider When Buying Power Wheels for 3-Year-Olds
There are a few primary factors that you need to consider before choosing an electric car:
- Age and Weight Limitations
- Reliability (Traction, Driving Surfaces, Battery Power, Charging)
- Cost
- Speed
I will go into detail about each factor below.
Age and Weight Limitations
Understanding age limitations is essential when considering an electric car. There are vehicles available for ages 12 months to 8 years. However, most of Fisher-Price’s vehicles have a minimum age limit recommendation of 3 years.
The age limitations are in place for the safety of the children. Younger children need more guidance; therefore, the vehicles made for little ones, such as three-year-olds, are equipped with more safety measures. Most vehicles designed for younger children will feature more parental controls, slower speeds, and improved stability.
Weight is another limitation that needs to be considered with an electric car. You will want a car that will be able to handle the kids and something that the kids themselves will be able to handle. Most vehicles are lighter weight and have restrictions on the amount of weight that can be on them. You will want to review the vehicle model limitations when considering them.
Reliability
Traction
Most electric car toys feature hard plastic tires on vehicles. Plastic tires may be a problem during iffy weather conditions since they will not offer much if any, traction for the vehicle. Less traction means more wheels spinning, whether on a slick pavement or slippery grass, and it would be harder for a child to gain control of the electric vehicle.
You will want to make sure that you check reviews and descriptions of each vehicle. However, if you still find trouble with tread, there are ways to modify the tires to make them safer for the children. Just simply placing rubber treads around them can ease the problem considerably.
Driving Surfaces
The types of surfaces that a Power Wheels vehicle can drive on vary depending on its vehicle. Most Power Wheel vehicles were made for driving on paved surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt. However, others will also drive well on grassy areas or off-road areas. For instance, the Jeep Wrangler is a common electric vehicle to get because it can readily drive on each surface listed above, just like real off-road jeeps.
To pick the right fit for your child, you will want to verify the details of listed descriptions and functions for each vehicle. You will want to choose the option that can best handle the types of surfaces the child will be using.
Battery Power
All Fisher-Price’s battery-powered Power Wheels vehicles come with a rechargeable battery for the car. The speed of the vehicle is dependent on the voltage amount of the battery required for each vehicle. The standard battery is usually a 12-Volt; however, some vehicles may be 16- or 18-Volt’s if you wish to increase the speed. Keep in mind that the higher the battery’s voltage, the more likely warranty options will be limited.
Charging
The problem with battery-powered vehicles is that there will always have to be a decent amount of time set aside for charging. It feels like ages! But, the higher the quality battery, the fewer problems that are left.
The best tips for charging include:
- maintaining high-quality battery life
- avoiding improper charging techniques (such as overcharging, under-charging, various sequences, etc.)
- evaluating the test time of the vehicle
Most battery-powered vehicles can take upwards of 18 hours to charge, while the average charging time is 14 hours. You will want to keep this in mind when charging needs to be completed.
Cost
For a brand new Power Wheels vehicle, you are looking at prices that fall between $250 – $450. Of course, there will almost always be chances to find some of the best Power Wheels on sale. Some stores you can look at include Walmart, Target, Amazon, or even the Fisher-Price website. If you are looking for cheaper, you could consider buying a used vehicle safely. However, you are still likely to invest a bit for a Power Wheels vehicle.
Speed
Usually, when you think of fun or sporty cars, you imagine going fast. However, that is not necessarily the case with Power Wheels vehicles. The average rate of speed for these vehicles is approximately 5 to 6 mph. The reasoning behind the slower speed is for safety and liability reasons, and while you can modify the vehicle’s speed to go faster, it is not recommended. These vehicles are not made for speed, but simply enjoyment!
Our Top Picks
It was a tough call, but based on all of the reviews, descriptions, and overall perks, I have determined the following seven best models of Power Wheels to start with the best overall. Whether you are looking for Power Wheels for girls or Power Wheels for boys, these are good choices for 3-year-olds.
| Model | Our Rating |
| Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Barbie Dream Camper | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jeep Wrangler Willys | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⯪ |
| Jurassic World Dino Racer ATV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⯪ |
| Dune Racer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⯪ |
| Baja Trailster | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⯪ |
| Ford F-150 Raptor | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Each Power Wheels vehicle has its own unique features and abilities to surprise your child. Not only that but with their utmost realistic appearance, your children will believe they are in a real, “big kid car”. Below I go into detail about each of the following models and their own attributes.
Best Overall: Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler
This was by far the best overall pick of Power Wheels vehicles for all three-year-olds. I chose the Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler for its improved stability, utmost reliability, stunning realistic graphics, and parent-controlled safety features. Each Jeep Wrangler has a different theme; however, the Jurassic Park theme is a very popular option for boys and girls alike.
One of the best features included with this jeep is the pretend radio. The kids will love the chase and dinosaur sounds that are accompanied by it. This will make for very fun adventures on their part. Not to mention, the jeep’s styling is so realistic that they will surely feel they are in the Jurassic movie itself. One of the perks of realistic graphics is the dinosaur in the side mirror. It truly seems as though a dinosaur is chasing them!
Other great features include the real working light bar in the back to guide the children’s adventures (especially in the dark) and the roomy storage area where they have to carry any of their dinosaur adventure gear!
Note: You will need 7 AA batteries for the real working light and the radio to work.
Just as with the real Jeep Wrangler, this Power Wheels vehicle is made to drive on both hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt and can do some off-roading in grassy areas. Previous reviews highlight the great torque and traction of this vehicle, as well as its ability to ride on an incline steadily.
The maximum speed that the child can drive is five mph going forward (2.5 mph in reverse); however, if this is too fast for your younglings, there is a parental control lock to decrease the speed. Once the child is older, the high-speed lock option can be increased for your child.
As with any vehicle, there are limitations to the Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. First, there are only two seats available for children and a weight limit of up to 130 pounds (59 kg). Keep in mind that the amount of weight is typically a standard limit with two-seater vehicles.
However, one perk is an open-top, so there are no height limitations for taller children. Further, there will be a longer charging time for the vehicle. The first time you charge it, it will take approximately 18 hours. Every time after that, it will be approximately 14 hours.
The 12-Volt battery does have quite a bit of drive time for it, though for your child to have as much fun as long as possible.
This Jeep Wrangler’s many attributes and positive reviews make it the best overall option in our book.
Barbie Dream Camper
Next up on our list for the best options is the Barbie Dream Camper. There are so many amazing features that come with this Power Wheels vehicle, but by far the best part is that it not only acts as a ride-on vehicle but it also opens to reveal a considerably large-sized kitchen for your kids to have fun with.
This camper is made for adventurers that love to go camping and hold “tea parties” for everyone. In the back, you will find a kitchen that can be revealed. It includes a pretend campfire, fold-out “grill”, a fridge, sink, and microwave. That’s not to mention the many items that come with it, including hot dogs, s’mores, pots, and much more. You might even find your child spending more time in the kitchen than with the actual driving.
Luckily, this vehicle has it all. Along with the kitchen, the camper includes a sound system with pre-recorded songs, an MP3 jack, and a pretend GPS with directions coming from Barbie herself. It is created with the ages of kids years 3-7 in mind. That means parent-controlled options are a must! There is a high-speed lock-out and Power-Lock brakes to help keep your kiddos safe while letting them enjoy this vehicle as much as possible.
Going forward, this vehicle can hit a maximum speed of 5 mph (2.5 mph in reverse). It can be driven on hard surfaces or grassy surfaces alike. Not to mention that the 12-Volt battery will keep this vehicle up and running for quite a bit of time before it needs to be charged.
One of the best perks is that this vehicle can be enjoyed by many! Your kiddos can invite you or their friends to the many cookouts and campfires they will surely be having. When they want to take a ride in the vehicle, it features two seats and a 130-pound (59-kg) weight limit. It’s comfortable and roomy just for them.
However, there is one disadvantage with this Power Wheels vehicle – the cost. Since it does feature so many amazing options, these options come with a bit of a cost, which doesn’t make it very budget-friendly. However, it can also be said that with the many features included, you are getting more than what you paid for.
Jeep Wrangler Willys Pink
This pink, battery-powered Power Wheels vehicle is yet another top contender for the list. Since it is a “Willys” theme style, more features are included with it than the regular Jeep Wrangler.
Included with this top-rated vehicle, you will find a real-working light bar, realistic pretend fog lights and even a removable toy shovel in the front. Your child will be able to go on many great adventures with these amazing features – whether light or dark outside.
Also included are radio and microphone, which feature realistic driving sounds and voice changers.
This vehicle is also a 2-seater with a 130-pound (59-kg) weight limit for kids between 3 to 7.
As with other Jeep Wranglers, this vehicle is made for driving on hard surfaces or off-roading adventures. It can even hit a high speed of 5 mph going forward (2.5 mph in reverse). However, if the kids aren’t ready for those higher speeds, a parent-controlled high-speed lock-out and power-lock braking system keep those younger drivers safe.
There are different themed Jeep Wrangler Willys, but pink was the top contender for its fun color option and amazing reviews.
Jurassic World Dino Racer ATV
Next up is yet another Jurassic-themed Power Wheels vehicle that made the top of the list. Luckily, it is a great option to be prepared for the upcoming Jurassic movie to feel as realistic as possible!
So, what makes this Jurassic-themed vehicle different? The kids get to ride on Blue the Raptor! They can even manually open and close Blue’s mouth for a more realistic, chomping action.
Any young racer will love the ability to reenact the scenes from Jurassic World with some off-road action on hard surfaces, grass, or even some rough terrain. This vehicle is also the fastest out of the entire list, going a maximum speed of 6 mph forward (3 mph in reverse). If your little one isn’t ready to go that fast just yet, there are parental-controlled options to limit the speed and keep your child safe.
This vehicle is also just a 1-seater with a 65-pound (29-kg) weight limit. However, although it is just a 1-seater, the seats are made lower to the ground than a regular power wheel making it easier to get on and off, and it will be roomier than other regular cab seats as there is more room to maneuver. All to make an even more exciting off-road adventure!
Baja Trailster
The Baja Trailster is a realistic, dune buggy-styled vehicle, the kids will be off-roading in no time! Kids behind the wheel can go on their driving adventures, whether it be driving on hard surfaces, grass, or other rougher terrain. The speed reaches a mighty maximum of 5 mph (2.5 mph in reverse) and features parental controls for those beginner drivers.
Some of the best perks with this vehicle include the sturdy steel frame and metal sidebars as well as the big, heavy tires, all for providing the most support to keep your young ones safe!
Dune Racer
This stylish Dune Racer will have all the kids running to your yard with its flashy grille and wheels. Also featured with this are metal sidebars for extra support, a secret storage area under the hood, and an awesome Monster Traction driving system so that your child can drive on any terrain.
This Power Wheels vehicle reaches a maximum speed of 5 mph (2.5 mph in reverse) and parent-controlled systems for those beginner drivers to keep their speed and safety under check.
One great perk for this vehicle is that it is small enough to fit in the back of almost any car, so you can bring it on road trips for the kiddos to enjoy. It is also a 2-seater with a 130-pound (59-kg) weight limit, so there are no kids left out!
Ford F-150 Raptor
Last but certainly not least, the Ford F-150 Raptor finishes the list of the top best Power Wheels for three-year-olds. This vehicle features the Ford Raptor’s realistic styling, including the chrome accents, oversized tires, and lifted body. Also included is a good size truck bed with a working tailgate.
Kids will love other attributes such as the pretend radio that includes a voice-amplifying microphone, pre-recorded tunes, and some awesome sound effects to make their adventures even more enjoyable. This truck even has a Monster Traction system that allows for riding on any type of terrain, whether it be hard surfaces or grassy areas.
If you have a beginner driver, there are parent-controlled features to keep your kiddos from going too fast. The maximum rate of speed is five mph going forward (2.5 mph in reverse).
The only disadvantage is that reviewers indicated there were problems with replacing tires. It is recommended that you place rubber around the tires for added traction and more stability; otherwise, they may need to be replaced more often.
Conclusion
It is helpful to look at what to consider when purchasing a Power Wheels vehicle. The primary factors to consider include:
- Age and weight restrictions
- Reliability of the vehicle
- Cost
- Speed
This list was created to give ideas and options for the best Power Wheels vehicles for your three-year-olds. I featured 7 of the most popular, best-reviewed vehicles on the market and detailed the most significant factors to help you make the most informed decision.
