8 Best Power Wheels for Toddlers

Power Wheels are highly interactive toys that provoke imagination and immerse kids in playtime. Maybe your child is asking for one, or you’re considering surprising them for their birthday. What is the best option for them and for other toddlers?

The best overall Power Wheels for toddlers is the Toy Story Jeep Wrangler as it features familiar characters, a comfortable speed range, and works well on grass and hard surfaces. Beginner-friendly track-controlled models, while faster, more agile versions, are great options for advanced riders.

Whether you’ve already got your credit card on deck or you’re just hearing about Power Wheels for the first time, all are welcome here. Keep reading to know the top toddler-friendly models, what Power Wheels are if they’re worth it, and more. Happy shopping! Find the 8 best power wheels options for toddlers below. See power wheels for other ages here.

Best Overall: Disney Pixar Toy Story Jeep Wrangler

The Toy Story Jeep Wrangler is the perfect Power Wheels for Pixar lovers and car fanatics alike. Bonus points if your child is into both! This model checks many boxes, which makes it the best overall for toddlers. From its realistic design to friendly Disney faces, there’s a lot to love about this vehicle. 

Two kiddos can ride the Toy Story Jeep Wrangler for optimal entertainment. With fun colors and lights, real character phrases, and an operational trunk, there are endless features to explore. This motorized vehicle works perfectly on grass and hard surfaces, whether it be your driveway, sidewalk, or backyard. A maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) going forward and 2.5 mph (4 km/h) in reverse is the perfect range for safe, responsible enjoyment. 

They say hi to their favorite characters like Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody. Add to the immersive experience by serving them ‘za from Pizza Planet for lunch. You might get as much of a kick out of this toy as they do. Now, to infinity and beyond! 

Coolest Model: Jurassic World Dino Racer ATV Ride-On

What could be cooler than riding around the neighborhood on a Power Wheels dinosaur ATV? Nothing. This incredibly designed Power Wheels features the face of Blue the raptor on the front, and its tail juts out the back. If your child ever dreams of riding on the back of a dino (haven’t we all at some point?), then this is the one for them. 

LBlue will soon become your toddler’s best friend and favorite adventure companion. Like a real dino, Blue can help your little one tackle the roughest terrain at an impressive 6 mph (9.7 km/h) going forwards and 3 mph (4.8 km/h) in reverse. All the kids will be jealous of this decked-out ATV, and that’ll only grow when they see Blue’s mouth opening and closing and your child roars on by.

Best Interactive: Barbie Dream Camper

These vans are totally driveable and include many features to keep playtime stimulating and imaginative. All Power Wheels are highly interactive, but the Barbie Dream Camper exceeds expectations. It operates at a maximum of 5 mph (8 km/h) and easily tackles hard surfaces and grass. On top of the van’s driveability, it’s also decked out with high ceilings, a pearly pink finish, and many other camping accessories.

The Barbie Dream Camper lets kids learn their way around a kitchen with 14 different pieces of play food, utensils, and other cooking ware. Like any true camper van, Barbie’s comes with a “grill” and “campfire” so your little ones can whip up classic camping dinners like hot dogs with s’mores for dessert. It even comes with a play sink, so don’t forget to encourage them to wash the dishes when they’re one. Who knows — they might start helping out around the house! 

Best All-Terrain: Power Wheels Dune Racer

Monster racers require Monster Traction. Gone are the days of letting rugged terrain impede your adventures. With the Dune Racer, your toddler can comfortably tackle whatever comes their way — from easy-to-conquer hard surfaces to wet grass and rough terrain. 

The big wheels and open cockpit of this Power Wheels model will thrill our kiddos, leaving them feeling ultra-cool and totally confident. They can zip around trails going up to 5 mph (8 km/h) or reverse at 2.5 mph (4 km/h), so they’ll never get stuck while out and about. Plus, they can grab onto the metal sidebars if your riders need extra support. 

Be prepared to hear all about your kid’s adventures at the dinner table. Conquering the land can work up an appetite! 

Best Splurge: Ford F-150 Raptor

If you want to give your little one the best that Power Wheels has to offer, go with the Ford F-150 Raptor. This bad boy is modeled after the real Ford truck and looks just like the real thing — oversized lifted tires and all. It’s even got some matching functions too! 

As any truck should, the Power Wheels F-150 uses Monster Traction technology to drive on all kinds of surfaces, including rough terrain and wet grass, at a maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) going forward and 2.5 mph (4 km/h) in reverse. Your kid can enjoy preloaded music and a working microphone for added authenticity. Even the tailgate is fully functional, so your children can transport dirt, leaves, or even a packed lunch to break up a busy day on the job.

Best Budget Buy: Nickelodeon PAW Patrol Lil’ Quad

The PAW Patrol Lil’ Quad is a crowd-pleaser with familiar characters from the beloved kids’ TV show. This model is entirely toddler-friendly. It’s suitable for ages one to three and has helpful features your child can quickly master.

Unlike many other Power Wheels models, this one’s maximum speed caps at 2 mph (3.2 km/h) for a super safe riding experience. Starting and stopping this lower-powered vehicle with a simple push-button is easy. Instead of worrying about foot pedals, your little one can let their feet comfortably sit on the provided footrests. On top of that, the Lil’ Quad is built lower to the ground so lil’ riders can easily get on and off by themselves. 

Unlike many other Power Wheels, this model is made for one rider at a time. This way, your child can perfect their independent experience without distraction from a friend. 

Best Low-Tech: Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Tough Trike

This isn’t your typical Power Wheels ride-on vehicle. It’s actually not battery-powered at all! Instead, this motorcycle is fully powered by your little one’s legs. If you aren’t quite ready to let your kiddo drive a fully motorized ride-on car, that’s totally understandable. This trike still offers many benefits of standard Power Wheels, like getting your kid to explore the outdoors, gain independence, and experience many other developmental benefits. 

Since this ride is decked out with cool Harley-Davidson decor, your child can still keep cool zipping around the neighborhood. Plus, it’s durable, great for rugged terrain, and has a broad, stable base. The oversized foot pedals also make it easier for your little one to explore. The Tough Trike is great if they have an older sibling who is already zipping around on their motorized rides. This can make them feel like part of the club!

Best Training Power Wheels: Thomas & Friends Thomas with Track 

The Thomas with Track is another Power Wheels model that’s fantastic for beginners. This awesome ride features everyone’s famous steam engine: Thomas! It’s great to have a familiar face to make this new experience easier for the kiddos — especially those who are apprehensive. 

Unlike other Power Wheels, the train is built specifically for indoor use. Rather than letting your toddler ride around freely, this Power Wheels model operates on an 18-foot (5.5 meters) circular track, but Thomas can be removed and used on the ground. Don’t worry about your kid running you over — Thomas only runs at 2 mph (3.2 km/h) off-track and 1 mph (1.6 km/h) on-track. This is a game-changer if you live in a rainy or snowy environment. 

What fun! It’s easy for kids as young as one-year-old to use this Power Wheels model as it runs on a simple push-button to stop and start. Best of all, your little one can press the yellow whistle for real Thomas sound effects.

Are Power Wheels Good for Toddlers?

Power Wheels may be fun toys for your toddler to play with, but did you know they can be a great instrument to support your child’s development and mental stimulation as well? Here are some of the ways this toy can become a tool. 

Stimulates Sensorimotor Skills

When your child is in control of a kid-friendly moving object, they can gain a great understanding of the world around them and how they function within it. Your little one will learn basic concepts about directions, like the difference between left and right, front and back, fast and slow, forward and reverse, and stop and go. Not only will they begin to understand what these concepts are, but they will also figure out how to implement them independently. 

provides a Sense of Freedom

Though it’s not like your child is suddenly 16 and getting their driver’s license, riding Power Wheels can support your kid’s sense of freedom. Of course, these are moving vehicles that should not be operated without adult supervision, but your kiddo may feel a sense of independence as they understand that they are in control of their toy.

Provokes Imagination

You might be amazed at the vast imagination that your little one has when they’re given a chance to explore it! If your child has seen you driving your car before, this may inspire them to mimic your behaviors — or even make up scenarios of their own. For example, they may pretend to go to the gas station to fill up their tank, have a friend give them a “ticket” when they’re going too fast, or anything else their minds can create.

Teaches Problem Solving

There will be a bit of a learning curve as your toddler starts to play around with their toy. As such, they’ll have to figure out how to overcome the obstacles they face. These can range from getting stuck in the mud to turning or reversing when an object gets in their way. Your toddler can also learn how to identify their Power Wheels running out of “fuel.” 

Rule Following

Even your kiddo needs to learn that there are rules they need to follow on the road. No, these probably won’t include the standard practices we know when we get behind the wheel, but there are likely some ground rules you’ll have to implement.

Is your child only allowed to ride on the driveway, not the grass? Are they allowed to ride when your family dog is outside? They’ll need to know they can’t operate it without supervision, but you can use this as an opportunity to set restrictions your toddler needs to follow.  

Are Power Wheels Safe?

Generally speaking, yes! Power Wheels are pretty safe as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding supervision and use your judgment regarding where to operate it and how comfortable your child is on their toy. 

There are extra safety features you can enable before letting your toddler sit down and start driving. Power-Lock brakes stop the vehicle as soon as your kiddo takes their foot off the pedal. There’s no need to worry about a separate braking mechanism for your child to engage — it’s as easy as not hitting “go.” 

Another great feature is the parent-controlled high-speed-lockout function. You can implement this mode before your toddler even gets on the vehicle. Power Wheels all have a maximum speed limit to prevent your kid from riding at potentially dangerous speeds. Still, engaging high-speed-lockout drops their top possible speed to half what the car is capable of. 

This is an excellent function if you’re nervous about your child riding and while they’re still getting comfortable operating it. To adjust this, you must undo a screw, move a mechanism over, and re-install the screw. It’s easy enough for adults to do this hassle-free, but too complicated for a child to override this themselves. 

Advantages of Power Wheels

• Power Wheels are fun toys for kids. These ride-on motorized vehicles are engaging, exciting, and interactive children’s toys. Your toddler is sure to get lots of laughter and enjoyment out of riding their Power Wheels. 
• They may provide developmental benefits. It’s not just fun and games. Power Wheels can aid the development of your toddler’s sensorimotor skills, problem-solving abilities, and imagination. All the while, your little one just thinks of it as a good time! 
• Power Wheels encourage your kids to play outside. Thanks to iPads, Nintendo, and other various screens, it can be difficult to empower your child to play outside these days. If your little one is hesitant to spend time in the great outdoors, Power Wheels may be the solution you’re looking for. 
• The driving experience is quite realistic. Well, they might not be super realistic to anyone who drives a real car, but they definitely are a step up from Flintstones style foot-propelled ride-on toys! With a “gas” pedal, responsive steering, and even reversing options, Power Wheels offer an immersive experience. Plus, since they come in models that mimic real-world vehicles, your little one may even own a car that matches yours! 

Disadvantages of Power Wheels

• Need an indoor place to store Power Wheels. Sadly, You can’t always store Power Wheels outside. While they can handle mild weather, they should never be kept unprotected in the rain. This means you’ll have to figure out an indoor storage solution — something just may not be realistic for all owners. 
• Power Wheels have a history of recalls. As with many toys that have been around a long time, Power Wheels have had some recalls in their lifetime. You can find any safety alerts on the Recall & Safety Alerts section of the Mattel and Fisher-Price website. This is not to say that Power Wheels are inherently unsafe, but it is certainly a good thing to be mindful of. 
• It takes a long time to charge the battery. Sadly, a recharged Power Wheels battery is a time-consuming process. It takes 14 hours to fully charge the battery, yet they only have a continuous ride-time of 30-35 minutes. If you have an impatient toddler, this could be a huge setback — or a powerful lesson in patience.  
• Power Wheels are expensive toys. As previously mentioned, Power Wheels are a large purchase. You can get a steal for 100 USD (127 CAD), but many of these mini motorized vehicles sit in the 300-400 USD (328-510 CAD) range. This may not be an affordable investment for some, especially if you’re not sure that your kid will love it. 
• Depending on where you live, Power Wheels may not be usable year-round. Does your climate involve tons of gorgeous, warm days, or is it filled with lots of precipitation that dominates most of the year? If it’s the latter, you’ll be limited in how much time your toddler can spend on their Power Wheels as they aren’t suitable for use in rain or snow.

Final Thoughts

Power Wheels are highly interactive, stimulating, and imagination-provoking toys for toddlers to ride on. Thanks to its versatility, great speed range, and fun design, the Power Wheels Disney Pixar Toy Story Jeep Wrangler is the best overall model for toddlers. 

Other designs like the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Tough Trike and Power Wheels Thomas & Friends Thomas with Track are great for beginners, whereas the Power Wheels Jurassic World Dino Racer ATV Ride-On is perfect for more experienced riders.