Best Toy Cars
Toy cars have a timeless appeal, and although they have traditionally been aimed at little boys (and their fathers), many recent releases have girls very much in mind.
The best are proof of a very simple and enduring truth about toys – the simpler, the better. Cars that encourage open-ended play are the kind that are most likely to keep your little ones quiet for an hour or so, but some companies have made effective use of add-on features and technologies as well, and our list of the best toy cars reflects this.
In alphabetical order, our pick of the bunch is as follows…
Automoblox
Manhattan Toy
These classic wooden cars wowed us when we first saw them in 2007 and proceeded to win ToyTalk’s inaugural Toy of the Year award. Lovingly crafted, these heirloom quality cars have the added bonus of an engrossing construction mechanism that allows kids to mix sections from different cars to create new hybrids.
Read our full review here…
Battle Deck
Tomy
The emphasis in this racing game from Tomy, which debuted in 2009, is not so much on beating your opponent around the track, as it is on knocking him completely off it. Each Battle Deck car is made up of three interlocking sections, which impart qualities of speed, offence and defence on the car as a whole. Mixing sections up might create the perfect combination, or leave you with a slow, feeble creation that everyone else can bully at will – so be careful with your modifications!
Read our full review here…
Cars die-casts
Mattel
Lightning McQueen and the gang not only made an impact on the silver screen, they also demand plenty of space on toy shelves around the country in die-cast form. Tough, colourful and capturing the characters of their big-screen counterparts perfectly, these make great stocking-fillers and treats.
Read our full review here…
Moxie Girlz Art-titude RC Vehicle
MGA Entertainment
Aimed squarely at the fairer sex, the Art-titude RC Vehicle invites creative types to decorate their ride before taking it for a spin. Unlike real cars, which little girls are not encouraged to ‘decorate’, this vehicle positively begs to be spiced up using the coloured pens provided. The wipe-clean surface means that horrendous colour-clashes need not offend forever.
The full story…
Retro Racer
Le Toy Van
Tapping into the retro appeal of old-style racing cars, this beautiful wooden car comes with a racing driver figure from Le Toy Van’s Budkins range, and you can choose from red or blue versions. Sturdily built and running smoothly on its rubber tyres, the Retro Racer even comes with a chequered flag, for when it inevitably wins the race.
Read our full review here…
Scalextric
These legendary slot-racing cars have come a long way since the simple early models. Modern Scalextric cars are bigger and feature incredible attention to detail, which is why they appeal almost as much to collectors as to boy racers. There is no end to choose from, running the gamut from Formula 1 cars to the humble Mini, with everything in between.
The full story…
Tuning Range
Meccano
Building a car is fun. Building a car that doubles up as an MP3 player is even more fun. Meccano then goes a step further by adding an engine and full remote control to its Tuning range, and some of the cars even have neon under-lighting. A discerning choice for the child who dreams of being a mechanic rather than a racing driver.
The full story…
Zippity Zoomer
Manhattan Toy
Doomed to bring up the rear in our alphabetical round-up, the Zippity Zoomer is actually a highly unusual combination of the toy car and the cuddly toy. Designed to appeal to young fans of the Groovy Girls dolls range, the Zoomer is an eye-popping explosion of pink and purple. Jeremy Clarkson would not approve.
The full story…
