Best RC drift cars 2022: Discover the best remote control drift cars
Start your engines and get ready to slide as we race through our list of the best RC drift cars you can buy today. Whether you’re an RC drifting veteran or you’re just looking to get into the hobby, our guide has something for you.
If you are new to the best remote control drift cars, then you should probably look at getting one of the entry level models to try your hand at it before you spend some serious cash. This is partly because you might not end up sticking with the hobby, but also because you’re very likely to crash a few times when you’re learning to drive (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us). For that reason, we’d recommend looking for something affordable, reliable, and durable for your first car.
We’d also steer clear of kit cars when you’re first starting out. RC drift cars come in two varieties - ready to run and kits. Ready to run cars, as the name implies, are ready to go out of the box. Kit cars need to be assembled, and while this is very rewarding, it also adds a layer of complexity to your first drifting experience that you just don’t need.
Unlike the best RC cars, the best RC drift cars aren’t all about speed - rather, they are especially tailored to get some serious slide action going around bends. As a result, you’re typically going to get a lower top speed for your money with a drift car, but the difference is usually marginal. How the car handles is a lot more important than how fast it can go in a straight line.
Beyond handling, your other major concerns should be battery life and the control method. Most of the cars on our list use a typical 2.4GHZ pistol grip controller which allows for multiple of the same car to be raced near each other without connection issues. On the battery front, anything over 30 minutes of drive time per charge is good, and if you can buy extra batteries to swap out, even better.
Now, enough pre-race check, let’s get out onto the track and check out the best RC drift cars out there. For more great hobby content, check out our guides to the best electric train sets and nerf guns too.
Best RC drift cars 2022
1. Redcat Racing Lightning EPX Drift
A great mid-level RC drift car
Manufacturer: Redcat Racing | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1:10 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 2000mAh 7.2 V NiMH battery | Controller power: 4 x AA batteries
Tunable suspension
Adjustable ride height
Aluminum to brace for stability
Not very powerful for the cost
An RC drift car from Redcat Racing, the Lightning EPX Drift is a 1:10 scale drift-spec’d car that has a lot of similarities to the Thunder Drift we mentioned earlier. Indeed, you’d be hard pressed to spot the differences between them, if you took the body shells off them both. Other than the slightly different motors that run them, these cars are extremely similar, but the Lightning EPX does have the advantage of coming with two different body styles with metallic red and blue options that have different body shapes too.
The only other difference between the cars is that the Thunder is-belt driven, unlike the EPX. In theory, that provides a smoother ride although the difference isn’t huge. So, if you like the sound of the Thunder but don’t like it’s drab, gun metal styling then the Lightning EPX is a great alternative.
User reviews are largely positive, with a 4.4 out of 5 star rating on Amazon. Positive reviews focused on the great value for money that the EPX offers, while negative reviews stated that you’ll end up replacing a lot of the stock parts over time.
2. Exceed RC Drift Star 350Z
A beautifully-designed RC drift car with great handling
Manufacturer: Exceed | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1/10 | Car power: 8.4V, 3000mAH battery | Controller power: 4 AA batteries
Gorgeous design
Brushless motor gives consistent power delivery
Excellent handling
A little fragile
Now for a four-wheel drive option with the Exceed RC Drift Star 350Z. This electric-powered drift car is ideal for both indoor and outdoor drifting. The four-wheel drive and brushless motor mean that you get more consistent power delivery, which makes it easier to manage your drifts. The motor and transmission are completely sealed to block out dust and mud from getting in so you can take this thing outdoors without worrying. It also has aluminum threaded shock bodies which are easily adjusted so you can tune the suspension to your liking.
There are several color options available, but no variation in the actual body shells which is a shame. Still, the design Exceed has chosen is sleek and stylish and the paint job is of great quality, with loads of detailing and livery.
Some user reviews have said that it’s quite fragile though, and prone to breaking during even low speed collisions. Obviously, a small plastic shell flying around at 20-30 mph hitting something is rarely going to come out unscathed, but this is something to consider, especially if you’re a beginner.
3. MST RMX 2.0 RTR
Best RC drift car overall
Manufacturer: MST | Age: 14+ | Configuration: RWD | Scale: 1/10
Huge choice of body options
Great for beginners and veterans
Excellent drifting capabilities out of the box
Expensive for beginners
The MST RMX 2.0 RTR is the ready-to-run version of the wildly popular MST RMX S 2.0 kit car that is already making waves in the RC drift car scene. This version comes with everything that people loved about the kit, like the excellent build quality and top-notch design that make this car handle like a dream out of the box. The front steering and suspension have been improved for greater drift control and stability. This means it’s a forgiving choice for novices, but the wealth of customization options mean that the RMX 2.0 RTR is also a great choice for experienced drifters too.
You can choose to mount the motor in an upper or lower position to affect the car’s center of gravity, and there is a whole community out there sharing tips and other modifications that you can make once you’re feeling confident.
Once you’re done under the hood, you can customize the hood itself, as the MST RMX 2.0 RTR comes with a large variety of shells including some officially licensed Nissan and AMG options, along with a load of others that are inspired by iconic real world cars, even if they’re not allowed to use their badges.
4. Jada Toys Fast & Furious Han’s Mazda RX-7
Best RC drift car for families
Manufacturer: Jada Toys | Age: 8+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1/10 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 1 x AA battery | Controller power: USB charging
Movie accurate styling
Extra set of tires included
USB charging for the remote
Audio can get tiresome
Battery life isn't amazing
If you’re not looking to sink a few hundred dollars into drifting cars just yet, have no fear because the Fast and Furious crew (and Jada Toys) have your back. You know why? Because you’re family, and you don’t turn your back on family. Jokes aside, this is a capable budget drifting car that would make a great gift for a RC drift car novice who wants to get into the hobby.
The Fast & Furious Han’s Mazda RX-7 has a simple pistol grip controller that will be familiar to anyone who has driven a regular remote control car before. It’s surprisingly durable and offers pretty good drifting action, especially for the price. It can’t compete with something like the MST RMX 2.0, but it costs 10x less. It also comes with a turbo boost button that makes it go faster, which is great fun for kids to play around with.
Users did note that the battery life wasn’t amazing, topping out at around 20-30 minutes (depending on how much you use the turbo button… so definitely 20 minutes in our case) but the controller does come with USB charging so it’s easy to recharge between sessions.
5. VOLANTEXRC Remote Control Drift Car
Best RC drift car for kids
Manufacturer: VOLANTEXRC | Age: 8+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1/14 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 2 x rechargeable 7.4V 1200mAh Li-lon batteries | Controller power: 2 x AA batteries (included)
Cheap
LED lights and changeable wheels
Good speed and handling
Not built to last
Another fantastic option on the cheaper end of the RC drift car price spectrum, the VOLANTEXRC Remote Control Drift Car offers a great entry point into the hobby for young kids while still offering some decent specs for the price. This thing can reach speeds of up to 25 km per hour and has a four-wheel drive system to help it drive and drift on all sorts of terrain, whether you're taking it for spin out in the yard or drifting it around the house and terrorising your poor mother.
The battery life is decent, with the two rechargeable batteries providing around 40 minutes of playtime. The wheels aren’t the only thing the batteries are powering either, as the VOLANTEXRC comes with LED lights under the chassis for that authentic street racing look. The controller uses a 2.4 GHZ signal, which provides a stable connection and allows for multiple of the same car to be used near each other without interference - ideal if multiple kids want to race each other.
The only major concerns that we have with the VOLANTEXRC are with its durability. The manufacturer hypes up the durable anti-collision shell, but several users noted that there is a small piece near the wheels that is super prone to snapping off. It’s not vital to the car’s function, but losing it does ruin the look of the car.
6. Redcat Racing Thunder Drift Car
The best value RC drift car
Manufacturer: Redcat Racing | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1/10 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 1 x rechargeable 7.2V 2000mAh Li-lon battery | Controller power: 4 x AA batteries
Tunable suspension
Great value for money
Waterproof electronics
No cosmetic options
Low battery life
The Redcat Racing Thunder Drift sits in the middle of the price range of all the RC drift cars that we’ve looked at, and it provides excellent value for money if you’re looking to take a step up from the cheap models, but aren’t quite ready to sink the big bucks on a fully customizable kit car.
This ready-to-run drift car has excellent handling thanks to a wealth of fancy gear under the hood, including fully tunable, four-wheel independent suspension, a brushed electric motor, and a responsive steering servo. All that results in a smooth and reliable driving system. It’s waterproof too, so you can take it out in the rain.
Customers have been overwhelmingly pleased with their purchase, as it boasts an Amazon rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 based on 64 reviews. Some users have complained that the battery life is pretty lackluster though, so you should consider getting a spare battery to extend your drifting sessions. There are no cosmetic options either, so if you don’t like the gun metal body, you’re out of luck.
7. WLtoys K989 RC Drift Car
The best RC drift car for indoor use
Manufacturer: WLtoys | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1:28 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 1 x rechargeable 7.4V 400mAh Li-Po battery | Controller power: 4 x AA batteries
Small enough to use indoors
Surprisingly fast
Lots of upgrade options
Small size might not be for everyone
As the old saying goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog”; and this diminutive little RC drift car certainly has a lot of fight. As a 1:28 scale car, it’s comfortably the smallest car on our list but it’s still packing plenty of power under the hood. This pocket rocket can hit speeds of 30+ km/h, which means the K989 leaves some of the larger, more expensive cars we’ve looked at trailing in its dust.
The build quality is top-notch here too, with loads of metal parts including the chassis, drive shaft, and transmission. And thanks to a dedicated fanbase and great support, there are loads of replacement parts and upgrades available for the K989 too. The controller uses 2.4 GHZ signal, so you can race multiple of these little devils with each other without getting connection issues.
While the shell options are limited to the stock model (an obvious nod to the Ford Fiesta), there are loads of custom, third-party shells out there that fit this model, so you can customize it to your heart's desire.
User reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with an average score of 4.1 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Reviewers praised the alloy construction and great handling. The small size won't be for everyone, but if you’re looking for big power in a small package, then the WLtoys K989 is the perfect choice.
8. Tamiya TT-02D
The best kit RC drift car
Manufacturer: Tamiya | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1:10 | Style: Kit | Car power: Not included | Controller power: Not included
Excellent drift car
Satisfying project
Easy to fix and replace spare parts
Need to buy a receiver, transmitter, battery, and servo separately
Body needs to be painted
All the other cars we’ve looked at so far have been ready-to-race cars, which means they come already built - you just unpack them, charge the battery, and you’re good to go. The Tamiya TT-02D is a little different because it’s a kit car. That means when you open the box, you find a load of bags of parts and you have to assemble the car yourself from scratch. For some people, that’s going to be a fantastic project that they’ll enjoy almost as much as drifting the car when it’s done, but it’s not for everyone, and we wouldn’t recommend a kit car for novices who want to try out the hobby for the first time.
The upside of kit cars is that they’re easier to upgrade and replace broken parts for, since they’re designed to be assembled and disassembled. This means when you crash or break a part, you can easily swap it out. Likewise, you can customise and upgrade it easily too. Not that the Tamiya TT-02D needs much upgrading, as this is a top-quality RC drift car that comes with 4-wheel double wishbone suspension, a sport-tuned motor, and drift tires as standard.
There are loads of chassis options out there, including officially licensed classics like the Nissan GT-R, Honda Civic, and the Mazda RX-7. If you’re willing to go third-party, there are a wealth of other options out there too.
One final warning, you don’t get everything you need in the box - you’ll need to buy a receiver, transmitter, battery + charger, and servo separately. You can buy versions with a body shell or without, but either way the body needs to be painted too. Like we said, it’s a project as much as a drift car, but the satisfaction you feel when you take it out for its first drive is worth the effort.
9. Mostop Mini RC Drift Truck
The best RC drift truck
Manufacturer: Mostop | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1:16 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 7.4V 1200mAh lithium battery | Controller power: Not included
Fast (top speed of over 30km/h)
Independent suspension and ESS for great stability
If drift trucks are more your thing, then the Mostop Mini RC Drift Truck might just be the best choice for you. It’s got all the same great features that the other drift cars on this list do, but with a sleek, Ford F-150-inspired drift truck shell.
Don’t let the utilitarian styling fool you - this thing can shift with a top speed of around 30 km/h. And when you hit the corners, it’ll show off its drifting potential thanks to its independent suspension and ESP Electronic Stability System which gives the truck excellent stability and reliability in the bends.
The 7.4V 1200mAh lithium battery offers around 20-25 minutes of driving time and it comes with a spare set of racing tires, in addition to the drift tires that come as standard, so it can pull double duty as a normal racing RC car too. User reviews are really positive, with an average score of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon from 147 reviews. At time of writing, it costs around $80 and we think that’s an absolute bargain for what you get.
10. HSP RC Car 94123 Pro
The fastest RC drift car
Manufacturer: HSP | Age: 14+ | Configuration: 4WD | Scale: 1:10 | Style: Ready to run | Car power: 3500mAh 7.4 V LIPO battery | Controller power: 4 x AA batteries
Top speed of 59 km/h
Great build quality
Waterproof brushless motor
Do you feel the need, the need for speed? If you, like Maverick, can’t get enough of high speed vehicles then the HSP RC Car 94123 Pro is the RC drift car for you. The Pro version comes with a brushless motor which drags the top speed up to a lightning quick 59 km/h, which leaves the rest of this list in the dirt. Now sure, it’s a drift racer, so straight line speed isn’t everything, but that’s still mighty impressive.
When it comes to the corners, the HSP RC Car 94123 Pro is well equipped, with a four-wheel independent suspension system, front and rear dual differentials and a lightweight aluminum drive shaft that helps it take long drifts into its stride.
User reviews are mostly positive, with an average score of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Reviewers praised how easy it is to use out of the box, along with high top speed and great steering. Complaints focused on battery reliability issues that seem to be due to faulty units.
RC drift cars buying advice
What sets RC drift cars apart from regular RC cars?
The best remote control cars are designed to go forwards as fast as possible, while RC drift cars are all about that sideways action. They’re less concerned with straight line speed, and more focused on maintaining that perfect drift through a long corner.
Many RC drift cars are specially designed with custom suspension and drift tires to help them achieve this goal. As drifting is the forte of the street racing community, RC drift cars are also typically not well-suited to off-road driving, though plenty of models are waterproof to let you drive them in the rain.
What are the best RC drift car brands?
There are many big names in the RC car space, from model-making giants Tamiya and toy brands like Jada Toys through to specialized RC car manufacturers like Exceed, MST, and Redcat Racing. It can often be difficult to find reliable information about some brands, and even some of the most highly respected RC drift car brands out there have old or out of date websites, so it can be tough to check if a brand is reputable.
All the brands in our list are trustworthy and reliable, but if you’re not sure about another brand, our advice is to check YouTube reviews and RC drift car forums to see what their reputation is like.
How much do RC drift cars cost?
The answer to this depends on what kind of build quality and speed you’re looking for. The cheapest models on our list can be found for as little as $40, while some of the high-end kit cars will set you back over $300.
Most RC drift cars come with at least a one-year warranty, but do check this before purchasing. Buying through a retailer like Amazon gives you an extra layer of security on that front.
