Best 36V and 48V Ride-On Toys: 6 Picks for Big Kids and Teens

A 36V ride-on is the step past 24V: faster drift karts, a two-seat UTV and Razor’s teen machines. For a 6-to-10-year-old, my pick is the First Ride On 36V 2-Seater UTV (two seats, belts, 5 to 8 mph). For teens, the fast end is Razor’s SX500 dirt bike, Razor’s Crazy Cart XL and MotoTec’s 48V kart, which reaches 20 mph.

1. #1First Ride On 36V 2-Seater UTV My Pick
2. #2Wanan 36V BMW Drift Kart Licensed BMW
3. #3sopbost 36V Drift Kart Big Kids
4. #4Razor SX500 McGrath 36V Dirt Bike Ages 14+
5. #5Razor Crazy Cart XL Teens & Adults
6. #6MotoTec Mud 48V 1000W Go-Kart 48V Pick

Younger kids? Most 3-to-8-year-olds are better off on a 24V car: see the best 24V ride-on cars. For the quickest rides by age, see the fastest Power Wheels, and for heavier kids, the ride-ons rated over 100 lbs.

On this page

What a 36V or 48V Ride-On Is (and Isn’t)

There’s no 36V Power Wheels. Mattel’s Power Wheels run on 6V or 12V and go 2.5 to 5 mph.

The 36V ride-ons you’ll find are drift karts and a few UTVs for kids 6 and up, plus Razor’s teen dirt bikes, street bike and Crazy Cart XL. 48V is go-kart territory, for 13 and up.

More volts lets a maker run a bigger motor faster, so the jump in speed is real. Here’s how the classes compare, from the specs in my ride-on database and the makers’ manuals:

Voltage	What you’ll find	Top speed	Typical ages
24V	Two-seat UTVs, trucks and cars	About 5 mph (up to 7.5)	3–8
24V	Karts, quads and small dirt bikes	7.5–15 mph	8+
36V	Kid drift karts and UTVs	5–9.5 mph	6–12
36V	Razor dirt bikes, street bike, Crazy Cart XL	14–17 mph	14+ or 16+
48V	Teen go-karts	About 20 mph	13+

How to Choose a 36V or 48V Ride-On

Start With the Age Rating

The makers’ ages on this list: 6 and up for the First Ride On UTV, 6 to 12 for the Wanan, 6 to 12 for the sopbost kart, 14 and up for the SX500, 16 and up for the Crazy Cart XL and 13 and up for the MotoTec. Those ages are about speed and body size, not just maturity: a 14 mph machine needs a rider who can reach the controls and react in time. Go by the maker’s age, not by how confident your kid is.

Check the Weight Limit

The limits: 132 lbs for the First Ride On UTV, 132 lbs for the Wanan, 150 lbs for the MotoTec, 175 lbs for the SX500, 220 lbs for the sopbost kart and 240 lbs for the Crazy Cart XL. The UTV’s 132 lbs covers both riders together.

Buy for what your kid will weigh next summer. Going over the limit strains the motors and gears, cuts the run time and, on a fast kart, makes stopping harder.

Look for a Low Speed

Most of these have a way to start slow: the First Ride On UTV has a variable pedal and a soft start, the Wanan has 6.2 and 8.1 mph settings, the sopbost has a high/low switch, the SX500 has a variable twist-grip throttle, the Crazy Cart XL has a variable pedal and the MotoTec has 10 and 20 mph. None of them lists a parent remote, so for a beginner, pick the low setting and stay close.

Low settings and soft starts are there for beginners. These toys often include training modes and gentler acceleration to build confidence.

Brakes, Belts and Cages

The First Ride On UTV has an electronic brake and a 3-point belt on each seat. The Wanan has a two-pedal setup and a two-point belt. The sopbost kart has a separate brake pedal and a seat belt.

The SX500 has hand-operated dual disc brakes. The Crazy Cart XL has no separate brake (you stop by letting off the pedal and turning away).

The MotoTec has a hydraulic rear disc brake, a roll bar, a seat belt and a kill switch. Bikes have no belts, so the helmet and pads do that job.

Battery, Run Time and Charging

36V usually means three 12V lead-acid batteries (Razor), two 18V batteries (sopbost) or one 36V pack, and the 48V MotoTec uses four 12V batteries. Expect about 40 minutes to 2 hours per charge, depending on the machine and the rider, and 8 to 12 hours to recharge.

Use only the charger that came with it: a 36V pack needs its 36V charger. My charging guide covers charge times and what to do if the charger goes missing.

Where They’ll Ride

The UTV’s EVA tires and rear suspension handle grass and gravel. The Wanan is a drift kart: its hard rear wheels are made to slide, so it needs smooth, flat pavement. The sopbost kart is set up for pavement too.

The SX500 has knobby pneumatic tires for dirt. The Crazy Cart XL needs smooth pavement and a lot of room.

The MotoTec has pneumatic tires and full suspension for dirt and grass. All of them belong on private property in daylight, away from streets, driveways, pools and steps.

The 6 Best 36V and 48V Ride-On Toys

1. First Ride On 36V 2-Seater Electric UTV

This is the rare 36V ride-on that looks like the 24V UTVs most families buy, only built for older kids. First Ride On gives it a 36V 9Ah battery, two 200W motors and a top speed of 5 to 8 mph, on 14-inch EVA tires with rear metal spring suspension and a metal frame.

The seat is about 20.5 inches wide, each rider gets a 3-point belt, and the weight limit is 132 lbs (60 kg) for both riders together. First Ride On rates it for ages 6 and up. First Ride On also makes the licensed Ford Bronco Raptor on my 24V ride-on list.

There’s no parent remote. The listing says so plainly: the child sets the speed with a variable pedal, shifts forward and reverse, and gets a soft start and an electronic brake.

So this is for kids who already steer and stop on their own, not a first car. First Ride On’s own FAQ mentions a parent remote, so check the box contents if you need one.

It’s about 55 x 35 x 31 inches and weighs about 98 lbs, so plan the garage space. First Ride On quotes 40 to 60 minutes per charge and a 10 to 12 hour charge with the original 36V charger. Bluetooth music, an FM radio, LED lights and a rear storage box round it out.

Verdict My pick for a 6-to-10-year-old who has outgrown a 24V car and wants to bring a passenger. Skip it if you need a parent remote.

2. Wanan 36V Licensed BMW Drift Kart

Wanan’s kart is licensed by BMW and runs two 300W motors (600W together) on a 36V 9Ah battery. It has a low and a high speed, about 6.2 and 8.1 mph, and a drift mode that lets it spin a full 360 degrees on smooth pavement. Wanan rates it for ages 6 to 12 and riders up to 132 lbs.

The frame slides out from about 38.6 to 50 inches, so it grows with a kid, and the seat is about 15 x 8 inches with a two-point belt. It has EVA tires plus hard nylon drift wheels, which is what lets it slide. That also makes it a pavement toy: on grass it just bogs down.

Wanan quotes 8 to 12 hours to charge. It has no parent remote, so a beginner starts on the low speed with you watching.

Verdict The kart for a 6-to-12-year-old who wants to drift on a flat patio or an empty court. Not for grass.

3. sopbost 36V Electric Drift Go-Kart

sopbost’s 36V kart is the heavy-duty kid kart here: it’s rated for riders up to 220 lbs, far above the 132 lbs of the Wanan. Two 18V 7Ah batteries in series make 36V, and two 350W rear motors take it up to about 9.5 mph on the high setting. sopbost doesn’t publish the low speed.

It has a gas pedal plus a separate brake and drift pedal, forward and reverse, a seat belt and a Bluetooth music panel. The chassis is metal with an undercarriage guard, and the tires are EVA. There’s no parent remote, and sopbost recommends knee and elbow pads, which aren’t included.

The listing gives 60 to 120 minutes of riding per charge. The same kart sold under another brand name quotes 8 to 12 hours to charge. It comes in five colors.

Verdict The kid kart for bigger or older kids who would be near the Wanan’s 132 lb limit. At 9.5 mph, plan on a helmet and pads.

4. Razor SX500 McGrath 36V Electric Dirt Bike

If your teen wants a real dirt bike feel, Razor’s SX500 is a 36V electric motocross bike in Jeremy McGrath graphics. Three 12V 12Ah batteries power a 500W chain-driven motor, and it reaches up to 15 mph with a twist-grip throttle. Razor rates it for ages 14 and up and riders up to 175 lbs.

It has dual suspension, hand-operated dual disc brakes, riser handlebars, pneumatic knobby tires and a steel frame. Razor quotes up to 40 minutes of riding and up to 12 hours to charge. Razor’s dirt bike manuals call for an approved helmet with the chin strap buckled, plus elbow and knee pads.

Our family’s own Razor is the 24V Dirt Quad, still going strong after 4+ years. For an older or heavier teen, the Razor MX650 goes up to 17 mph and is rated for ages 16 and up and 220 lbs.

Verdict The pick for a rider 14 or older who will ride trails on your own property. It’s a 15 mph motorcycle, not a toy.

5. Razor Crazy Cart XL 36V Drift Cart

The Crazy Cart XL is the one on this list an adult can ride: Razor rates it for ages 16 and up and riders up to 240 lbs. It’s a 36V drift cart (three 12V 12Ah batteries) with a 500W motor driving the front wheel, and it reaches up to 14 mph with a variable-speed foot pedal.

It steers like nothing else. The steering wheel turns more than 180 degrees, and a drift bar swings the rear caster wheels out so it slides and spins. There’s no separate brake: you stop by letting off the pedal and turning away, which takes practice, so start slow in a big open space.

It arrives nearly assembled (the seat and flag go on in about 5 minutes), weighs about 112 lbs and measures about 43 x 30 inches. Razor quotes up to 40 minutes of riding and up to 12 hours to charge, and says to ride it only on private property or a closed course.

Verdict For teens and parents who want to drift together. Too fast and too big for younger kids, who are better off on the Wanan or the sopbost.

6. MotoTec Mud 48V 1000W Kids Go-Kart

This is the 48V option, and it’s an off-road go-kart rather than a toy. MotoTec fits a 1000W brushless motor, four 12V 12Ah batteries (48V), a chain drive with an automatic centrifugal clutch, and hydraulic shocks (two in front, one in back). It has two speeds, 10 and 20 mph, plus reverse.

MotoTec rates it for ages 13 and up, riders up to 150 lbs and 47 to 63 inches tall, and the seat adjusts. The safety gear is built in: a seat belt, a roll bar, a kill switch and a foot-operated hydraulic rear disc brake. MotoTec’s own instruction is to always wear a helmet and safety gear, with an adult supervising.

It weighs 192 lbs and rides on 14-inch pneumatic tires. MotoTec quotes 5 to 20 miles per charge depending on rider weight and terrain, and the warranty is 60 days on parts.

Verdict The fastest machine here, for a 13-to-15-year-old with room to ride on private land. At 20 mph, treat it like a real go-kart: helmet on, an adult watching, no passengers.

Safety and Sizing

• Go by the maker’s age and weight limits, not the rider’s confidence.
• Wear a properly fitted helmet with the chin strap buckled on every ride. Razor’s manuals also call for elbow and knee pads. Here’s the safety gear worth having.
• Ride in daylight on flat, private ground, away from streets, driveways, pools, steps and steep hills.
• Start on the low speed. With no parent remote, a beginner rides with you right there.
• Charge with the charger that came with it, for the hours in the manual.
• Don’t turn a 12V or 24V kids’ car into a 36V car. My mod guide explains why I stop at 24V on a kids’ ride-on.

For the basics that apply to every ride-on, see how safe ride-on cars are.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your kid is 6 to 10 and wants a passenger, get the First Ride On 36V UTV. For a solo driver who wants to drift, the Wanan, or the sopbost kart if they’re bigger. For teens with room to ride, the SX500 (14 and up) or the MotoTec (13 and up). And if a parent wants a turn, the Crazy Cart XL is the one built for it.