• On the occasion of Children's Day, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection tested 10 models of remote-controlled cars.
• How fast and how far can a 30-centimetre Porsche go? What incline can other brands climb, and will they endure a fall and an impact? What is the range of their remote controls? We've checked.
• Almost 200 tests, over 1,500 results -  go to uokik.gov.pl and download the report (in Polish).

Lamborghini or Porsche? Is there anyone who didn't dream about such a vehicle as a child? We've checked the performance of dream cars... in their mini version. On the occasion of Children's Day, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection tested 10 models of remote-controlled cars. 

Specialists from the laboratory of UOKiK assessed such parameters as the range of the remote controls, the maximum speed of the cars and whether their construction was solid. In addition, we tested their hill-start performance and whether it was possible to drive them using a remote control from another model. We checked the size and mass of both the products and their packagings.

Children's day - the holiday of the youngest consumers - was last week. On this occasion, we conducted a special series of comparative tests that involved subjecting remote-controlled cars to "extreme" tests: we accelerated them to their maximum speed, dropped them from heights, assessed the distance at which we could navigate them and how good their hill-start performance was. We also checked whether they bore the CE marking and had no sharp elements that could injure a child. We invite adults and children to check out the results of our tests - says Tomasz Chróstny, the President of UOKiK.

How were the cars selected?

Our tests involved 10 models of remote-controlled cars selected on the basis of a market survey conducted by the Trade Inspection in March 2021  in online as well as brick-and-mortar shops in the whole Poland. The tests were conducted by the staff of the UOKiK laboratory in Lublin, which holds accreditation of the Polish Centre for Accreditation No. AB 731. All car models were tested with the use of the same instruments and equipment, in the same way and under the same conditions. The toys underwent a total of 188 tests, during which we obtained 1,577 sub-scores.

How did we test the cars?

Maximum speed

It's the maximum speed of the care over a distance of 4 m with a momentum length of 3 m.

Hill-start performance

It is a test concerning the maximum angle at which a car can travel 0.5 m uphill.

Car/remoted durability

The durability tests consisted of 3 stages:

1. 30 falls from height,
2. 30 strikes with a load,
3. compression test with a force of up to 450 N.

After the first permanent mechanical damage occurred at a given stage, the test was terminated and no tests were conducted in the next stage.

What did we observe? Download the report

Product safety

Since all tested cars complied with the safety requirements within the tested range, each model was approved for further testing.

Hill-start performance

The best performance in the test was delivered by Ford F0150 Raptor, which covered the test distance with an inclination angle of 45°. The worst results was achieved by Overlander, which was able to climb the ramp when it was set at an angle of 10°, but it failed when the angle reached 15°.

Remote control range

In the case of 8 cars, the range of the remote control spanned form 8 m (Turbo Max) to 64 m (Ford F-150 Raptor). Remote controls of two cars - Chariots Robot Transformation and Overlander - had a range exceeding 100 m.

Power supply

During our tests, we paid attention to the type of power supply for the cars and remote controls.
Half of the tested cars were powered by accumulators - 2 models had a built-in accumulators and others required the use of batteries. Remote controls for all cars were battery-powered.

Possibility to use another control

The technology preventing the use of a remote control other than the one that came with the toy was employed in 5 models: Chariots Robot Transformation, Ford F-150 Raptor, Mini Tumbler, Overlander, and Polar Stromer - according to the packaging, the frequency band of these models is 2.4 GHz. Other cars could be driven using a remote control other than the one that came with them - in their case, the frequency provided on the label was 27 MHz.

Maximum speed

We checked the maximum speed that could be reached by the tested cars over a distance of 4 m with an acceleration length of 3 m. Ford F-150 Raptor was the fastest vehicle, reaching a speed of 23.2 kmph.  Chariots Robot Transformation, which reached 4.10 kmph, was the slowest one. The packagings of two models contained information about the maximum speed of the vehicles: Ford F-150 Raptor –  25 kmph, according to the declaration, and Polar Stromer – 10 kmph. Although we do not know how the manufacturers determined the performance of the cars, the results are similar to those obtained at our laboratories (23.2 km/h in the case of Forda F-150 Raptor and 9.4 km/h for Polar Stromer).

Remote control and car endurance

The endurance test consisted of 30 falls from height, 30 strikes with a load and compression with a force of up to 450 N. It was passed by the remotes and cares that endured all tests without suffering visible damage, namely 8 remote controls and 6 cars. The test was failed by: the remote control for Polar Stromer, which endured 11 falls from height, and the remote control for Chariots Robot Transformation - 11 falls. Polar Stromer endured 28 falls from height, Lamborghini Aventador Coupé-  21, Chariots Robot Transformation - 6, and Turbo Max - only 3. Further endurance tests involving these cars and remotes - strikes with a load and compressive strength were not performed.

Dimensions and weight of products and their packaging

Mini Tumbler was the smallest among the tested cars - it is 9 cm long, 8 cm wide and 4 cm high. The largest was Overlander - it is almost 40 cm long, 23 cm wide and about 20 cm high. Mini Tumbler also turned out to be the lightest, weighing in at 70g. The largest vehicle, Overlander , was also the heaviest, weighing 1.04 kg. The weight of the remote controls of the tested toys was more even, and it ranged from 90 g (Mini Tumbler) to 160 g (Overlander) after the insertion of batteries. The percentage of the packaging materials in the total weight of the toy ranged from 29 percent (  Lamborghini Aventador Coupé)  to 52 percent  (Mini Tumbler).

Tips for consumers

Identification and security

The responsibility for the safety of the tiy lies with its manufacturer or importer (in the case of toys imported from outside the EU). Do not buy toys which lack complete information. Pay attention to warnings about the age of the child or the features of the toy as well as the CE marking. It is the declaration of the manufacturer confirming that the toy is safe.

Toys and child's age

When buying a toy, make sure that it is suitable for the age of your little one. If it bears manufacturer's warning that it is unsuitable for children under 36 months/3 years of age, it means that it can be used safely by children who are at least 3 years old. The manufacturer should also list the dangers which the warning concerns, e.g. small elements that can be swallowed by a toddler.

Additional age recommendations, i.e  3+, 6+ czy 8+, are also helpful when choosing toys for older children. Such markings can be found on some models of remote-controlled cars. If you follow such recommendations, your child will have more fun.

You can count on the help of the Trading Standards Inspection

Tomasz Chróstny, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, reminds that any reservations concerning the safety, labelling and quality of toys can be reported to Provincial Inspectorates of Trade Inspection.

If the product has a defect, file a claim with the seller. You can do it within the period of two years from the date of the purchase. You can request a repair or replacement of the goods, a reduction of price, and when the defect is significant - a refund. A complaint cannot be lodged successfully without a receipt or bill. Bank or credit card statements, VAT invoices, orders placed in an online store, etc. also constitute a proof of purchase.

Remember that in the case of online purchases you have 14 days to withdraw from the contract ( the cooling off period), followed by 14 days to return the product. In the case of goods purchased at brick-and-mortar shops, you will not always have the option to return the items. It depends on the vendor, terms and conditions and regulations of a given store.

Download the results of the tests involving remote-controlled cars from uokik.gov.pl.

Consumer assistance: 

Tel. 801 440 220 or 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
 email: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer advocates – in your town or district
Trading Standards Inspection – in your province

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL