The best RC LEGO vehicle sets

At 374 pieces, the Off-Road Buggy is fairly straightforward to construct. But the large wheels and heavily-tread tyres are indicative this kit is about the driving experience.

Let us say from the outset that this is not a competitor for the likes of a Tamiya RC buggy, for example. LEGO’s Off-Road Buggy has a top speed of just over three miles per hour, which doesn’t sound like much but it’s enough to complete a lap of the house in a very competitive time.

The Off-Road Buggy is best suited to rough terrain rather than steep gradients. This is due to the fact it has good ground clearance and grippy tyres but only one electric motor.

The Top Gear Rally Car is a bit of a contrast to the Off-Road Buggy. It's lower and slower but curiously, it is much better on steeper gradients. However, it isn't as good on undulating terrain and is therefore best suited to courses that you create at home yourself.

The Rally Car is very easy to drive and we recommend it to younger drivers who are taking their first steps into the world of remote control driving.

The X-treme Off-Roader takes on the appearance of an RC rock crawler. Indeed, it is meant to emulate the rock crawler style of remote control driving.

At almost 1000 pieces, this kit is quite a decent build, and when you’re done the fun doesn’t stop. This is arguably the best remote control LEGO kit here because it has proper off-road ability. Pebbles, rocks, garden hoses, tall grass, the X-treme Off-Roader can tackle a domestic property with ease thanks to big ground clearance, chunky tyres, and proper suspension.

As is the case with the Off-Road Buggy, this isn’t a competitor for the other RC rock crawlers, but it's good fun in its own right.

This is the only set here to use a conventional remote control, as opposed to the CONTROL+ app.

This is a relatively small set, at 374 pieces and about 20 centimetres in length, but it offers some unique driving, different from that you’ll get in the sets with wheels. The tracks are independently motorised, meaning the Stunt Racer can turn in its own length. And the weight distribution is heavily towards the rear, which causes wheelies. The top speed isn’t very much but the acceleration is instantaneous.

Beginning to delve into the heavy machinery, we find the LEGO Volvo Articulated Hauler.

This is a big kit, consisting of 2,193 pieces. Once constructed, by all means you can drive it. The Volvo steers and moves slowly but naturally, the party piece is the tipping tray, which can be raised and lowered. Beneath the tray there is a full working gearbox with four stages. Although it’s slow, the first gear allows the Volvo to climb surprisingly steep inclines. There is a single gear for the tray and it can even cope with a little payload. So if you’re ever looking for a more interesting way to deliver the pet food to the bowl…

The biggest beast of all, consisting of 4,108 pieces. This will take some time to construct but once you have, the Liebherr R 9800 comes to life.

Where the likes of the Rally Car uses two electric motors, this uses seven. And two Smart Hubs, meaning you’ll need 12 AA batteries to run it. Via the app, you can move the arm and bucket, swivel the body, and drive the tracks. In addition, you can program a sequence of movements, which is rather neat. And you can actually scoop things up with the bucket.

A new and exciting set, the Trials Truck, like the X-treme Off-Roader, is designed to achieve impressive things on tough terrain. It’s long and thin with much ground clearance and little body overhanging the axles. The latter feature lets the Trials Truck climb sudden, steep inclines (or vice versa) without scraping its chin and getting stuck.

The Trials Truck also features locking differentials (a first for LEGO Technic) and proper suspension in order to cope with harsh terrain.

The Trials Truck consists of 2110 pieces and is powered by four electric motors.