12V Kids Ride On Bumper Car with Dual Joysticks, Spins In Place, 66 lb Load, Soft Bumper and Parent Remote, Red

A car with a steering wheel needs a length of clear floor to be any fun. In a flat, a townhouse or a finished basement with furniture in it, there is nowhere to drive to.

This one spins a full circle inside its own 29 in footprint. Pushing the joysticks against each other turns it on the spot, so the game is rotation rather than distance, and a small clear area is enough.

Spinning on the spot

The drive wheels sit close together under the middle of the car. Push the joysticks in opposite directions and one wheel goes forward while the other goes back, which turns the car without it travelling anywhere.

The published figures

37 to 96 months, a 66 lb load capacity, 0.75 to 1.25 mph and an 8 to 12 hour charge. The car is 29 in across, 17 in tall and weighs 16.5 lb, with a 13 in by 8 in seat.

The bumper up close

The maker photographs a hand pressing the bumper strip in. It gives rather than staying rigid, which is what saves the skirting boards in a room where the car is going in circles.

Controls and belt

Two joysticks, a power and media panel, the flashing LED and a lap belt across the seat. There is no steering wheel and no pedal, so nothing needs to be worked with both hands and a foot at once.

A full 360 degree spin using the two joysticks, within a 29 in circle.

0.75 to 1.25 mph, selected from the parent remote.

With an age range of 37 to 96 months, both published by the manufacturer.

A flexible strip around the base, shown giving under a hand in the maker's own photo.

Alongside three speeds, a frequency button and the four directions.

A front LED, side breathing lights, a base strip, built-in music and a wireless connection.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse. Free shipping on orders over $150. Some remote areas, PO boxes and surcharge regions may be excluded or cost extra.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused, in original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

A car that goes round rather than along needs far less clear floor than one with a steering wheel.

37 to 96 months on the maker's panel, with a 66 lb load capacity.

Turning on the spot is the whole appeal at this age, and it is the thing a wheeled toy cannot do.

What we stand behind

• The age range, the 66 lb load, the speeds, the battery, the charger and the dimensions are all the manufacturer's published figures.
• The manufacturer states it has an ASTM and CPSIA certificate. No certificate number is published, so none is quoted.
• No run time per charge and no remote range is published.
• A soft bumper softens a knock rather than removing it. Supervision still applies indoors.
• A toy for supervised play. Never on a road, a sidewalk or a bike path.

How much floor space does it need?

It is 29 in across and turns inside that circle, so a clear area a little over a metre wide is enough for the spinning game. Driving in a straight line needs more, as with any ride-on.

What age and weight is it for?

37 to 96 months with a 66 lb load capacity, both from the manufacturer's specification panel.

How does the child steer?

With two joysticks either side of the seat. Both forward to go, one to turn, opposite ways to spin. There is no wheel and no pedal.

Will it mark a hard floor?

The bumper is soft and the wheels are plastic. Grit brought in from outside is what marks floors, so wipe the wheels before it comes indoors.

How long does it charge?

8 to 12 hours on the supplied DC 12 V 0.9 A charger. No run time per charge is published.