12V Kids Ride On ATV 4 Wheeler with Locked High Speed Gear, 66 lb Capacity, Rear Suspension and MP3, Ages 3 to 8, Blue

Give a child a shifter with a low and a high position and they will try the high one within a minute. On a quad that doubles the speed, which is not what a first ride should be.

A protective cover sits over the high speed position and has to be removed before the shifter will go there. The manufacturer says so plainly in its own instructions. Leave it in place until you decide the child is ready.

The stance

Four oversized wheels set well outside the body, a low seat between them and handlebars above. A wide track is what keeps a quad steady when a child leans into a turn, and this one is 24 in across.

Both speeds and the run time

1.9 mph on low, 3.7 mph on high, and a stated 40 minutes from one charge. A published run time is rare in this category, and 40 minutes is honest rather than flattering.

Size, weight and age

39 in long, 24 in wide and 29 in tall, with a 66 lb maximum capacity and an age range of 3 to 8 years. The charger is shown beside it. The quad itself weighs 35.4 lb.

The panel and the shifter

A power button, the high and low speed shift, and a media strip with USB and MP3 sockets, volume, story, music and ABC buttons. An MP3 cable comes in the package, so the child's own audio works from day one.

The high position on the shifter sits under a protective cover that an adult removes.

The manufacturer's own published play time from the 12 V 7 Ah battery.

Published with an adaptable age of 3 to 8 years.

Springs on the rear wheels to take the shock out of uneven ground.

A mesh basket over the rear rack, with anti-collision bars front and back.

Music, education and story modes with USB and MP3 sockets, volume and track skip. An MP3 cable is included.

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.

Leave the cover on the high gear and the quad runs at 1.9 mph, which is a comfortable walking pace to supervise.

3.7 mph on the high setting, with a 66 lb capacity that carries most eight year olds.

The maker names sidewalks, wooden and tar roads. Flat and firm is where oversized plastic wheels work best.

What we stand behind

• The speeds, the 40 minute play time, the 66 lb capacity, the age range and the dimensions are all the manufacturer's own published figures.
• The high speed cover is the manufacturer's own instruction and we repeat it: remove it only when you decide the child is ready.
• 3.7 mph is faster than an adult walks. A helmet and a clear, flat space are sensible at that speed.
• No certification is claimed on this colour's record, although the pink and red versions of the same quad state ASTM. We do not carry that claim across.
• A toy for supervised play on private property. Never on a road, a sidewalk or a bike path.

What is the high speed cover?

A protective cover over the high position on the shifter. The manufacturer asks that it be removed before a child uses the high speed gear, which means an adult decides when 3.7 mph becomes available.

How long does a charge last?

40 minutes of play, published by the manufacturer. That is an honest figure for a 12 V 7 Ah battery, and it drops on grass or with a heavier rider.

What size child fits?

3 to 8 years with a 66 lb maximum capacity. The quad is 39 in long and weighs 35.4 lb itself.

Does it have suspension?

Springs on the rear wheels, which the maker credits with reducing shock. The front wheels are unsprung.

Can it play our own music?

Yes. There are USB and MP3 sockets on the panel, an MP3 cable is in the package, and the built-in modes cover music, stories and early education.