12V Kids Ride On Bumper Car with Soft Bumper Ring, Slow Start, Flashing Lights and Parent Remote, 44 lb Limit, Red

Children will crash ride-ons into each other, into table legs and into the skirting boards. A rigid plastic shell chips the paint, marks the wall and eventually splits at the corner.

The base ring on this one is padded all the way round and sits proud of the body, so it is the first thing to make contact. Add a 1.3 mph top speed and a slow start and there is not much force behind a collision.

The ring around the base

The padded ring stands out past the body on every side, which is exactly what a bumper should do. The lights sit inside it, so nothing lit is exposed to a knock.

How it is meant to be used

The maker's own photo has two of them meeting head on. That is the point of a bumper car, and it is why the ring, the slow start and the 1.3 mph top speed all matter more than a turn of pace would.

Seat and belt

A moulded shell with a proper backrest and a belt that adjusts. The seat is 12.5 in by 8.5 in, sized for the 2 to 5 year band the maker states.

The figures

The panel on this colour is in metric: 20 kg maximum load and 2 km/h. The record's table gives the same numbers as 44 lb and 1.3 mph, on a body 22.5 by 29.5 by 16.5 in.

A soft ring right around the base, standing proud of the bodywork on every side.

The car eases away instead of jumping, which the manufacturer lists as a safety feature.

Two levers rather than a wheel and pedal, which is how a two year old drives.

A belt across a 12.5 in by 8.5 in seat with a full backrest.

Coloured lights around the base with built-in music and a horn.

An adult can drive or stop the car without crossing the room.

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.

Bumping is the game. The padded ring and a 1.3 mph top speed are what make it survivable for both cars.

The ring is as much protection for the skirting boards as for the car.

Joysticks, a belt, a slow start and a remote in an adult's hand. The maker's range opens at 2 years.

What we stand behind

• The speed, the 44 lb load, the age range, the seat size and the charge time are all the manufacturer's published figures.
• This colour's panel is in metric (20 kg, 2 km/h) and the record is in imperial. They are the same figures.
• A soft bumper reduces the force of a knock; it does not make collisions safe. Supervision still applies.
• The manufacturer states it has passed ASTM and CPSIA certifications. No certificate number is published.
• A toy for supervised play. Never on a road, a sidewalk or a bike path.

Is the bumper really soft?

It is a padded ring rather than bare plastic, and it stands proud of the body so it takes the contact first. It reduces a knock, it does not remove it, and children should still be supervised indoors.

What age and weight is it for?

2 to 5 years with a 44 lb maximum load, both published by the manufacturer. That is 20 kg on the metric version of the same panel.

Can two of them be used together?

Yes, that is how the maker photographs it. At 1.3 mph with a padded ring on each car, a head on meeting is more of a bump than a crash.

How is it driven?

Two joysticks for the child, or the parent remote for an adult. There is no steering wheel and no pedal.

What charger comes with it?

A 12 V 500 mA charger, with a stated charge time of 8 to 12 hours. No run time per charge is published.