Speed picks
The fastest RC cars under $100
Speed claims in this bracket are the least reliable numbers in the hobby. Here is what the cars actually do, which ones are genuinely quick, and what real speed costs.
By Ryder M. · Published September 27, 2026 · Last reviewed
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Two things are true about speed claims under $100. First, the published figures are usually measured in the friendliest possible conditions — a fresh battery, a smooth surface, downhill if they could get away with it. Second, the honest ceiling in this bracket is around 30 mph, and anything claiming much more is either measuring in km/h and hoping you do not notice, or stretching.
The fastest genuinely-under-$100 car we recommend is the [DEERC 9206E](#deerc-9206e), which DEERC quotes at around 48 km/h — roughly 30 mph. If you want 38 mph and up, you need to move into the brushless cars in the under $200 bracket.
Fastest overall
DEERC 9206E 1:10 Monster Truck
A full 1:10-size truck at a price that usually buys something half the size — and two batteries again.
Fastest with parts support
BEZGAR HM161
BEZGAR calls it hobby-grade and, unusually at this price, largely means it — and two batteries come in the box.
Fastest with tall tires
BEZGAR HM162
The monster-truck-shaped sibling of the HM161: same idea, more ground clearance.
Reading speed claims honestly
| What the box says | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| "40+ KM/H" | About 25 mph — a real figure, stated in the unit that sounds bigger |
| "High speed 60 KM/H" | About 37 mph, usually on a fully charged pack on smooth asphalt |
| "Up to 20 MPH" | A reasonable, honest figure for a brushed toy-grade car |
| No figure at all | Normal for cars aimed at young children, and not a red flag |
The fastest cars under $100
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEERC 9206E 1:10 Monster TruckA full 1:10-size truck at a price that usually buys something half the size — and two batteries again. | A big truck, small money | 8.0 | |
| 2 | BEZGAR HM161BEZGAR calls it hobby-grade and, unusually at this price, largely means it — and two batteries come in the box. | Bridging toy to hobby | 8.2 | |
| 3 | BEZGAR HM162The monster-truck-shaped sibling of the HM161: same idea, more ground clearance. | Taller tires, rougher ground | 7.9 | |
| 4 |  DEERC 9300 1:18 RC CarGenuinely quick for the money, with two batteries in the box so the fun does not stop after ten minutes. | A first fast car | 8.1 |
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#1 · A big truck, small money
DEERC 9206E 1:10 Monster Truck
A full 1:10-size truck at a price that usually buys something half the size — and two batteries again.
8.0/10our score for this use
1:10 is the size most hobby cars are: roughly 17 to 20 inches long, big enough to see across a yard and heavy enough that grass does not throw it around. DEERC quotes around 48 km/h — roughly 30 mph — and includes two batteries.
- Size:
- 1:10 (about 17-20 inches long)
- Drive:
- 4WD
- Motor:
- toy-grade motor
What it does well
- Proper 1:10 size, so it works on real ground instead of only on a driveway
- Two batteries in the box, and around 40 minutes of combined run time
- Some versions include a second body shell
What it does badly
- Not hobby-grade: spares are DEERC-only and thinner than Traxxas or Arrma
- Heavy for its build quality — a bad landing bends parts a hobby chassis would shrug off
- The stock tires wear quickly on asphalt
Specifications from DEERC's own store listing.
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#2 · Bridging toy to hobby
BEZGAR HM161
BEZGAR calls it hobby-grade and, unusually at this price, largely means it — and two batteries come in the box.
8.2/10our score for this use
A 1:16 truck, so roughly the size of a shoebox. BEZGAR states a top speed above 40 km/h — around 25 mph — with four-wheel drive and a rechargeable pack, or two of them on the twin-battery version.
- Size:
- 1:16
- Drive:
- 4WD
- Motor:
- brushed motor
What it does well
- Real four-wheel drive and enough ground clearance for grass and gravel
- Twin-battery versions exist, which is the difference between a long afternoon and a short one
- BEZGAR sells replacement bodies and parts directly, which most toy brands do not
What it does badly
- Parts are BEZGAR-only — nothing sits on the shelf at a local hobby shop
- Quick enough to break things, and the plastic is not Traxxas plastic
- The steering servo is the usual weak point at this price
Specifications from BEZGAR's HM161 product page.
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#3 · Taller tires, rougher ground
BEZGAR HM162
The monster-truck-shaped sibling of the HM161: same idea, more ground clearance.
7.9/10our score for this use
The same 1:16 platform in monster-truck form, with taller tires. BEZGAR quotes a top speed above 40 km/h and supplies two rechargeable packs.
- Size:
- 1:16
- Drive:
- 4WD
- Motor:
- brushed motor
What it does well
- Taller tires clear lawn thatch and gravel that stop lower cars
- Two batteries included
- Replacement parts sold by BEZGAR directly
What it does badly
- The higher body rolls over in hard turns more readily than the HM161
- No hobby-shop parts availability
- The charger in the box is slow
Specifications from BEZGAR's HM162 product page.
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#4 · A first fast car
DEERC 9300 1:18 RC Car
Genuinely quick for the money, with two batteries in the box so the fun does not stop after ten minutes.
8.1/10our score for this use
A 1:18 scale car — about the length of a school ruler — with a quoted top speed near 40 km/h, which is roughly 25 mph. DEERC ships two battery packs, which is the single most useful thing a budget RC car can include.
- Size:
- 1:18 (about 10 inches long)
- Drive:
- 4WD
- Motor:
- toy-grade motor
What it does well
- Two batteries included, roughly doubling the driving before a long charge wait
- Fast enough to feel exciting rather than like a toy
- Copes with short grass, dirt and pavement
What it does badly
- Parts come from DEERC alone — nothing like a hobby brand's network
- At that speed, a head-on into a curb can crack a suspension arm
- The included charger is slow
Specifications from DEERC's own store listing.
What real speed costs
The jump from around 30 mph to around 40 mph is the jump from a brushed motor to a brushless one, and it roughly doubles the price. MJX quotes 62 km/h — about 38 mph — for the HYPER GO 16207 on a 3S battery, and 55 km/h for the 14210. Traxxas states 65+ mph for a Rustler 4X4 VXL on a 3-cell pack with optional speed gearing, at several times this budget. The full picture is in how fast do RC cars go and brushed vs brushless.
Who is it for?
- For a 10-year-old — this is the right speed band
- For a 12-year-old — they will want the brushless step up
- For a teenager — honestly, budget past $100
How we picked
We rank on manufacturers' own published figures, converted to mph, and we do not repeat a speed claim we could not find on the maker's own materials. We do not measure speeds ourselves and do not pretend to — our methodology page explains the sourcing.