You have probably landed here because your child wants a children’s off road buggy. If you’re doing your research on which one will be best for your child at the right price, well, you have definitely come to the right place. Because we have found, four of the best kids off road buggies that your child will surely enjoy!
What is a Children’s Off Road Buggy?
A buggy is a lightweight recreational vehicle that can also be used in off road conditions. The very first type of buggies are called dune buggies. These vehicles are equipped with large wheels and are designed to be used in sand dunes, beaches and desert parks.
As the automobile industry evolved, more types of buggies were introduced in the market including racing buggies and buggies that can handle all types of terrains. And as more and more parents wanted to let their children enjoy the thrill of off-road driving, manufacturers have started producing kids-sized and compatible versions of these vehicles.
Off road buggies are not the same as goKarts. Although some goKarts are suitable for off-road use they generally have smaller engines and size. GoKarts are not capable of turning at great speed and don’t have enough traction to prevent skidding.
Electric vs. Gas-Powered Road Buggies
There are two types of off-road buggy, electric and gas-powered. Gas-powered buggies are the most commonly used because they offer higher speed limits and longer ranges. In addition to that, it’s easier to refuel and they are easier to build, thus more affordable compared to the electric versions. The downside is, because it uses combustion to produce energy it emits carbon dioxide, soot and louder noise.
Electric buggies on the other hand are quiet and very friendly to the environment. It doesn’t produce smoke or pollution that your children can inhale while driving their buggies. They also reach their top speed instantly unlike gas-powered vehicles that require higher rpms first. But the problem with electric buggies are they have shorter ranges and it takes longer to recharge. In addition to that, e-buggies are newer technology that’s why they are more difficult and more expensive to build.
Tips for Buying an Off-Road Buggy for your Kids
Safety
When buying any toy for your kid, the main factor you should always consider is safety. You should always look for toys with the best safety features especially for ride-on toys like off-road buggies or pit bikes.
Most off-road buggies have safety seat belts and shoulder straps to prevent your children from being thrown off during sudden braking. Some have a roll cage to protect the passengers when the vehicle turns or rollover. One small safety feature is a sand flag too. This flag is usually needed when riding in sand dunes and deserts to indicate the actual position of the buggy!
Construction
Another important factor you should consider is the quality of the materials used to build the buggy. The overall frame materials used should be strong enough to keep your children safe when it turns over. In addition to that, make sure that all the parts and bearings are heavy duty and suitable for different types of off-road terrain: mud, sand, gravel, riverbeds and more.
Engine
Manufacturers equip off road buggies with bigger engines to enable them to easily handle rough roads and terrain. Although bigger engines may mean more powerful vehicles, you still need to base the power requirement to your child’s age and needs. 100cc buggies are suitable for a 6-8 year old child. A 150cc-200cc buggy on the other hand can accommodate 2 children at the same time or one child and a parent if he/she is light enough.
Tires
When it comes to off roading adventures, tire size is another important aspect to look out for. At minimum, an off road buggy should have a 7 inch rear or front wheel rim size. They should have deeper and thicker tread or groove compared to the normal tires. These grooves enable these tires to have better grip on loose and unpaved surfaces.
Aside from tires and engines, there are a lot of features that will greatly impact your buggy’s performance. For example, the fuel capacity is important especially if your family loves uninterrupted long distance driving. The type of suspension will also dictate how comfortable the ride is going to be. And last but not the least, make sure that the buggy has the best braking system to provide your children the safest ride possible.
We hope that by now you understand and know the factors you should consider when buying an off road buggy for your children. Let’s proceed to the individual review of the top 4 children’s off road buggies that we highly recommend.
Top 4 Children’s Off Road Buggies
FunBikes Funkart Pro Off Road Go Kart
Quality Ratings
Features:
- Front and Rear Hydraulic Shock Absorber
- Driver’s Seat Belt
- Bucket seats
FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc Off Road Go Kart Specs
Type: Off-Road Buggy
Age level: 6+ years
Weight: 70 Kg
Engine: 4 Stroke – Single Cylinder
Gears: Automatic
Fuel: Petrol, Unleaded
Motor Size: 98cc
Fuel Capacity: 1.3 Litres
Speed: 37 kph
Tyres: Gentle Off road
Rim Size: Front 7 inch – Rear 7 inch
Start Type: Pull Start
Load: 68 kg
Brakes: Hydraulic Rear Disc Brake
FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc Off Road Go Kart Review
The FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc is an off-road buggy that is specifically designed for younger children. Its 98cc 4-stroke motor is ample enough to accommodate a young child and can reach speeds of up to 37 kph. Faster than its electric counterpart, the FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc is a great buggy for thrill-seeking and adventurous kids because it offers adequate protection in the form of a sturdy rear seat roll bar that will protect the child in the event that the buggy rolls over after an unfortunate accident. The seat belt on this buggy is also strong enough to provide satisfactory and secure protection.
The operation of this off-road buggy is also a breeze because it boasts an automatic transmission. For younger children, ease of operation is an important feature to be mindful of. The brakes on the FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc is a robust hydraulic rear disc brake system which is a standard in this line on off-road buggies. Handling is hassle-free as well because of the front and rear hydraulic shock absorbers that are stable enough to allow driving on gentle off-road terrains.
Another great thing about this off-road buggy is that it allows seat adjustment from 70cm to 85cm. This is an important consideration to keep in mind because it allows the buggy to be adjusted as your child grows. Thus the FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc is a great off-road buggy because it allows your child to continue driving it even as they grow in size.
With a great selection of two colors; green and red, let your younger children experience the thrill and adventure of going off-road with the FunBikes Funkart Pro 98cc.
PROS
- Rear Seat Roll Bar
- Lightweight / Easily Transportable
- Fast Speed
- Affordable
CONS
- Low load limit
- Single Seater
- Low Capacity Fuel Tank
FunBikes 98cc Green Kids Petrol Go Kart
- Front and Rear Hydraulic Shock Absorber
- Driver’s Seat Belt
- Bucket seats
Shark RV50 156cc Red Mini Off Road Buggy
Quality Ratings
Features:
- Remote Cut Out
- 156cc Engine
- 4-point Harness
- Bucket seats
Shark RV50 156cc Red Mini Off-Road Buggy Specs
Type: Off-Road Buggy
Age level: 6+ years
Weight: 82 Kg
Engine: 4 Stroke – Single Cylinder
Gears: Automatic
Fuel: Petrol, Unleaded
Motor Size: 156cc
Fuel Capacity: 2.45 Litres
Speed: 20 mph / 32 kph
Tyres: Off road 145/70
Rim Size: Front 6 inch – Rear 6 inch
Start Type: Electric Pull Start
Load: 140 kg
Brakes: Rear Disc Brake
Shark RV50 156cc Red Mini Off-Road Buggy Review
Now just from the picture you just want to go and buy this Shark RV50 buggy straight away right? Me too! But before you go and snap this up, take a look at all the information about it first.
When it comes to the engine, this is an air-cooled four-stroke that takes unleaded fuel, so no mixing fuel. Because of its powerful engine, you may be thinking that this is going to be way too fast for your child, but that’s not true. This kids 2 seater buggy is recommended for kids aged 6+ and the top speed is only 20MPH. And has a throttle restrictor that is fully adjustable, so you decide the top speed and acceleration.
With a 4 point safety harness on the cool looking bucket seats, your children could not be any safer. Additionally, it has a rollover cage that helps protect your children. But of course, make sure that you get them to wear all their safety gear too before driving their buggies.
This has an electric start, so your child start it easily with no problem. And if for some reason the electric start doesn’t work, you could just use the pull cord to bring it to life. In addition to that, it also has an adjustable suspension system, to help make the ride smoother. Furthermore, it’s equipped with a back disk brake for fast stopping.
Shark RV50 156cc Red Mini Off-Road Buggy
PROS
- It has a safe roll over cage
- 4 Point Safety Harness
- Fast Speed
- Powerful engine
- Large fuel tank
- Quiet
- Adjustable throttle restrictor
CONS
- Expensive
- Reverse Gear Mechanism
Shark RV50 156CC Petrol Go Kart
- Remote Cut Out
- 156cc Engine
- 4-point Harness
- Bucket seats
FunBikes GT80 TrailBlazer Off-Road Buggy
Quality Ratings
Features:
- Large Fuel Tank
- Larger Tires
- High Engine Displacement
- Adjustable driver’s seat
FunBikes GT80 200cc Off-Road Buggy Specs
Type: Off-Road Buggy
Age level: 10+ years
Weight: 136 Kg
Engine: 4 Stroke – Single Cylinder
Gears: Automatic
Fuel: Petrol, Unleaded
Motor Size: 196cc
Fuel Capacity: 3.0 Litres
Speed: 30 mph / 48 kph
Tyres: Aggressive off-road tyres
Rim Size: Front 9 inch – Rear 9 inch
Start Type: Electric Pull Start
Load: 180 kg
Brakes: Rear Disc Brake
FunBikes GT80 200cc Off-Road Buggy Review
If you have an older child who’s looking for more power then check this one out. A lot bigger than the Shark RV50, this buggy’s overall dimension is 178cm x 112cm x 129cm. In addition to a larger body, this 200cc go-kart also has a powerful automatic 4-stroke engine, that can reach up to 30mph.
A great feature of the GT80 Trailblazer is it has a foot pedal and carburetor restrictor. This is a great safety feature to limit the speed if you think it’s too fast for your kiddo.
When it comes to tire size, it has larger wheels with 9inch rims that make it easier to drive on steeper hills, muddy roads, and rougher terrains.
Weighing just 136kg gross, this 2 seater can hold up to 180 Kg. It also has a seat belt for extra safety. This one does not have an electric start, but does have a pull cord.
FunBikes GT80 200cc Off-Road Buggy Color Options
PROS
- It has a safe roll over cage
- Faster Speed
- Powerful engine
- Large fuel tank
- 2WD live axle
- Cargo Rack
- Rack and pinion steering
CONS
- Expensive
- Reverse Gear Mechanism
- 3 point safety harness only
FunBikes GT80 Trail Blazer 200cc Off-Road Buggy
- Large Fuel Tank
- Larger Tires
- High Engine Displacement
- Adjustable driver’s seat
Mud Rocks Trail Blazer 150cc Off-Road Buggy
Quality Ratings
Features:
- 5 Point Safety Harness
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Forward and Reverse Gears
Mud Rocks 150 Trail Blazer 150cc Specs
Type: Off-Road Buggy
Age level: 10+ years
Weight: 220 Kg
Engine: 4 Stroke – Single Cylinder
Gears: Automatic
Fuel: Petrol, Unleaded
Motor Size: 150cc
Fuel Capacity: 8.5 Litres
Speed: 30 mph / 40 kph
Tyres: Aggressive off-road tyres
Rim Size: Front 9 inch – Rear 9 inch
Start Type: Electric Pull Start
Load: 150 kg
Brakes: Rear Disc Brake
Mud Rocks 150 Trail Blazer 150cc Review
One of the many problems off-roaders encounter during their trips is when their fuel empties and there are no gasoline stations around the area. And if you and your teen are planning on driving long distances with your buggy then the 8.5L MudRocks 150cc TrailBlazer is the one you should buy. With this large fuel capacity, your kid can literally drive hundreds of kilometers before the buggy runs out of gas.
Another great feature of this off-road buggy is that it is equipped with a GY6 150cc engine. This powerful air-cooled engine has a maximum power of 8.2hp. And with a max speed of 40kph, the GY6 makes this buggy almost as fast as the 200cc GT80. Furthermore, aside from automatic gears it also has a reverse gear to let your child drive this buggy backward.
In addition to that, the Mud Rocks 150cc Off-Road Buggy has a superior 5-point safety harness for your child’s protection. It also has a roll-over bar and cage and has passed the MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) standards.
Mud Rocks 150 Trail Blazer 150cc Review
PROS
- It has a safe roll over bar and cage
- Fast Speed
- More powerful engine
- Large fuel tank
- 2WD live axle
- 5 harness point safety belts
CONS
- Expensive
- Suitable for teenagers only
- Extremely heavy
Mud Rocks 150 Trail Blazer 150cc
- 5 Point Safety Harness
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Forward and Reverse Gears
FAQs about Children’s Off Road Buggy
Where can you use an off road buggy?
Just like an ATV, an off road buggy can easily navigate rocky, muddy, sandy and rocky terrains. Furthermore, their engines are strong enough to handle steep roads and some can even climb over rocks. As most of them are not road legal, they are usually used in dirt tracks or you can drive them inside your private property.
Can a kid drive an off-road buggy?
An off-road buggy is a great option when your child has outgrown his electric ride-on car. Because your child already has the basic knowledge and driving skills, it will be much easier and less intimidating for him or her to drive an off-road buggy. Just make sure that you equip your child with high quality safety gears to protect your children and reduce injuries.
How old should a child be to ride an off road buggy?
Children as young as 6 years old can drive an off road buggy with strict parental supervision. Choose models that have the appropriate engine power and speed for your child’s age. You can also opt for off road buggies that have foot pedal restrictors to prevent your child from overspeeding.
How fast can a children’s off road buggies go?
Off road buggies for children can run as fast as 40kph depending on the number and weight of the rider/s. Anything more than this speed is not recommended and can be very dangerous.
How much does a dune buggy for kids cost?
Most of the kid’s off road buggies on Amazon and all of those included in this list cost around £1000-2000. The price can go higher up to £3000 depending on the features and materials used to build the buggy. In addition to that, the engine and load capacity, size, features will greatly affect its market price too.