Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to amazon.com.au. If you buy through one of these links iFix may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't change which products we recommend. We focus on what actually lasts based on 16 years of repair-shop experience.
Quick summary5 picks
- HONEY JOY Kids Pedal Go Kart about$125.95
- HONEY JOY Electric Cleaning Go Kart about$129.9535W.
- Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle - Black/Teal about$169
- Drift Go Kart about$275
- Most PremiumDrift Kart for Kids & Teens about$369200W.
Pedal, kid-powered or electric: the three kinds of kart
Kids go karts on Amazon AU come in three kinds, and they don't suit the same child. Pedal karts drive the back wheels through pedals, a bit like a bike with four wheels and a steering wheel. Kid-powered drift karts like the Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle have no pedals and no battery, and the rider gets them moving and spinning with a drift bar. Electric karts carry a battery, a motor and a charger, and they range from a 12V toddler kart to a 36V drift kart rated at 21 km/h.
Two of the five picks need no battery at all: the HONEY JOY pedal kart and the Razor Shuffle. The other three are electric. There's a HONEY JOY 12V kart for two to five year olds with a parent remote, an XCJump three-wheel drift trike and the XCJump DP-7, a 36V drift kart for older kids and teens. I've ordered them roughly by age, from the youngest rider to the oldest, because age and size decide this more than any feature does.
The kind you choose changes what you'll be looking after for the next few years. A pedal kart is bolts, bearings and tyres, and a parent with a spanner can keep one going for a long time. An electric kart adds a battery that wears out, a charger that can fail and a controller board that hates water, and those are the parts we see in e-scooters and RC cars at the shop, so I've given them their own sections further down.
I've left out petrol karts, which aren't really sold new on Amazon AU, and two-seater 24V ride-on cars, which are a different machine with a car body and a parent remote. Our kids ride-on cars guide covers those. I've also left out the Razor Crazy Cart Shift, which is the top seller in Kids' Electric Vehicles, because its listing gives its speed in miles per hour, says it has no brake and shows no Australian model code, so I couldn't confirm which charger plug ships with it.
Age, height and weight limits on the listings
The age on a kart listing is the first number I'd check, and the weight limit is the second. The HONEY JOY pedal kart is listed for ages 3 to 8, the Razor Shuffle for ages 4 and up, and the HONEY JOY electric kart for ages 2 to 5. The XCJump DP-7 says kids and teens and states a 60kg rider limit, and the XCJump trike doesn't give an age at all, only an adjustment from 80 to 90cm.
Of the five picks, the DP-7 is the one that states a rider weight limit, and that's the number that protects the frame and the motor. Overloading a kart bends seat mounts, flattens tyres and makes an electric motor and its controller work hotter than they were designed for. If a listing doesn't give a limit, ask the seller before you order, and don't let a parent or an older sibling take it for a lap just to see, because that's usually how the first bent bracket happens.
Fit matters as much as age. A child should reach the pedals with a slight bend at the knee and hold the steering without stretching, and the adjustable seats on the HONEY JOY pedal kart and the Razor Shuffle are there so the kart can grow with them for a couple of years. Measure your child's leg length against the seat travel in the manual before you buy, because a kart bought too big to grow into is usually just a kart they can't steer properly yet.
Brakes, steering and how a kart stops
How a kart stops is the thing I'd look at hardest, and the listings don't treat it the same way. The HONEY JOY pedal kart has a safety brake, a handbrake according to its title, so a child can pull up without dragging their feet. The HONEY JOY electric kart has an emergency brake on the parent remote. The Razor Shuffle and both XCJump karts don't state a brake at all, so on those the rider slows by easing off and letting the kart coast or spin to a stop.
That isn't unusual for drift karts, but it changes where they should be ridden. A kart that stops by coasting needs open, flat ground with plenty of run-off, well away from the street, the pool fence and the parked car. Teach the rider to come off the throttle early and to spin out rather than run into something, and walk the space with them first so they know where the edges are. A slope toward the road is the wrong place for any of these.
Steering wears in a different way. On a pedal kart the steering wheel moves the front wheels through tie rods and small bolts, and those loosen with every bump until there's a lot of play at the wheel. Give the steering a wiggle every few weeks with the kart standing still, and tighten any bolt that's moved. On the drift karts the drift bar or handlebars do the steering, and the bolts at the pivot are the ones to check.
Batteries and chargers on the electric karts
The battery is the part of an electric kart that wears out first, and the listings say very little about it. The HONEY JOY kart lists a 12V 7Ah battery, and the XCJump DP-7 lists a 36V battery system with no capacity. The XCJump trike gives a 12 to 25km range and a 2 to 3 hour charge but no voltage or capacity. A 12V 7Ah block is the size ride-on makers usually fit as sealed lead-acid, though the HONEY JOY listing doesn't name the chemistry.
The two chemistries want opposite care. A lead-acid battery wants charging after every ride and hates sitting flat, and one left empty in the shed over winter often won't take a charge by spring. A lithium pack, which most 36V packs are, is happier stored at around half charge and doesn't like being charged hot straight after a hard run. Read the manual for yours, and if it isn't clear, charge after use and top it up once a month when the kart isn't being ridden.
Use the charger that came in the box and nothing else. A charger from another toy can look identical and push the wrong voltage, and a mismatched charger is how packs swell and plugs get hot. Check that it has an Australian plug and the RCM tick when it arrives, and charge on a hard floor in the garage or laundry where you can see it, not in a bedroom overnight. Our guide to what makes a charger dangerous explains the warning signs.
Charging costs next to nothing. A 12V 7Ah battery holds about 84Wh, so a full charge costs around 3c at the Australian average of roughly 33c per kWh, and even with charger losses it's well under 5c. The cost that matters is the replacement battery in two or three years, so before you buy an electric kart, check that the battery is a standard size you can buy separately and that it isn't glued or moulded into the body where you can't get at it.
Speed and where a kart can actually be ridden
The XCJump trike is rated at 15 km/h and the DP-7 at 21 km/h, and the HONEY JOY electric kart's listing doesn't give a top speed. For a sense of scale, 21 km/h is a fast bike ride, and on a seat a few centimetres off the ground it feels a lot quicker than it sounds. The DP-7 has three speed modes, and I'd start any new rider on the lowest one and only move up once they can stop and turn where they mean to.
A powered kart isn't a road vehicle, so it belongs in the backyard, the driveway or a private space, not on the street or the footpath. Smooth concrete and a garage floor suit drift karts best, because the caster wheels need a hard surface to slide. Grass slows every kart down and works pedal karts harder, and gravel chews up plastic wheels in a few weekends. If the only flat ground you've got is the street out the front, a pedal kart or a scooter is the better buy.
Gear goes on before the kart moves. A helmet, the same one they wear on a bike, closed shoes and long pants on the drift karts are a sensible start, and loose scarves and long hair want tying back away from the wheels. Keep younger brothers and sisters and the family dog out of the riding area, because a spinning drift kart covers a lot of ground quickly. If you're weighing a kart against a scooter, our electric scooter guide covers the legal side of those.
Wheels, bearings and drifting wear
Wheels are the next thing to wear after the battery, and drifting wears them fastest. The Razor Shuffle has polyurethane wheels and rear caster wheels, the DP-7 lists PU rear wheels and the HONEY JOY pedal kart has plastic wheels wrapped in rubber. Every slide scrubs a little off the rear wheels, and on rough concrete they can wear flat spots in a few months of hard riding, which makes the kart vibrate and pull to one side.
Caster wheels have small bearings that pick up grit, sand and hair, and once they're packed with it the wheel stops spinning freely and starts to wobble. Every few weeks, turn the kart over, pull out any hair or thread wound round the axles and wipe the wheels clean. A squeal or a grinding sound from a wheel usually means the bearing is dry or full of grit, and a few drops of light oil sorts most of them out if you catch it early.
Rubber-wrapped plastic wheels like the HONEY JOY pedal kart's grip well and run quietly, but the rubber layer is thin, and once it wears through to the plastic the kart slips and gets loud. Keep these karts on smooth ground and off gravel, and check the tread every few months. Before you buy any kart, look at whether the maker or seller sells spare wheels, because a worn wheel shouldn't be the reason a kart that otherwise works goes to the tip.
Assembly and the first week
All five arrive flat-packed or part-built, and the first ride is only as good as the assembly. Give yourself an hour with the instructions, lay every part out on a towel before you start and don't throw the box away until it's done. Steering linkages and seat rails are the parts people get wrong, usually by fitting a bolt the wrong way round or leaving a nut finger tight, so go over each one twice before a child sits in it.
On the electric karts, charge the battery fully before the first ride, even if it arrived with some charge. A first full charge for the time the manual gives sets the battery up properly, and it's a good moment to check that the charger and the charge port both stay cool. If the charger gets hot to hold, smells or the light doesn't change, stop and contact the seller before the kart is used, because that won't improve with use.
After the first week of riding, go over every bolt again. Bolts on a new kart settle as the frame beds in, and the ones on the steering, the seat and the wheel axles are the ones that loosen first. A quick check with a spanner after a week, then every month or so, catches nearly everything before it turns into a bent part or a wheel that wobbles off. Keep the little bag of spare bolts and the tool that came in the box with the kart.
Water, storage and the off season
Water is the enemy of the electric karts. The controller board, the battery connectors and the switches sit low in the body, and puddles, sprinklers and a hose-down after a muddy ride all push water in. None of the three electric listings gives a water rating, so I'd treat them as dry-weather toys. Wipe them down with a damp cloth rather than a hose, and if one does get soaked, take the battery out or unplug it and let it dry for a few days before you try it.
Water inside a kart works like water inside a phone. It leaves minerals and corrosion on the board and the connectors, and the fault often shows up days or weeks later as a kart that cuts out, runs at one speed or won't charge. Our explainer on water damage in electronics covers why drying it out quickly matters. The same goes for any phone or tablet that's been riding along in a pocket or a cup holder through the sprinkler.
Store karts under cover, out of the sun and off wet ground. Sun fades and cracks plastic bodies over a summer, and rain sitting in a steel frame rusts it from the inside. Over winter, charge an electric kart's battery before it goes away, top it up once a month and disconnect it if the manual shows how. A pedal kart wants a wipe-down and a drop of oil on the axles and pedal cranks, and it'll be ready to go again in spring.
The 5 picks, $126 to $369
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-13) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks, checked the same day, with the overall Amazon AU rank alongside so the picks can be compared across categories.
HONEY JOY Kids Pedal Go Kart, 4 Wheel, Adjustable Seat and Handbrake (Green)
ASIN B0D79FTXSC • $125.95 • Sold by Baby Joy AU on Amazon AU
The HONEY JOY Pedal Go Kart is the classic pedal kart of the five picks, and it's the one I'd buy for most families with a three to eight year old. Amazon AU lists it at $126 from Baby Joy AU, and it ranks #45 in Amazon AU's Kids' Push Ride-Ons category, #19,439 overall on the site. It has a steel tube frame with a painted finish the listing calls anti-rust, four plastic wheels wrapped in rubber, a steering wheel and a seat that slides back and forth as your child grows. The model code on the listing is JOY394361UZGN, which is the green one, and Baby Joy AU sells the other colours as separate listings.
The feature I like most is the clutch. The listing says it lets the kart roll forward or backward after a push, so a parent can wheel it back up the driveway without fighting the pedals. There's also a safety brake, a handbrake according to the title, so a child can pull up without dragging their feet, and of the five picks it's the one with a brake the rider works. The rubber wrapped wheels grip better on concrete than bare plastic and run quieter, and the listing rates them for asphalt, cement, lawn and sand. Amazon's item data puts it at about 9kg, light enough for one adult to lift into a car boot.
The listing doesn't state a rider weight limit or a warranty, so ask Baby Joy AU before you order if an older sibling will want a go. The pedal drive and steering bolts loosen with use, so check them with a spanner after the first week and then every month or so, and put a drop of oil on the pedal cranks and axles when they start to squeak. Store it under cover, because rain sitting in a steel frame rusts it from the inside. For a first kart with no battery to look after, it's my pick.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state a rider weight limit, a warranty or how far the seat travels. The rubber is a thin layer wrapped over plastic rims, so it wears through on rough concrete faster than a solid tyre would. It's sized for ages 3 to 8, so a tall eight year old may outgrow the seat quickly.
Best for: Families who want a first pedal kart for a three to eight year old, with a handbrake and no battery to look after.
Price: $126 (Baby Joy AU) • Type: Pedal go kart, 4 wheels • Ages: 3 to 8 stated • Brake: Safety brake (handbrake per title) • Drive: Pedals with clutch for pushing • Frame: Steel tube, painted • Wheels: Plastic, rubber wrapped • Model: JOY394361UZGN • Rank: #45 in Kids' Push Ride-Ons (Amazon AU), #19,439 overall
View on Amazon AU
Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle Kid-Powered Drift Kart (Black/Teal)
ASIN B0CPT4SQC2 • $169 • Ships from Amazon AU
The Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle is a drift kart with no battery and no pedals, and it's the best-ranked of the five picks across the whole site at #3,863 overall on Amazon AU, and #40 in Kids' Bikes, Trikes & Ride-Ons. Amazon AU sells it for $169. Razor calls it kid-powered: the rider gets it moving and controls drifts and spins with the Crazy Cart drift bar, on polyurethane wheels with caster wheels at the back that let it spin freely. The model on the listing is 20043435 in black and teal, and Amazon AU is the seller, which makes a return simple if something's missing from the box. Amazon's item data puts it at about 8kg.
The frame has five length settings, which the listing says lets brothers, sisters and friends aged 4 and up of different heights share it. Because there's no motor, there's no battery to charge, no charger to keep track of and nothing electrical to fail, so it's ready to go whenever the kids are, even after a winter in the garage. The trade-off is that the speed comes from the rider's own effort and the surface. It needs smooth, flat ground like a garage floor, a tennis court or a smooth driveway, and on grass or rough concrete it barely moves. It's also quiet, with no motor whine, which the neighbours will appreciate on a weekend morning in the driveway.
The listing doesn't state a brake, a rider weight limit or a warranty, so treat it as a driveway kart and teach the rider to spin out to stop rather than heading for anything solid. The caster wheels collect grit and hair in their bearings and start to wobble, so turn it over every few weeks, pull out any threads and wipe the wheels clean. Keep it indoors when it isn't in use. For a child of four or older who wants to drift without the battery side, it's the one I'd buy.
Honest caveats: No brake, rider weight limit or warranty is stated on the listing, and the listing doesn't explain the drive in detail, so watch Razor's own video before you buy. It needs smooth, hard ground to move at all, and the caster wheels wear quickly with hard drifting on rough concrete.
Best for: Kids aged four and up who want a drift kart with no battery or charger to look after.
Price: $169 (Amazon AU) • Type: Kid-powered drift kart • Ages: 4 and up stated • Brake: Not stated on the listing • Adjustment: 5 frame length settings • Wheels: Polyurethane, rear casters • Battery: None • Model: 20043435 • Rank: #40 in Kids' Bikes, Trikes & Ride-Ons (Amazon AU), #3,863 overall
View on Amazon AU
HONEY JOY 12V Electric Go Kart with Parent Remote and Detachable Mop (Blue)
ASIN B0FLQ4LRSJ • $129.95 • Sold by Baby Joy AU on Amazon AU
The HONEY JOY Electric Cleaning Go Kart is the toddler pick of the five, listed for ages 2 to 5. Amazon AU lists it at $130 from Baby Joy AU, and it ranks #68 in Kids' Electric Vehicles, #40,941 overall, the weakest overall rank of the five picks. It's a 12V kart with a 7Ah rechargeable battery and a 35W motor, and the listing states that it complies with AS/NZS ISO 8124, the Australian and New Zealand toy safety standard. That's a line I want to see on any powered toy, and of the five picks it's the one whose listing states a standard at all. The model code on the listing is JOY21497.
The parent remote is the reason I'd pick it for a two or three year old. It has three speeds and an emergency brake, so an adult can take over and stop the kart from across the yard. In child mode the rider presses a start button, picks a direction and speed, buckles the seatbelt and drives with the steering wheel and a foot pedal. It also lists a soft start, anti-rollover front wheels, a rubber drive wheel, a horn, music and wireless, USB and AUX inputs. The detachable mop with 10 disposable cloths is a gimmick, and the listing itself says it's more toy than cleaning tool and should come off outdoors.
The listing doesn't give a top speed, a charge time or a weight limit, so read the manual before the first ride. A 12V 7Ah battery is the size ride-on makers usually fit as sealed lead-acid, though this listing doesn't name the chemistry, and if it is lead-acid it wants charging after every ride and never storing flat over winter. Check the charger has an Australian plug and the RCM tick when it arrives, and keep the mop cloths off it when it's ridden outside. For a toddler's first powered kart with a parent in charge, it's the pick.
Honest caveats: No top speed, charge time, rider weight limit or warranty is stated on the listing, and it doesn't say what chemistry the battery is. The music and wireless features add more electronics to keep dry. It's sized for ages 2 to 5, so it won't last into the school years.
Best for: Parents of two to five year olds who want an electric kart they can stop from a remote.
Price: $130 (Baby Joy AU) • Type: 12V electric go kart • Ages: 2 to 5 stated • Battery: 12V 7Ah, rechargeable • Motor: 35W • Control: Parent remote, 3 speeds, emergency brake • Standard: AS/NZS ISO 8124 stated • Model: JOY21497 • Rank: #68 in Kids' Electric Vehicles (Amazon AU), #40,941 overall
View on Amazon AU
XCJump Drift Go Kart, 3-Wheel Electric Crazy Cart Trike (Blue)
ASIN B0HHLWYCCQ • $275 • Sold by XCJump AU on Amazon AU
The XCJump Drift Go Kart is a three-wheel electric drift trike, with a front tyre, rear rotating wheels and handlebar steering. Amazon AU lists it at $275 from XCJump AU, and it ranks #47 in Kids' Electric Vehicles, #29,083 overall. The listing gives a top speed of 15 km/h, a range of about 12 to 25km depending on conditions, a charge time of around 2 to 3 hours, built-in music and an adjustment from 80 to 90cm. Its part number, 001090124, is shared with a Blue Camo listing from the same seller at a slightly different price, so treat the two as one kart in two finishes and buy whichever colour costs less on the day.
Of the three electric picks it's the one with the fullest running figures on its listing. Speed, range and charge time are all there, which makes it easier to plan around than the DP-7 or the HONEY JOY, whose listings give only part of that picture. 15 km/h is a quick ride for a child on a low seat, and the trike layout turns tightly, so it suits a confident rider rather than a first-timer. The easy-grip handlebars and moulded seat are simple parts with little to go wrong, and a 2 to 3 hour charge means it can be ready again after lunch. Amazon's item data puts it at about 9kg, so it's easy enough to carry back to the garage.
What the listing doesn't state is the battery voltage or capacity, a brake, a rider weight limit, an age range or a warranty, which is a lot to leave out on a powered toy, so ask XCJump AU before you order. The rear drift wheels wear with every slide, so check them every month or so for flat spots, and wipe the kart down rather than hosing it. Charge it on a hard floor where you can see it. For a confident rider who wants the drift at a moderate speed, it's the middle pick.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state the battery voltage or capacity, a brake, a rider weight limit, an age range or a warranty. Its part number is shared with the Blue Camo listing, so both are the same kart. There's no water rating, so it's a dry-weather ride.
Best for: Confident riders who want an electric drift trike with a stated speed, range and charge time.
Price: $275 (XCJump AU) • Type: 3-wheel electric drift trike • Top speed: 15 km/h stated • Range: About 12 to 25km stated • Charge time: About 2 to 3 hours • Adjustment: 80 to 90cm • Brake: Not stated on the listing • Part number: 001090124 (shared with Blue Camo listing) • Rank: #47 in Kids' Electric Vehicles (Amazon AU), #29,083 overall
View on Amazon AU
XCJump Drift Kart DP-7, 36V, 200W Brushless, 3 Speed Modes (Black)
ASIN B0HJ37V7QB • $369 • Sold by XCJump AU on Amazon AU
The XCJump Drift Kart DP-7 is the fastest and most powerful of the five picks, and the one for older kids and teens. Amazon AU lists it at $369 from XCJump AU, and it's the best-ranked electric pick in its category at #34 in Kids' Electric Vehicles, #19,955 overall. The listing gives a 36V battery system, a 200W brushless motor, up to 21 km/h, three speed modes, LED lights, a built-in speaker with Bluetooth, a power display, a PP plastic body and PU rear wheels, and it supports riders up to 60kg. The part number on the listing is DP-7, in black, and the listing describes the body as tough PP plastic rather than painted steel, so a scratch in the body won't rust.
The brushless motor matters to me more than the lights. A brushless motor has no carbon brushes to wear down, so the motor itself usually outlasts a brushed one, and what fails instead is the controller board that drives it, with water the usual cause. Our RC car guide goes through brushed and brushless in more detail. The 60kg limit covers a lot of early teens, and of the five picks the DP-7 is the one that states a weight limit. The power display shows the charge left, which helps you avoid running the pack completely flat. Three speed modes also mean a parent can keep a younger rider on the slow setting while an older one uses the top speed.
The listing doesn't state the battery capacity, range, charge time, a brake or a warranty. At 21 km/h on a seat this low it feels fast, so start on the lowest of the three speed modes, and wear a helmet and closed shoes in a private space well away from the street. If the pack is lithium, as most 36V packs are, charge it on a hard floor where you can see it and let it cool after a hard run first. For an older rider who wants the most speed of the five, it's the pick.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state the battery capacity, range, charge time, a brake or a warranty, and it doesn't name the battery chemistry. The speaker, lights and display add more electronics to keep dry. It's the fastest of the five picks, so it needs open, private space and a rider who can stop on purpose.
Best for: Older kids and teens up to 60kg who want the fastest electric drift kart of the five.
Price: $369 (XCJump AU) • Type: Electric drift kart • Battery: 36V system, capacity not stated • Motor: 200W brushless • Top speed: 21 km/h stated • Speed modes: 3 • Rider limit: 60kg stated • Part number: DP-7 • Rank: #34 in Kids' Electric Vehicles (Amazon AU), #19,955 overall
View on Amazon AUSide-by-side comparison
| Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| HONEY JOY Kids Pedal Go Kart | ~$125.95 | A first pedal kart for a three to eight year old, with a handbrake and no battery. |
| HONEY JOY Electric Cleaning Go Kart | ~$129.95 | Parents of two to five year olds who want an electric kart with a remote stop. |
| Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle - Black/Teal | ~$169 | Kids aged four and up who want a drift kart with no battery or charger. |
| Drift Go Kart | ~$275 | Confident riders who want an electric drift trike with a stated speed, range and charge time. |
| Drift Kart for Kids & Teens | ~$369 | Older kids and teens up to 60kg who want the fastest electric drift kart. |
What we see fail in the workshop: go karts and drift karts
Kids' karts don't come through the shop often, but their batteries, chargers and controller boards are the same parts we see in e-scooters, RC cars and ride-on toys, and they fail the same way. The frame and wheels of a kart are easy to look after at home with a spanner and some oil. The electrics are where a small habit, like charging after every ride or keeping it out of the rain, decides whether the kart lasts one summer or several.
Water in the controller and connectors
The most common electric fault on anything like this is water. The controller board and the battery connectors sit low in the body, so puddles, sprinklers and a hose-down push water straight in. The fault rarely shows up straight away. A week or two later the kart cuts out over bumps, sticks at one speed or won't charge, because corrosion has started on the board and the connector pins, and by then drying it out won't undo it. Unplug a soaked kart, let it dry for a few days and keep the hose away from it.
Batteries left flat over winter
A battery left empty in the shed for three months is the second most common fault, and it's usually the end of that battery. Lead-acid blocks sulphate when they sit flat and often won't take a charge again, and lithium packs can drop below the voltage their protection board will charge from. Charge the battery before the kart goes away for winter, top it up once a month and disconnect it if the manual shows how, and write the date on a bit of tape on the battery. A replacement battery often costs a fair chunk of what the kart did.
Chargers that don't match the pack
Lost chargers get replaced with whatever looks right, and that's where we see swollen packs, melted plugs and charge ports that have overheated. A charger has to match the pack's voltage and chemistry, not just the plug shape. Keep the original charger with the kart, label it with the kart's name so it doesn't wander off, check for the RCM tick and an Australian plug, and if a charger gets too hot to hold or the charge light never changes, stop using it. Charge on a hard floor, in sight, rather than in a bedroom overnight.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Buying a first kart for a three to eight year old? → The HONEY JOY Pedal Go Kart at $126 has a handbrake, an adjustable seat and no battery to look after.
- Want drifting without a battery or charger? → The Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle at $169 is kid-powered, sold by Amazon AU and adjusts to five frame lengths for ages 4 and up.
- Buying a powered kart for a toddler? → The HONEY JOY 12V Electric Go Kart at $130 has a parent remote with an emergency brake and states AS/NZS ISO 8124.
- Want an electric drift kart with stated speed, range and charge time? → The XCJump 3-Wheel Drift Go Kart at $275 lists 15 km/h, about 12 to 25km of range and a 2 to 3 hour charge.
- Older kid or teen who wants the fastest kart? → The XCJump DP-7 at $369 has a 36V system, a 200W brushless motor, 21 km/h and a 60kg rider limit.
- Phone or tablet went through the sprinkler with the kart? → Water damage often shows up days later. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll check the board and tell you the cost before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
What age is a go kart suitable for?
It depends on the kart, and the listings give the range. Of the picks, the HONEY JOY electric kart is listed for ages 2 to 5, the HONEY JOY pedal kart for 3 to 8, the Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle for 4 and up, and the XCJump DP-7 for kids and teens up to 60kg. Fit matters as much as age: a child should reach the pedals with a slight bend at the knee and hold the steering without stretching. Check the seat adjustment in the manual against your child's leg length before you buy.
Is a pedal go kart or an electric one better?
A pedal kart has nothing electrical to fail, so it's mostly bolts, bearings and wheels, and a parent with a spanner can keep one going for years. An electric kart is faster and suits older kids, but it adds a battery that wears out in a few years, a charger that has to match the pack and a controller board that doesn't like water. For a first kart under about eight, I'd start with a pedal kart and move to electric once the child can steer and stop reliably.
Do kids electric go karts have brakes?
Some do and some don't, so check the listing. The HONEY JOY electric kart has an emergency brake on the parent remote, and the HONEY JOY pedal kart has a handbrake. The Razor Crazy Cart Shuffle and both XCJump drift karts don't state a brake, so the rider slows by easing off and spinning or coasting to a stop. Karts without a rider brake need open, flat ground with plenty of run-off, well away from the street, and a rider who's practised stopping on purpose.
How long does a go kart battery last?
Per charge, the XCJump trike lists about 12 to 25km depending on conditions, and the other listings don't give a range. Over its life, a kart battery usually lasts a few years, and how it's treated matters more than how much it's ridden. A lead-acid battery wants charging after every ride and dies if it's stored flat over winter. A lithium pack prefers storing at around half charge and shouldn't be charged hot. Before you buy, check that the battery is a standard size you can replace.
Can kids ride electric go karts on the footpath?
A powered kart isn't a road vehicle, so keep it to the backyard, the driveway or another private space rather than the street or the footpath. The rules on powered toys and devices vary by state, so check your state's transport authority if you're unsure. In practice, drift karts need smooth, flat, hard ground with room to spin, well away from traffic, parked cars and the pool fence. If the only flat ground near you is the street, a pedal kart in the backyard is the safer buy.
Can I hose down an electric go kart?
I wouldn't. None of the three electric picks lists a water rating, and the controller board, switches and battery connectors sit low in the body where a hose pushes water straight in. Water leaves corrosion that often shows up days or weeks later as a kart that cuts out or won't charge. Wipe it down with a damp cloth instead. If it does get soaked in a puddle or the rain, unplug the battery and let it dry for a few days before you charge or ride it again.
Related buying guides
Phone or tablet been through the sprinkler?
Phones and tablets ride along in pockets and cup holders, and a soaking in the sprinkler or a puddle often shows up days later as a phone that won't charge, a screen that flickers or a speaker that crackles. Bring it into our Erina workshop, and we'll open it up, check the board for corrosion and tell you what it needs and what it costs before you spend anything.
Visit our Erina workshop Book Online