10 of the best ride-on toys for toddlers

"There are many developmental benefits of a ride-on toy for toddlers," says child psychologist and parenting coach Catherine Hallissey.

"A well-chosen ride-on toy is obviously heaps of fun but it can also help to develop your child's balance and coordination, along with gross and fine motor skills."

But which ride-on toys are the best ones to buy? We enlisted a little army of toddler testers to sit, ride and scoot around in – and on– dozens of ride-ons in a range of styles and prices to find out which ones have the most play potential and offer the best value for money. Some of our best-buy selection are perfect for the just-about-walking 1 year-old; others are designed to last longer. All of them are sturdy and fun and have serious toddler kerb appeal...

You can also take a look at the best baby sunglasses, the best kids sandpits and best wetsuits for babies.

Best ride-on toys at a glance

• Best ride-on for older toddlers: Beehive Toys Bumblebee Ride-on, £19.99
• Best dual-mode ride-on toy: Micro Ride On Air Hopper, £31.15
• Best adaptable ride-on toy: Mini Micro 3in1 Deluxe Push Along Scooter, £109.95
• Best motorised ride-on toy: Xootz Bumper Car, £140
• Best ride-on toy with 360° wheels: Wheelybug (Small), £69.99
• Best portable ride-on toy: Scuttlebug, £17.99
• Best budget sustainable ride-on toy: Baby Clementoni My First Ride On, £33.35
• Best for outside play: Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, £59.99
• Best luxury indoor ride-on toy: A Little Bird Told Me Bojangles Donkey Ride-on Toy, £119.95
• Best foot-powered replica car ride-on toy: ToyStar Kids Ride on Mercedes-Benz Car, £38

Jump to:

• What to consider before buying a ride-on toy for your child
• Best ride-on toys for children

What to consider before buying a ride-on toy for your child

Age range – Many ride-on toys are suitable from 12 months but because they sit closer to the ground may not be suitable for your child after the age of 2; other ride-on toys have a lower age range of 18 months or even 2 but will last until your child in 3 or older.

Manoeuvrability – How are the wheels fixed and how much, if at all, do they rotate? Fixed-wheel ride-on toys are often a bit cheaper but may not suit an older toddler who wants to steer and change direction; ride-on toys with 360° rotating wheels offer a lot more manoeuvrability and whizz.

Weight and portability – However much you child loves their ride-on toy, we can promise you that there will be times when you'll be lugging it home from the park or trying to fit it in the boot of your car. Check the toy's weight before you buy, and see if it has a carry handle or even folds down.

Indoor or outdoor use – Some ride-on toys are really only suitable for indoor use; others can tackle both but some will maybe not cope so well with rough terrain. Think about how and where your child will be playing with their ride-on toy before you buy.

What are the best ride-on toys?

1. Beehive Toys Bumblebee Ride-on, £19.99

– Best ride-on toy for older toddlers

Available at: Beehive Factory and Amazon

Age: 18 months to 3 years | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: None | Size: L54 cm x W26 cm x H39cm | Weight: 2.5kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Easy to get on and off
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Cons:

• More suited to older toddlers
• Might struggle on bumpy terrain
• Does not fold down
• No choice of colour/design

This yellow-and-black ride-on toy has rounded handlebars and silent, non-scratch, enclosed safety wheels, which can be used on any smooth, level surface, indoors or out. It has a seat height of 28cm, which should suit an older toddler well. It's stable, super-stylish and good value for money. And, though it does look more like an indoor ride-on than an outdoor one, it does cope well with pavements and paths, as you can see from our picture – though we wouldn't recommend it for a scoot down a bumpy gravel track.

This is very sturdy and well made – and looks lovely. Ramsey loves the bright colours and the bee pattern and the height is just right for him; he seems very comfortable on it.

2. Micro Ride On Air Hopper, £31.15

– Best dual-mode ride-on toy

Available at: Amazon, Micro Scooters

Age: 18 months to 6 years | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: None | Size: L54cm x W28cm x H31cm | Weight: 3.1kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• 2 modes, affordable
• Lightweight
• Easy to get on and off
• 360° non-marking wheels

Cons:

• More suited to older toddlers
• Only suitable for use indoors
• Does not fold down
• Limited colour choice

This inflatable, bouncy-friend–on-wheels has 2 antennae to use as handles. The 4 non-marking (yay!) PU wheels turn 360° and the wheeled chassis can be removed to use the toy as a hopper. We like its dual-play feature (scooting and balancing/hopping) and were won over by its cute, contoured looks. It's also got plenty of longevity – although we do think the starting age of 18 months would only really work for a very long-legged toddler. And it's really only suitable for indoor use.

It looks like it will last and will survive the amount of play my little girl will put it through!

3. Mini Micro 3in1 Deluxe Push Along Scooter, £109.95

– Best adaptable ride-on toy

Available at: Amazon, Micro Scooters and Kidly

Age: 1 to 5 | Best for age: 1 to 2 | Size: L58cm x W23cm x H91cm | Weight: 3kg (with seat) 1.8kg (without seat) | Award: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

Pros:

• Adaptable to child's age
• Lots of colour options
• Good quality
• Easy to get on and off

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not suitable for grass or bumpy surfaces

Perfect for outdoors, this Mini Micro scooter is fun, well made and super-easy for even very young toddlers to get on and off by themselves. What really sets this ride-on toy apart from the rest is the convertible elements of the scooter. It starts off as a push-along scooter then, when the steering handle, seat and footrest comes off, it eventually becomes a scooter that a preschooler can graduate into riding independently.

I so excited! Look at me mummy, I go fast. I Iike to go riding on the scooter.

4. Xootz Bumper Car, £179.99

– Best motorised ride-on toy

Available at: Xootz, John Lewis and Very

Age: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: 2x 6V rechargeable | Size: L66.50cm x W44cm x H66.50cm | Weight: 30kg | Award: Editor's Choice, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Amazing features
• Easy to get in and out
• Longevity of use
• Can be used indoor and out

Cons:

• Very pricey
• Quite large
• Heavy to lift
• Requires regular charging
• Does not fold
• No choice of colour

This cool, motorised ride-on has a seat, 2 joysticks, side and back lights, adjustable seatbelt and wireless remote control. It can be driven by your child or remotely too. The Xootz bumper car also has a rubberised bumper making it perfect for protection against any knocks or bumps whilst playing. You can play with this at home, in the garden or in an outdoor space. It goes at a decent-but-not-too-scarily-fast speed of up to 5km per hour and can spin a full 360 degrees.

The toy has huge amounts of play potential and our children were over the moon to receive it. It’s incredibly original – I haven’t seen a toy bumper car before. The disco lights and noise create another layer of fun and excitement.

5. Wheelybug (Small), £65.99

– Best ride-on toy with 360° wheels

Available at: Amazon and Hippychick

Age: 1 to 3 | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: None | Size: L39cm x W24cm x H31cm | Weight: 1.8kg | Award: Silver, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2022

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Sturdy
• 360° wheels
• Easy to get on and off
• Can be used indoors and out
• Large colour/design choice

Cons:

• Pricey
• More suited to older toddlers
• Does not fold down

This animal-themed wooden ride-on has 360° rotating castor wheels and an aluminium handle. It's very lightweight and very nippy and manoeuvrable. It can also be used outdoors as well as in, but we’d say it works much more efficiently on smoother surfaces. Available in Bee, Ladybird, Cow, Pig, Tiger designs. You can buy a Wheelybug with a plush seat cover in Dog, Hedgehog, Lion, Panda and Unicorn, which allows you to buy separate plush covers to place over the seat to mix it up your animals up a bit.

She loved it but, to be honest, she didn't really scoot about on it till she was 18 months or so. But we've had so much use out of it since then. She’s now 3 and still loves it!

6. Scuttlebug, £17.99

– Best portable ride-on toy

Available at: Very, Amazon and Scuttlebug

Age: 1 to 3 | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: None | Size: L60cm x W33cm x H43cm | Weight: 2.7kg

Pros:

• Great value
• Folds down very compactly
• Lightweight
• Easy to get on and off
• Good choice of colours/designs
• Can be used indoor and out

Cons:

• Struggles on uneven ground

This bright and funky foot-to-floor ride on is great value for money. It has 3 wheels and front-wheel steering and our toddler testers took it it straight away. It rides well indoors and on outside pavements but definitely struggles a little on uneven ground, As well as its great price, this ride-on stands out for how quickly and easily it folds down – and how compactly, too. In 3 steps, you can fold your trike down into a small, lightweight package that'll fit into most pushchair storage baskets.

Comes in 4 bug-themed colours: green grasshopper, a red beetle (pictured, above), pink butterfly and yellow bumble. You can also buy a Scuttlebug XL, a slightly larger version that's suitable for 1 to 4 years (pictured with our child tester Finley, in our picture above). Minimal assembly required.

I think they’re great! Cute design and compact enough to take anywhere with you. Our Scuttlebug is onto our 3rd child and still looks and works great, so it's definitely brilliant value for money.

7. Baby Clementoni My First Ride On, £33.99

– Best budget sustainable ride-on toy

Available at: Amazon and OnBuy

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months + | Batteries: None | Size: L59 x W16 x H25cm | Weight: 1.7kg

Pros:

• Great value
• Sustainably made
• Lightweight
• Easy to get on and off
• Squeaky horn

Cons:

• Best for indoor use only
• May be too small for older toddlers
• Does not fold down

This great-value vintage-style ride-on car is made from 100% recycled materials with steering wheel, a squeaky horn and steerable wheels. It's quite low to the ground, so an older, taller toddler might find it hard to sit on comfortably and we all noted that, because the front is quite low, it's hard going on very uneven surfaces. Some self-assembly required

8. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, £64.99

– Best for outside play

Available at: Smyths Toys, Amazon and Argos

Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Batteries: None | Size: L72cm x W44cm x H84cm | Weight: 8.62kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Great for outdoor use
• Easy to get in and out
• 360° front wheels
• Fun features
• Can be used as a push toy

Cons:

• Tricky to assemble
• Not very lightweight
• Does not fold down

The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is a classic for a reason. This tall plastic car has front wheels that spin round 360°, a steering wheel, an opening door, a working horn, a moving and clicking ignition switch, an opening/closing fuel cap, cup holders and a storage area for toy passengers. It also features a removable floor so that you can change between a parent-controlled push toy and a toddler-propelled scoot-along, depending on your child's age and stage.

9. A Little Bird Told Me Bojangles Donkey Ride-on Toy, £119.95

– Best luxury indoor ride-on toy

Available at: A Little Bird Told Me and Amazon

Age: 12 months+ | Best for age: 1 to 2 | Batteries: None | Size: L60cm x W28cm x H30cm | Weight: 4.7kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Super-comfy seat
• 360° wheels
• Crinkle/sound features
• Good choice of designs
• Beautiful design

Cons:

• Very pricey
• Only suitable for indoor use
• Not very lightweight
• Not super-easy for a small toddler to get on and off
• Does not fold

This shaggy donkey ride-on has a wooden frame and legs, topped with a soft, stuffed polyester cover and a deep, curved leatherette seat. It has 360° rotating castor wheels, little wooden handlebars, crinkly ears, textured mane and a bell in the tail. It's beautifully – and robustly – made, and super-comfy to sit on, although the height of the seat means a small 1-year-old might struggle to get on and off on their own and, once on, may not quite be able to touch the floor with their feet. It's also really only made for indoor use.

The quality of this ride-on donkey is excellent. The seat is padded and comfy, the fabric is beautifully soft, the bell and crinkle ears are lovely touches, and it just looks adorable.

10. ToyStar Kids Ride on Mercedes-Benz Car, £38

– Best foot-powered replica car ride-on toy

Available at: Amazon, ToyStar and Smyths Toys

Age: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Batteries: 2 x AA (not included) | Size: L65cm x W32cm x H39cm | Weight: 3kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Affordable
• Easy to get on and off
• Sound features
• Can be used indoors and out

Cons:

• Batteries will need replacing (and not included)
• Does not fold down
• Limited colour choice

This shiny mini Mercedes lookalike is a perch-on-top, car ride-on, rather than a get-inside car ride-on. It has anti-slip wheels and a turning steering wheel with 2 buttons to press for beeping and jingling sound effects. It's really good quality for the price, and has nice speedometer detailing on the dashboard. We also like the roomy seat's high backrest (which doubles as a parent carry handle) and the little storage space underneath the seat.

My son loves his car – it beeps and plays songs and he really enjoys riding around the house on it, as well as hiding his toys in the boot under the seat.

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