Kids, teens, and even adults can enjoy the adrenaline rush of riding in a go-kart. Many families over the years have found that getting a go-kart for the children is a great way to entertain them.

They can also help with teaching driving skills and instilling a sense of responsibility. So how do you choose a top rated go-kart for you or your family?

We’ve compiled a list go-karts for your convenience and have also written a buying guide and answered a few frequently asked questions, so read on!

Best Go Karts

	Coleman Powersports Off-Road Go-Kart	Razor Dune Buggy	Hauck Sirocco Racing Go-Kart
Type:	Gas-Powered	Electric	Peddle
Engine Size & Horsepower:	196cc, 6.5HP, 196cc, 9.0HP	350-watt	N/A
Max Rider Weight:	400 Pounds	120 Pounds	130 Pounds
Max Speed:	31-34 mph	10 mph	Fast as you can pedal

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Go-Karts For 2021

1. Coleman Powersports Off-Road Go-Kart
2. Razor Dune Buggy
3. Hauck Sirocco Racing Go-Kart
4. Radio Flyer Ultimate Go-Kart
5. Hauck Batmobile Pedal Go-Kart
6. TrailMaster Mini XRX Kart
7. Hauck Nerf Battle Racer Pedal Go-Kart

Our reviews of the top go karts with our comparison table and buyers guide will help you choose the right one for you.

Go-Kart Reviews

#1 Coleman Powersports Off-Road Go-Kart

The Coleman Powersports Off-Road Go-Kart is an impressive piece of machinery that’ll provide adults and younger riders alike with plenty of entertainment.

But because it’s a gas-powered kart and is, therefore, a good deal more powerful than other models, make sure all riders are at least 13-years old or older for safety purposes.

It uses a four-stroke OHV one-cylinder engine, this go-kart can reach up to 31 miles per hour with the 6.5 horsepower model or 34 miles per hour with engine displacement and 9.0 horsepower.

This go-kart features two comfortable, padded seats that each have their own four-point safety harnesses. It’s also got a convenient storage rack mounted on the back.

With a simple pull-start operation, a heavy-duty padded roll cage, and easily-operable hydraulic disc brakes, this go-kart is an exceptional one for any appropriately-sized and moderately experienced driver.

This is one the best off-road go karts on the market.

#2 Razor Dune Buggy

Razor is one of the biggest names in youth transportation. From scooters to go-karts, it’s easy to see why they’re one of the best brands to trust.

This dune buggy go-kart is the best electric go-kart. It uses two 12 volt batteries to power its powerful 350-watt electric motor. With it, this kart can reach up to 10 miles per hour.

That may not seem like much, but when children or young teens are driving it, it’s a great way to be sure they won’t accidentally hurt themselves if something happens.

The kart’s eight-inch, knobby pneumatic tires are perfect for traversing all kinds of difficult terrain and general off-road driving, so your child won’t be restricted to riding this go-kart on a street or other paved area.

It’ll support a rider of up to 120 pounds, and should be operated by a child that’s at least eight years of age or older.

All of the hand controls are very easy to operate, and this go-kart will run off a full charge for about 40 minutes of continuous use.

The frame is made with durable steel and combined with a diamond-plated traction floorboard. This increases the overall sturdiness of this go-kart to give your kids a fast, safe driving experience.

#3 Hauck Sirocco Racing Go-Kart

Hauck makes an excellent pedal-powered go-kart, and this is one that we had to cover on our list. This is one of the best kids’ go-karts on the market. This one comes in two attractive colors, green and pink.

This go-kart operates on pedal power, meaning your child controls how fast or slow the go-kart will travel.

You don’t have to worry about fueling this kart up or charging a battery for it, so it’s ready to go whenever your kid is. It’s also pretty evolved as far as go-karts go, with an auto-clutch free-ride.

This kart features low-profile wheels, each with two bearings in each eight-spoke rim. It features a three-point sporty steering wheel as well for simple navigation.

The frame is made with powder-coated steel tubing. It’s also got an ergonomic, adjustable seat that is equipped with a high backrest. This will give your child a safe, comfortable sitting position for when they’re riding their go-kart.

Pedal go-karts are particularly great for kids as it encourages physical activity, hones their coordination, and helps them to build up strength and endurance.

#4 Radio Flyer Ultimate Go-Kart

Radio Flyer has made thousands of toys and vehicles for children over the last hundred years or so.

Due to this experience, it can safely be said that they know what they’re doing when they aim to design and produce a product like a go-kart.

This 24-volt electric go-kart works like a dream. It’s perfect for kids aged from three to eight-years-old and has an adjustable seat that grows with the driver.

It’s got three forward-driving speed settings including 2.5, 5, and 8 miles per hour, so your child can go as fast or as slow as they’re comfortable with. It also goes in reverse, but only at one speed.

There’s additional rubber traction on the front tires for added maneuverability and agility. The back tires are larger and offer increased stability.

They’re also particularly great for drifting if your child happens to be particularly adventurous!The electric go-kart comes with several safety features.

These include a high-visibility racing flag and a seat belt. Additionally, there’s a parent-controlled speed lock for this kart so you can retain some level of control over your child’s driving habits.

This go-kart has a weight capacity of 81 pounds, so it should last your child for a long time.

#5 Hauck Batmobile Pedal Go-Kart

If your kid likes superheroes (or vigilantes, in this case) they’re going to love the Hauck Batmobile go-kart.

If you want one of the best pedal go-karts for kids, and want it in a cool, themed design, this is what you should be considering.

Keep in mind though that there is a 120-pound weight limit on this kart and that it’s not exactly ideal for taller children.

But, it’s great for kids that are between the ages of four and eight years old. It uses the same chassis as other models of the Hauck go-kart because when a design works you don’t need to mess around with changing it up.

This kart can go both forward and in reverse and has a handbrake to the right of the bucket seat for easy access. This handbrake allows your child to quickly and safely stop their go-kart if necessary.

The three-point steering system is easy to use too, allowing your child to navigate around corners and obstacles. It also features gripped rubber tires that make it great for all terrain types.

#6 TrailMaster MINI XRX Kart

The MINI XRX Kart is the ultimate choice in go-karts for kids and teens alike. It’s a little pricey, but you’re paying for great quality and a variety of cool features. It’s by far one of the best go-karts for adults that you’ll find.

The 163cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine boasts a 5.5 horsepower rating. With this kind of power, this engine will carry your kids at speeds of around 25 miles per hour, as the listed maximum reads “25+.”

Considering this cart has a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds, we don’t think your kids will have any trouble reaching the top speeds of this gas-powered go-kart.

The go-kart comes in five colors including black, blue, red, yellow, and green. This means you have plenty of options to choose from.

This go-kart has a low center of gravity which helps to reduce the risk of it flipping during particularly uneven terrain.

It also comes with two safety belts, one for each child that can safely ride in it at a time, headlights, and a horn for maximum awareness.

#7 Hauck Nerf Battle Racer Pedal Go-Kart

The last go-kart on our list is another Hauck pedal go-kart. If your kids are big fans of Nerf guns, they’re going to love this kart.

This kart has placeholders on it specifically for Nerf blasters, brackets, and darts in its sturdy, tubular steel frame.

Your kids and their friends can race around in these go-karts and play out a whole tactical Nerf battle with ease! And because this is another pedal go-kart, you won’t have to worry about refueling it or charging up a battery.

The seat of this go-kart is ergonomically-designed for optimum comfort levels. It’s fully adjustable and features a high backrest that ensures a safe sitting position for all drivers.

Kids of multiple heights can easily use this go-kart so long as they’re under the recommended 110-pound weight capacity. Optimally, kids between the ages of four and ten years old will be able to use this go-kart.

This Hauck go-kart features the same three-point steering wheel as the other models on our review and allows for quick, responsive steering.

The pedals are race-styled so your child can move as fast as they can pump the pedals. They’ll have an easy time controlling their own speed or stopping as well, using the handbrake on this kart.

Go-Kart Comparison Table

Go-Karts		Type	Engine Size & Horsepower	Max Rider Weight	Max Speed	Rating
Coleman Powersport Go-Kart		Gas-Powered	196cc, 6.5HP, 196cc, 9.0HP	400 pounds	31-34 mph	3.7 / 5.0
Razor Dune Buggy		Electric	350-watt	120 pounds	10 mph	4.5 / 5.0
Hauck Sirocco Racing Go-Kart		Peddle	Non-applicable	130 pounds	Unlisted	4.4 / 5.0
Radio Flyer Ultimate Go-Kart		Electric	24 volt	81 pounds	8 mph	4.5 / 5.0
Hauck Batmobile Pedal Go-Kart		Pedal	Non-applicable	120 pounds	Unlisted	4.6 / 5.0
TrailMaster MINI XRX Kart		Gas-Powered	163cc, 5.5HP	400 pounds	25+ mph	3.2 / 5.0
Hauck Nerf Battle Racer		Pedal	Non-applicable	110 pounds	Unlisted	4.3 / 5.0

How to Choose the Best Go Kart – Buyers Guide

When you go looking for a new go-kart, whether for you or your kids or grandkids, you need to take some factors into account. There are certain features, traits, and drawbacks that you need to keep in mind when selecting a kart. These include the price, what kind of kart you’re thinking of buying, weight limits, and more.

Price

The karts we’ve reviewed here are relatively budget-friendly and are great for introducing your child or yourself to the go-karting sport. However, some karts can climb to prices of over $10,000.

Pedal, Electric, or Gas-Powered?

All go-karts fall into one of three different types or categories: pedal, electric, or gas-powered. Generally, for young children, pedal go-karts are the best option.

They only go as fast as your child can pedal, which eliminates the worry of them going too fast and losing control of the kart. Pedal go-karts don’t require any battery charging time or fuel refilling.

They’re great for helping kids to exercise in a new, fun way. They also are much cheaper than electric and gas-powered models.

Pedal go-karts come in a wide range of sizes and weight limits for children from the ages of three years old to 13-year-olds, so they’re a great way to get your kid interested in go-karting and introduce them to the sport.

There are also electric and gas-powered go-karts, and we’ve broken those down in a more in-depth section later in this article. The gist, however, is that both electric and gas go-karts have their own unique purposes, perks, and downsides.

Electric karts are more expensive but have less long-term upkeep and maintenance costs, while gas-powered karts are heavier and require fuel and regular maintenance.

But for a further breakdown, there are five other specific go-kart subtypes that we’ll cover.

In-Depth Kart Types

Beyond just the scope of whether a kart is powered by gas, electricity, or your own feet, there are specific classifications of go-karts.

Kids Karts: Kid karts are the smallest, safest go-kart models that you can find. They’re designed for children between the ages of four and seven years old. Typically, the electric karts of this type use a modest 50cc engine. This allows kids to develop their karting abilities confidently with the bare, necessary karting needs.

Oval Karts: These kart types typically use a 4-cycle engine and feature a curved shell. They’re designed for all members of the family to enjoy. Some oval karts are better for dirt tracks, while others are better for pavement, so make sure you look for the clarification there.

 Cadet Sprint Karts: When your child outgrows the regular kid karts, this is the next step up. These karts are designed for children between the ages of eight and 12 years old. They use an air-cooled, 80cc engine and can reach up to 60 mph.

Touch-and-Go-Karts: This is a relatively newer class of go-kart, but they have a wide range of uses. The smaller, slower models of this type are geared toward children between the ages of 12 and 15 years old. But, older kids get the option of having a kart that goes up to 115 mph with the 125cc engine.

125cc Shifter Karts: If your kids are over the age of 16 or you want to kart around yourself, this is the best option. These kart types can reach up to 125 mph. They come standard with a six-speed sequential gearbox. They’re great for sprint or endurance tracks.

Safety Features

One especially important aspect you need to consider when shopping for a go-kart is the presence of any safety features. This may be one of the first things you look at if you’re buying the go-kart for a child or young teen. Safety is undeniably important when it comes to go-karts, as children can easily be hurt or injured if something goes wrong while they’re in motion.

Some safety features that you may want to look for in your go-kart are:

• Shoulder straps
• Bumpers
• High-quality, durable tires
• Safety belts
• Well-built, sturdy, stable frames

Parts

Depending on what kind of go-kart you decide to purchase, there may be several parts for you to check. These may vary between pedal karts, gas-powered karts, and electric karts. So if your chosen go-kart doesn’t have a part listed, don’t worry.  But you should still know what you could be looking for.

Bearings

The bearings on your go-kart are highly important. They help to stabilize your wheels and keep them moving properly. You should check your wheel bearings before every race or ride. To check the bearings, just spin each wheel.

When you do this, the wheel should move smoothly and evenly. It shouldn’t make any noises such as scraping, scratching, or squeaking. If they do, you may need to consider replacing or otherwise lubricating the wheel bearings.

Carburetor

The carburetor is important for gas-powered karts but not electric ones. In cases where you’re buying a pre-owned or used go-kart, don’t feel like you have to overpay just because the seller claims the kart has the best carburetor on the market. It’s an important component, but it’s not important enough to cost a dramatic increase in the selling price. As long as the go-kart runs well and isn’t making any strange noises or struggling to move, it’s fine.

Exhaust

The exhaust of your go-kart should be clean and smooth. It should be free of dents, but small dents generally won’t affect its efficiency. Larger dents should be addressed and, if necessary, the exhaust should be replaced. This is because larger dents can affect the kart’s performance.

Steering

There should be no visual damage to your go-kart’s steering wheel or the steering column. Make sure that you can turn the wheel smoothly and without too much stiffness or looseness.

Make sure you turn it fully in both directions and check for any wear in the linkage or on the grips of the wheel.

The steering is important in all kinds of go-karts, no matter your intended use with it. So whether you’re buying a used kart or have bought a new one and assembled it, always be sure that the steering is smooth.

Tires

Always check your tires before you use your kart. Double-check them right before you get the kart on a track for a race. Make sure that your tires are replaced when they begin to show signs of wear and tear or when they’d been otherwise damaged. A bad tire, or multiple bad tires, can ruin even the best go-karts.

Weight Limits

Go-karts come with recommended weight limits for the riders or drivers that will use them. Typically, pedal karts will have the lowest weight capacity of the other go-kart types.

Electric go-karts can have a moderate to high weight limit, depending on the quality of the kart itself and its intended uses.

Gas-powered go-karts tend to have the highest weight limits available, and typically this makes them better suited to adults or larger teenagers that would like to go karting.

Make sure when you go to purchase your go-kart that you’re very clear on the weight limit as well as any height clearances that may be outlined for your kart.

This will help to ensure the safety of the driver and will also determine the level of comfort and legroom or headspace the driver will be able to enjoy.

Electric- vs. Gas-Powered Go-Karts

When you’re trying to decide between a gas-powered go-kart and an electric one, you may not really know at first what you’re looking for or at. It can, therefore, be difficult to determine which type of go-kart would best suit your needs and expectations. So, we’re going to break down the two kart types to give you a better idea of what each is specifically good for.

Electric-Powered Go-Karts

Electric-powered go-karts have a tight-knight following of people that prefer them over gas-powered go-karts. There are several reasons for this that you may also find compelling enough to sway you. Some of these reasons include:

Pros:

• These karts get to their top speed much more quickly than gas-powered karts
• Electric karts are usually more lightweight with evenly-distributed weight, which increases overall stability
• Electric karts have lower maintenance costs overall and when considering the long-term uses
• You don’t have to worry about buying fuel or making a mess refilling your kart, just recharge the battery
• Electric karts are more environmentally friendly because they don’t produce emissions
• Have a lower noise level than gas karts

Cons:

• Electric karts usually get edged out by gas karts on straight-line tracks
• A fully-charged electric kart only lasts about 40 minutes and takes a longer time to charge
• Cost more to buy or rent

Gas-Powered Go-Karts

In a world of electronics and rechargeable batteries, the popularity of gas-powered go-karts might seem like something you could call into question. But they still have their own benefits over electric-powered go-karts, as well as some downfalls when compared. Some of them include:

Pros:

• Great for racing on straight-line tracks
• They’re fantastic for raw speed and are particularly powerful once they get to a top speed
• Great for longer or endurance races
• Short refueling time
• Cheaper to buy or rent

Cons:

• If you’re racing on a track with sharp curves or bends, these karts aren’t ideal
• These take a bit longer to achieve a top speed
• Have expensive long-term and regular maintenance requirements
• More likely to develop mechanical issues and need repair
• Use combustion engines, which emit carbon dioxide and soot

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How fast can a normal go-kart go?

A: Many factors go into determining how fast a go-kart can actually go. Pedal go-kart speeds are determined, of course, by how fast or slow you can pedal. But electric and gas-powered go-karts are another story. For the most part, the average go-kart will travel somewhere between 40 and 50 miles per hour. However, this is not always the case, and each go-kart is different.

You need to account for track conditions, engine output, driver weight, and even the temperature of your tires when trying to determine how fast your go-kart will go.

 Q: What is the best engine for a go-kart?

A: The best engines for go-karts are widely considered to be the Honda GX series engines. They’re a little expensive compared to other engines, but they are built incredibly well and will last you a long time. They’re reliable, and you’ll get plenty of use out of them whether that be through races or just general entertainment.

 Q: What is the best off-road go-kart?

A: At the beginning of our reviews, we talked about the Coleman Powersports Off-Road Go-Kart. This is, in our opinion, the best off-road go-kart. It’s made with heavy-duty, durable materials and is cost-effective as far as off-road, gas-powered go-karts can be considered. The governor can also be adjusted to allow for higher variations in the speed with this go-kart, but we would suggest you get used to riding it as intended before messing with any of that.

Q: Which is better, an electric or gas go-kart?

A: The electric versus gas-powered go-kart question is one that is highly debated and has some strong opinions on both sides of the aisle. We highlighted the different pros and cons of electric and gas-powered go-karts earlier in the article, but we’ll give a quick re-cap so that you can come to your own conclusion.

Essentially, electric go-karts are more environmentally-friendly. They’re quieter, and have better handling capabilities on winding or curved race tracks. They also have better stability. While they’re more expensive to purchase outright or rent, they make up for it by having little or no maintenance costs. They achieve their top speeds much more quickly than gas-powered karts, as well.

Gas-powered go-karts, by contrast, take longer to achieve their top speed but maintain it much better. They’re the preferred kart-type for endurance runs and races. They’re better used on straight-line tracks for this reason but can handle slight curves where necessary. They tend to be cheaper to buy or rent, and have a short refueling time compared to the long charging times of the electric go-kart batteries.

With all of this in mind, the question of which is the ‘best’ type of kart boils down to your preferences and what you intend to use the go-kart for.

How We Researched

To come up with the top go karts we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as Target, Dicks Sporting Goods and Best Buy along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The staff authors, have extensive experience with a variety of outdoor sports like paintball, roller skating, baseball and golf.

To help narrow down the selection they used their personal experience along with recommendations from instructors and retailers.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

Sources