12 best wooden toy cars from funny to SUPER sturdy
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I love it when my child is one of the wooden cars instead of plastic to play with.
I've figured out what qualities it needs to have to be more fun for them than detailed plastic or metal versions. Like this Retro Metro set from Le Toy Van with cute design (two cars and a van). They need to have some weight to grip and roll properly.
Unfortunately, that is not the case with everyone wooden auto set you see. That's why in this guide I look at the 12 best sets and what you should pay attention to when purchasing.
Let's take a quick look at the top options. Then I'll dive deeper into each of these choices.
Overall best wooden toy cars
These are the kind of classic vehicles in soft pastel colors that I want my child to play with. No, I want to play with it myself!
Best cheap wooden toy cars
More than a wooden car with wheels
But it's really fun because it's a school bus. This allows for hours of imaginative play. He is brought up again and again with us.
Best wooden magnetic car
The set is also just very well put together. The magnets click well and stay in place, even during heavy driving.
Funniest wooden toy car
Beautiful wooden toys inspired by glamorous 60s America and modern design.
Best Magnetic Toy Trailer
Wooden trailer with magnetic crane with which he can pick up the supplied cars and place them on the trailer.
Best wooden toy cars for babies
These cars are already suitable from 1 year. Due to the rounded shapes there is nothing to hurt yourself and they are easy to grip.
Best wooden dollhouse car
A very cute addition to your dollhouse. The doors can really open so that you can easily put dolls in them.
Best wooden car building kit
The most fun to work on together with your child. Suitable from 5 years with some help. From 8 years they can probably do it themselves.
Best luxury wooden car
Automoblox are super durable cars made of European beech wood where the body and wheels can be changed.
Best Natural Wooden Cars
Beautiful construction cars and fun to play with. Gmade of beech wood and connected to each other with plugs and glue without screws or nails)!
Best organic natural wood
Beautiful smooth finish and tangible natural wood for children's hands. This makes the construction vehicles indispensable for the nursery.
From toddler to toddler activity book collection
Educational games and coloring pages for 3 to 6 years
Your toddler and preschooler will love this e-book, along with the accompanying printables. He or she can play with it at every stage of development, together with mom and dad.
Buy at Bol.comWhat we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 Wooden toy car buying guide
- 2 Top 12 Wooden Toy Cars Reviewed
- 2.1 Le Toy Of Retro Subway
- 2.2 Melissa & Doug Car Set In Box
- 2.3 Melissa & Doug School Bus
- 2.4 Tegu Daredevil
- 2.5 Candylab Toys Taco Van
- 2.6 Melissa & Doug Wooden Truck Loading Crane
- 2.7 B. Toys Free Wheee-Lees
- 2.8 Hape Dollhouse Family Car
- 2.9 Stanley Jr Police Car Construction Kit
- 2.10 Automoblox T15L Grizzly Pickup
- 2.11 Fagus Blank Wooden Forklift
- 2.12 Goki Nature Auto
- 3 Conclusion
Wooden toy car buying guide
As far as age is concerned, it is possible wooden toys cars don't go so very wrong.
Sure, a few on the list like the Stanley JR are for slightly older kids (it's a kit). But in general wooden cars suitable for every toddler.
If your child is still very young, I would go for the B. Toys Free Wheee-Read. They are also completely safe to suck on :)
What should you pay particular attention to when purchasing? wooden toys cars? I scored each set on these three things:
To drive
How well do the wheels of the auto It? You can say a lot about small metal or plastic cars, but they often drive very well.
This is because the material can be precisely molded to always fit properly.
With wooden cars this is more difficult and you will see many wheels that run or wobble a bit.
I'm still talking about the replayability, but a big part of that is whether they drive well, otherwise children will ignore it again.
Replayability
Do they keep playing with it after the first few times? Replayability depends on so many factors.
At cars the most important thing is whether they drive well. Without that, they prefer to take a metal one auto.
In addition, it is important whether they can do more with it than just driving around. Can they use their imagination in it?
The Melissa & Doug school bus is a very good example of this. Due to the dolls and the school bus theme, this can participate in almost any fantasy game.
He then drives a little less well, but that doesn't really matter.
The Tegu magnet blocks are also great fun because they can build things differently every time. So has the auto acquired an extra dimension.
Sustainability
Do they last long? That depends on the type wood and construction.
Most cars on this list are made of solid wood. That lasts a lot longer than pressed wood. But the confirmations are also very important.
You massive wooden auto The wheels can still break, and then they won't be of much use to you.
A brand like Fagus has everything wood confirmed. With plugs and glue, very solid and complete wood.
You can also pay attention to the type wood. For example, rubber wood is very sturdy and the most renewable. Other brands such as Melissa & Doug and Goki plant many trees back.
Slightly less renewable but still as environmentally friendly as possible.
Top 12 Wooden Toy Cars Reviewed
Le Toy Van Retro Subway
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Wheels run fine
- Paint scratches quite quickly
This is the kind auto that I want my child to play with. No, I want to play with it myself! Beautiful classic vehicles in soft pastel colors.
Especially with such an outspoken model it is good to have a set to be able to play with it together.
Sure, others cars also often participate in the game, but they often go out together in one way or another.
They are an Independent Toy Award winner, painted with non-toxic paint and made from renewable rubber trees.
Just the right size for small children's hands. Great quality for an affordable price.
Melissa & Doug Car Set In Box
- Much for little
- Different cars, each with their own role
- Wheels are not great
This set from Melissa & Doug is in the same price category as the Le Toy Van cars. Here you get 9 cars instead of 3.
Some compromise has been made on quality. It wood feels a little less sturdy and it is not renewable rubberwood. But Melissa & Doug do replant a lot of trees around them toys to keep it environmentally friendly.
You notice in particular that the wheels are slightly less good and roll less well. But very sturdy, they will not break easily.
By the way, they fit perfectly wooden train tracks of all popular brands such as Brio and Bigjigs.
It's also nice that there are all sorts of things included, such as a police force auto and a taxi. Very fun for pretend play. My son immediately gives them each a role.
Melissa & Doug School Bus
- solid wood
- School bus with extra playing figures
- Pretty hard to hold for driving
A wooden auto is fun to play with. Nice and heavy and easy to drive. But do 7 wooden Add some figures and it immediately becomes a lot more fun.
They are massive wooden play figures with smoothly rolling wheels. Perfect to go together with your other toys use cars.
But it's really fun because it's a school bus. This allows for hours of imaginative play. He is brought up again and again with us.
The children visit the farm, the construction site, the magnet tile tower.
You name it.
It's quite sturdy with a working door and a flip-up stop sign for safe crossings. It is attached with elastic so it can't actually break.
Tegu Daredevil
- Sustainable wooden toys
- Car drives really well too
- Very expensive
Tegu is a toy brand that offers everything from wood makes. Beautiful and sturdy wood.
It's durable and made in Honduras in a responsible manner, that's playing good.
It also makes the set a bit more expensive, but play with it wood gives your child much more in return than plastic toys.
The set is also just very well put together. The magnets click well and stay in place, even during heavy driving.
And that's ultimately what you want from one toys car.
This set offers less building options than the Magformers police set. But you can also supplement this with other sets from Tegu.
They all fit together. Here you get at least 12 building pieces.
Candylab Toys taco van
- Separate style
- Very sturdy made from one block
- Distinctive style is not for everyone
- Wheels don't run great
Candylab Toys is a brand with beautiful wooden toys that is inspired by the glamorous America of the 60s and modern design.
The wooden toys of the brand is of A-quality, or as Candylab itself says of 'heirloom quality'.
The brand has a unique range of solid wooden toys vehicles with a refined design. Honest and beautiful toys that offers space for children's imaginations to go their own way.
The company is based in Brooklyn and the toys collection ranges from classic American cars to typical American buildings, including typical motels, beach towers and buildings with large neon signs.
The toys is wonderful for young and old. The young audience praises the products, while the adults wooden toys actually likes to collect and exhibit.
The wooden Candy cars are designed with sleek lines and elements of iconic models from the past. When designing the Candy car, a lot of attention was paid to the details and it is easy to recognize.
The brand also cares a lot about our planet, which is why they try to avoid plastic as much as possible. The beech wood for their production comes from North American well-managed forests.
They try to keep the ecological footprint of their products as small as possible.
Also read: this is the best retro wooden toy rated
Melissa & Doug Wooden Truck Loading Crane
- Nice set with cars and trailer
- Good size to play with other cars
- Magnet is very weak and hard to keep the cars on it
- Wooden stop block of the trailer broke off (after angry throwing)
This wooden Melissa & Doug trailer is great fun to play with. It has a magnetic tap with which it can be used cars can pick up and put on the trailer.
It is a complete set with truck and small one cars. If you don't have much yet auto toys this is a nice first entry.
The truck is super sturdy and large with simplified shapes. All corners are rounded so that there are no sharp protrusions.
Hoisting the cars It's fun to do, but if you don't do it calmly, the car will fall off.
It's more of a game of skill than just playing. My son (2) couldn't have it so good at his age that it didn't work out.
For me the magnet could have been a bit stronger, but on the other hand, that is also the game I think. In any case, he loves it and really wants to play with it.
There are some challenges, but also a lot of things that make it a lot of fun. All in all a very nice piece toys where they can discover a lot.
B Toys Free Wheee-Read
- Well rounded and easy to grab
- Cheerful colors and fun design
- Don't drive very well
- Not sturdy enough for rough toddler play
This cars are made for the smallest children and suitable from 1 year. The rounded shapes mean there is nothing for them to hurt themselves on and they are easy to grip.
There are 6 wooden cars with a few different shapes. The type of handle in passenger cars is also funny. This way they can grab it easily.
Actually these are the cheapest cars on the list and not Melissa & Doug's.
But then they aren't real toys cars for your toddler. Then you're better off buying another one. They don't roll very well and the design is a bit crazy.
But a very nice first set for your baby. The overall score of 6.7 is a bit low because I rated it on the same points as "real" gaming cars.
Hape Dollhouse Family Car
- They don't come more solid than this
- Doors can really open
- Very expensive
- Doesn't drive great
A very cute addition to your dollhouse. The doors can really open so that you can easily put dolls in them.
The dolls also have a way to visit other places, so it also stimulates fantasy play.
Just like everything else toys from Hape is the auto very very sturdy and made with non-toxic comp.
It measures 3.5 (w) x 8.9 (l) x 5.1 (h) inches (8.9 x 22.6 x 12.9 cm). It is super quality but very pricey. It also doesn't handle well enough for a regular one toys car to continue.
Stanley Jr Police Car Construction Kit
- Good kit with clear instructions
- Build the whole car yourself including paints
- Doesn't drive great
- You can only assemble it once
This is yet another approach wooden toys cars. Now they can make something to be proud of.
The most fun is to work on it together with your child. The appropriate age is from 5 years old so they still need some help. From 8 years old they can probably do it themselves.
But by 8 years they probably won't really play with it anymore. 5 is the ideal age to get some playtime out of it too.
The kit contains pre-cut pieces wood, plastic police parts and screws and nails. Plus it comes with (non-toxic) paint auto to finish.
The auto itself is just worth playing. It's not the best quality, but at least the wheels roll. The doors can be opened, so that is a nice addition.
But you really should see this mainly as a joint construction project.
Automoblox T15L Grizzly Pickup
- Very sturdy beech wood
- Parts can be interchanged with other sets
- Very very expensive
Automoblox are super durable cars made of European beech wood where the body and wheels can be changed.
The cars consist of 3 parts so you can mix and match them. I like this cool T15L Grizzly Pickup the best, but there are many more variants.
The box says “Contains 12 mix-and-match parts” but that is a bit misleading. It's 4 wheels and 4 tires, 3 auto pieces and the windshield.
Ultimately, those are just a few possibilities when you compare them with others cars of the set combines.
But the auto in itself it is also really good to drive and very sturdy. The mix and match just adds an extra little element.
And that is also allowed for the price. They are quite expensive so buying a pair to be able to exchange costs quite a bit.
Fagus Blank Wooden Forklift
- Bare wood and no screws or other sharp material
- Unique look and simple design
- Lever and rope construction is somewhat difficult to operate
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From: 3 years
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Best: 4 – 6 years
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Up to: 7 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Truck
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €84 – $80
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Handmade
- Storage: Normal
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
The Fagus wooden forklift is made of beech wood (fagus is Latin for beech) in a workshop for people with disabilities. The best part is that they are put together without the use of nails, screws and staples. Interlocking parts, dowels and glue are used with true manual labor.
The play value is reasonable with a high open-ended content due to the supplied dolls without details. Now they can be used for all sorts of imaginative play. The high-quality materials also contribute to the playing feeling. The play value could have been higher due to better ease of use and higher versatility. The handle and rope construction make it difficult to play with the toy.
Safety is extremely high with rounded corners, no paint or toxic glues and no nails or other sharp parts that could come loose.
Many of Fagus' vehicles have received "Spiel Gut" certification for toys with great educational and play value.
Goki Nature Car
- Very sustainable and responsible brand
- Sturdy wooden cars
- Very pricey
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From: 1 years
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Best: 2 – 4 years
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Up to: 5 years
- Material: Wood, Hardwood
- Theme: Vehicles, Truck
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €27,40 – $40,65
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety components: Non-toxic materials
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
ease of use, degree of open-endedness, imagination, social interaction, interactivity, versatility, aesthetics, ability to combine, portability, longevity, durability, safety, materials. Educational: +awards and educational value
Nice smooth finish and tactile wood for children's hands and 100% natural. It cannot be broken and the natural finish (the nature series is colored using an ecological heat treatment) keeps the car beautiful and has an extremely long lifespan. Goki has won the Golden Rocking Horse award for their designs, among other things.
It is a great way to develop imagination and role play and provides a channel for children to understand and express their feelings through reenactment of everyday experiences. This can easily be combined with a few more cars and encourages social interaction. All this ensures high play value and replayability.
Only the price-quality ratio could be a bit higher, one of the few reasons for a slightly lower play score. But you do get a car that will last for years.
Conclusion
There are many more wooden toys cars for sale. But these are the absolute best I've found. Good for lots of fun with a natural feeling for children's hands!
Also read: these are the best wooden toy brands and what makes them so good
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.