4 Best Electric Ride-on Trains
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Electric ride-on trains are battery vehicles, usually 6v. They cannot go very fast and are intended for smaller children.
They can provide a lot of fun because many children are fascinated by trains, sometimes even developing intense interests in everything related to trains. One that they can sit on and ride on is a great experience for them.
Not every electric ride-on train is the same, so in this article I'll help you choose with extensive comparisons. Choose below which information you're specifically looking for.
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The Fisher Price Tootin' Train is the cheapest children's vehicle at €48,23 ($35.87). With a price-quality score of 7 and only 4 parts, it is a simple, but high-quality product. It is water resistant, which makes it suitable for outdoor use. The brand's higher price-quality score and awards, including the Toy of The Year Award, indicate that you get value for money.Then we have the Costzon GOPLUS 6v Train Children's Vehicle for €92,14 ($82.99). With a slightly lower price-quality score of 6.8 and 17 parts, you get an electric train of slightly lower quality, although good enough to last their entire toddler years.
The Rollplay Electric Train Children's Vehicle costs €152,15 ($123.99) and has a value for money score of 7.2. It has 24 parts and has the largest train track. It is of reasonable quality, but the real steam makes it even more appealing to the imagination.
Finally, we have the Peg Perego Santa Fe Train for €201,05 ($239.65). Due to the high price and only 14 parts, it has a lower price-quality score of 6.7. Peg Perego is the best-known brand here and makes quality products, although it may cost a bit too much compared to the others.
For the smallest children you can choose the Fisher Price Tootin' Train. This train is perfect from 1 year and has an optimal age of 1 to 2 years. However, it has a shorter optimal age span than the electric one Peg Perego Santa Fe Train. A great choice from 1,5 years old, but it will certainly remain fun for up to 3 years. Both are made of non-toxic material and easy to use.If your child is a little older, from 2 years old, you can consider using the Rollplay Electric Train Children's Vehicle or for Costzon GOPLUS 6v Train Children's Vehicle to buy. Both trains are suitable for children aged 2 to 4 and are made of non-toxic materials. They are slightly more complex than the previous trains, which makes them suitable for slightly older children who are ready for a challenge.
The Rollplay Electric Train Children's Vehicle and the Peg Perego Santa Fe Train offer the longest playing time, ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. This is due to their active intensity and interactive buttons that stimulate children's imagination. The Rollplay train, with its higher imagination score, offers an additional steam function that can extend play time.Then follows the Costzon GOPLUS 6v Train Children's Vehicle which offers a shorter playing time of 10 minutes. Despite its greater ease of use and interactive buttons, playtime is shorter due to its limited versatility. However, the sound can contribute to a more engaging playing experience.
The Fisher Price Tootin' Train offers the shortest playing time, also around 10 minutes. Although it has an energetic intensity and can be used both indoors and outdoors, it lacks interactive features such as sound. This, together with the lack of accessories reduces the playing time. However, its higher scores for open-endedness and imagination can contribute to a more engaging gaming experience.
Below are the detailed reviews of the 4 best ride-on trains, ranking according to our “Toy score”. This is based on the play value, price/quality, replayability, safety, durability and the materials used.
The playing value, together with the price-quality ratio, is the most important thing. After all, the trains should be fun to play with and if it is too expensive, no one can afford it.
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Buy at Bol.comWhat we discuss in this comprehensive post:
1. Rollplay Electric Train Children's Vehicle
- Interactive buttons and real steam
- Large, made with sturdy and safe material
- Difficult to combine with other toys
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From: 2 years
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Best: 2 – 3 years
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Up to: 4 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 24
- Dimensions: 55,70 x 47,04 x 38,54 cm (21.91 x 18.52 x 15.17 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €152,15 – $123.99
- Durability: None
- Cultural representation: Neutral
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusivity: Gender neutral
The Rollplay is an electric train with a rechargeable battery to drive on. It is big enough for a child up to 5 years old to sit on, although it will be fun up to about 4 years old. With the buttons with light and sound and the actual steam that can come out, it is a very interactive and fun set . The play value is therefore good.
The replayability is somewhat less. Due to its size, it is not easy to combine with other toys and also not easy to carry. This makes it less versatile. With the wagon with a large box, there is still room to include other toys, but many children will get tired of it.
However, there will also be just as many train fans who can't get enough of it. Here it depends a bit on the child and their interests.
2. Peg Perego Santa Fe Train
- Beautiful appearance
- Very solidly built
- Few interactive features
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From: 1 years
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Best: 1 – 3 years
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Up to: 3 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 14
- Dimensions: 96,52 x 31,75 x 41,91 cm (38 x 12.5 x 16.5 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €201,05 – $239.65
- Durability: None
- Cultural representation: Neutral
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusivity: Gender neutral
The Peg Perego Santa Fe is very easy to use. It can run on the supplied rails or you can use it without tracks. He will then continue to drive in circles so that it is safe for your child. It can carry a maximum of 18,14 kilograms (40 pounds) and only 2,41 kilometers (1 ½ miles) per hour.
The play value is quite high, but could have been higher if it had more interactive features and offered more open-ended play. The cart at the back can accommodate a load or the cuddly toy, so it offers quite a bit of play value. It is also the most beautiful train to ride that I have seen.
It is difficult to combine with other toys due to its size, so it will have to rely entirely on itself in terms of replayability. Although plastic, it is made very sturdy so the set will last a long time, especially until they are 3 when they will probably no longer fit on it.
3. Fisher-Price Tootin' Train
- Suitable for the smallest children
- Balls that can go on the train are a nice addition
- Very small so they grow out of it quickly
- No electric train, you have to walk yourself
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From: 1 years
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Best: 1 – 2 years
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Up to: 3 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 4
- Dimensions: 53,34 x 26,04 x 33,02 cm (21 x 10.25 x 13 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €48,23 – $35.87
- Durability: None
- Cultural representation: Neutral
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusivity: Gender neutral
The Fisher-Price Tootin' Train is a set with a train (available in two colors for boys and girls) and 3 balls that can be placed in the front of the chimney. This makes the set a little more versatile and improves replayability. It is not easy to combine with other toys due to its size, so it must have its own play value.
The open ending is fine and it appeals to the imagination, but it is not that interactive, beyond the balls. It rides easily and is sturdy, although made entirely of plastic. This makes it suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
The train can hold up to 19,96 kilograms (44 pounds), but is very small so no longer suitable after 3 years.
4. Costzon GOPLUS 6v Train Children's Vehicle
- Sturdy material and can hold up to 24,95 kilograms (55 pounds).
- Can also be controlled without rails
- Not many interactive features
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From: 2 years
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Best: 2 – 3 years
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Up to: 4 years
- Material: Plastic
- Number of parts: 4
- Dimensions: 51.56 x 21.59 x 34.54 cm (20.3 x 8.5 x 13.6 inches)
- Price at time of writing: €92,14 – $82.99
- Durability: None
- Cultural representation: Neutral
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusivity: Gender neutral
The Costzon GOPLUS is a 6v electric train with 16 track sections. It is very easy to use because it can ride on or on the rails, and then your child can steer it themselves. That's certainly a nice addition that makes it more versatile and good for replayability.
The play value is fine, although it could be higher with more interactive options besides just light and sound. This also makes it less appealing to the imagination than some other electric trains to ride on.
The quality is good enough. Not durable, but sturdy, and it can hold up to 24,95 kilograms (55 pounds), which certainly makes it suitable for children as young as 5, although they'll probably be tired of it by 3 or 4.
How do you choose the best electric ride-on train sets?
Electric trains are the most fun when they are interactive. A large set of rails or the ability to ride without rails are also important.
When ranking the toys on this list, we use our “Toy score”. It's based on the following components, each with its own weight.
- Play value (30%)
- Price/ quality (30%)
- Replayability (20%)
- Safety (10%)
- Sustainability (5%)
- Materials (5%)
The playing value, together with the price-quality ratio, is the most important thing. After all, good electric trains should be fun to play with and if it is too expensive, no one can afford it.
The play value assesses the product on the features that make it fun to play with. These are ease of use, degree of open-endedness, imagination, social interaction, interactivity, versatility and aesthetics. When a toy is easy to use and understand, is attractive to the child and there are many opportunities to make up your own play with it with open end and imagination, it will be played longer with a higher quality of play.
The price-quality ratio is a score based on the ratio of the quality of the rated electric train tracks compared to the price of the item. This ratio determines how much value you get for your money, in play value and in intrinsic quality of the item such as the materials used.
Replayability rates the product on features that ensure it will be used again and again. These are ability to combine, portability, longevity, durability and versatility.
Are electric trains as fun as other battery vehicles?
Yes, electric trains can be just as fun as other battery-powered vehicles. Some have a clear disadvantage that they run on a fixed train track. This makes them less versatile than others electric children's vehicles to ride on.
However, a big advantage is the theme, because trains appeal to many children, and can sometimes even be an intense interest where the child wants to learn everything about it and can tell all the trains and names apart.
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.