7 Best RC Buggies in 2024: Grass, Beach, Bashing, Racing, & More

RC buggies are great for racing, bashing, or just passing the time at the beach or on a sunny afternoon in the yard or at the park. On a small scale, RC buggies are also a great hobby for anyone who likes to tinker on engines or upgrade the components of an automobile. 

In this guide, we present the 7 best RC buggies, with picks for terrain like grass or the beach, and even a pick that’s tough enough for bashing. Coming up next are the 7 best RC buggies to buy, for every budget, and for all sorts of experience levels

Our Top Picks

Turn the ignition on the 7 RC buggies we reviewed.

A Closer Look: Best RC Buggies

Pop the hood on the RC buggies we included in our ranking. Which one’s right for you?

The 5-star DEERC 9206E came in first in first in our ranking of the best RC buggies with a powerful motor and fast speeds in all sorts of different terrain, including grass and sandy beaches. 

On the 4WD drive remote control car, the oil-filled shock absorbers are made from metal, with an alloy differential, and a shell made from PVC. The remote has surprisingly good range, we found out, and the battery lasted longer than expected.

There’s also two two rechargeable batteries included with purchase, along with durable all-terrain tires. There’s also a heavy-duty plate across the bottom keeping all the components safe when the terrain gets extra bumpy.

After careful consideration, the best off-road RC buggy in our ranking is the Axial Yeti Jr. Can-Am Maverick X3 RC Rock Racer. Among the many things we liked about this buggy is that it’s great on dirt, concrete, and gravel. It’s fast with good suspension, and the larger-than-average tires really help keep it stable.

Otherwise, there’s a one-piece drive train, an AR18 solid rear axle, and independent front suspension with adjustable coilover shocks. Things people like in particular about this well-reviewed buggy include the ability to climb steep inclines, with good speed and power right out of the box.

For a racing RC buggy, we like the RC car from Team Losi. It’s a well-reviewed buggy for dirt racing, with tires that can be easily switched out for different terrain. 

Other things making this RC buggy a great for racing include the TLR low front wing for better steering and power on high-speed turns and smoother steering on entry. The 22 5.0 body also offers better balance, grip, and stability, and don’t miss the many different axle heights, ride heights, and grip levels.

It’s important to note this buggy is not RTD (ready-to-drive) and additional electronic parts are required to complete the vehicle.

The Tecknock high speed remote control car is definitely the best choice to get started racing RC buggies for under $100. It’s a great value for the money, with all the batteries and accessories included. Run time is good, and overall, it’s an agile RC car that, according to reports, kept going after several collisions.

Otherwise, the rubber tires are durable, with shock absorbers, a high-quality PVC shell, and an accurate steering trim. The remote reaches distances of 100 feet, and it all charges up in about two hours. All combined, this car is faster than other cars in the price range, and it maneuvers well over bumps and small obstacles.

One of the best places to play with an RC buggy is at the ocean, but have you ever tried running on sand? If you have, you know it ain’t easy and so naturally, there are some specific things to look for in an RC buggy suitable for those conditions. We found them in the Traxxas 1/10 Scale Rustler, our choice for the best RC buggy on the beach.

Leading off the reasons we like the Rustler for a day at the ocean is that the electronics are all waterproof, and the motor is a powerful Titan 12-turn, with a Magnum 272 transmission made from metal. Pretty tough stuff. Overall, this is a fast little car, with easily replaceable parts should anything happen to break.

Long, short, dry, or wet — grass is also a popular place to run your RC buggy. But like sand, there are some specific things to look for in an RC buggy suited for grass. In our estimation that buggy comes from ARRMA. And that’s especially true in hard pack low grass, according to reports.

With a water and dust-proof design, what else makes this ARRMA a good choice for grass is anodized aluminum motor and strong 5 mm shaft. Also notable is the 4-pole construction consistently offering better and more powerful performance across a variety of conditions. Fans of the Typhon call it a beast, very fast, and very fun.

Naturally, the best RC car for racing without rules or regulations, otherwise known as bashing should be extra tough. And although the Traxxas Rustler 4X4 VXL is expensive, it’s without a doubt the best RC buggy in our ranking for bashing. 

The car has an extra strong internal structure with rollover protection, and 2.8 inch black chrome wheels that will conquer all sorts of terrain — even if that terrain includes other buggies. A great choice for bashing, even in cold temps, according to reports, with a phenomenal, reinforced body. It is spendy, though, and probably best suited for someone truly committed to the hobby.

But those who’ve tried the Traxxas Rustler say it really takes a pounding and that overall, it’s very fun and fast — all in all solid.

Our Process

For this guide on the best RC Buggies, our team spent 5 hours researching the 35 most popular options. We then read about 5 user reviews per product (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each one. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 RC Buggies on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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