Welcome to this guide where we’re diving into some of the very best quad bikes for younger children. We’ll focus specifically on age groups 3 to 6 years old and cover the safest (and, of course, the meanest and most awesome) rides you can buy for your toddler or child in the UK for 2022.
What to look for when buying a quad bike for a young child
Any parent or relative of a child who has typed ‘kids quad bike’ into somewhere like Amazon will have been greeted with a HUGE choice of brightly coloured ride-ons. So which one should you choose? Here’s a quick overview of some of the things you should look out for when shopping for a new ride:
Know the child’s weight – A lot of quad bikes go by weight, as opposed to the child’s age. Which makes sense because this is the main thing that will affect the bike’s performance. It will help to get an idea of this and to account for extra growth in the coming years.
Lights and extra features – Any quad worth its salt should look the part. You want it to have that wow factor when your child pulls off the wrapping paper or sees it for the first time. One of the best details are the working headlights that many electric ride-ons come with.
Sounds – Another must-have are fun sounds that a lot of kids quad bikes come with. Even something as simple as the ignition sound when they turn the key makes for a more fun experience for younger kids as they try out their new ride.
Automatic braking – Youngster’s quadbikes aren’t exactly built for speed – and that’s a good thing. But there are some really smart safety features any good bike should have. Definitely look for auto-braking that kicks in when the child takes their foot off the accelerator.
Traction – rubber grips on the wheels – One problem a lot of people have with their child’s quad is gripping surfaces. It doesn’t even have to be an especially slippy surface, like polished wood, we’ve seen these ride-ons slip and wheel spin on the pavement in the UK.
The wheels are 99% of the time are really hard plastic that lasts well but has a poor grip on a lot of surfaces.
The solution is to get a quad with a thick rubber band around the wheels. The odd thing is, many bikes look like the wheels were made for this, but you don’t get the extra grip rubber with the wheels. If you’re heading out, it can help to get a bike with a bit of extra hold on the ground.
Safety features – If you can get a quad bike with a soft start, that’s always helpful as the initial pulling away can be a bit of a jolt, especially for younger riders. It is something they get used to, but some bikes do have a smooth start function which helps with this problem.
Another thing that we’ve seen on some young children’s quads (that we wish was more common!) is a remote control, where the parent can control the power from wherever they are.
Can I catch it up?! Anyone with a child will likely know how fast you have to move to avoid accidents sometimes. So plonking your little one on a moving mini vehicle might sound like a recipe for disaster.
Make sure your quad bike’s speed is appropriate for the child and that you can run faster than it can, basically.
Is it fast enough? On the flip side, many a cautious parent has bought a quad bike that’s too slow and gets boring quickly. Getting the balance between speed and safety is not easy. Here’s a quick rough guide to what to look for. Also, the age recommendations on places like Amazon are generally a good guide to follow too.
- 2 years old: 5 – 6km/h
- 3 – 4 years: 6 – 8km/h
- 5 years+ 8km/h
- 6 years+ 8 – 10km/h
Best quad bikes for 2022
#1 – Kalco Toys 12V Quadbike
Best pick for a 3 – 4-year-old
This is a brilliant little quad bike for children 3 – 5 years and comes in 3 different colours: red, pink and white with pink. It’s simple to use and all your child has to do I press the foot pedal on the right side. There’s a simple forward and reverse gear to change direction and the bike-style handlebars are easy to get to grips with and understand how to steer.
Safety features – The accelerator on this quad will kick in the brake if the child takes their foot off it which makes it a lot safer to ride, especially for younger quad-bikers.
Sound and lights – There are two bright headlights and some simple but fun ignition sounds.
Run time – You can expect up to 4 hours with this quad bike which will vary a bit depending on the kind of surface you use it on and how fast your little one goes. You can expect around 30 minutes of continuous driving.
- Really good, eye-grabbing design
- Familiar handlebars are easy to steer
- Fun ignition sounds
- Decent run-time per charge
- Instructions need to be more clear and better written
#2 – Kawasaki Quad ATV
Max Speed: 6km/h
Max child weight: 35kg
Max speed: 5km/h
Charge time: 8-12 hours
Run time: 1-2 hours
Best pick for 2 years plus
If you’re looking for your child’s first quad bike, for 2 years plus then the Kawasaki 12V licensed quad makes for a safe, fun riding experience. It’s covered in attractive stickers and has a stylish body with huge wheels.
Great design – There are some brilliant finishing touches and details with this particular quad that set it aside from similar ones. It’s been modelled to look like a real one, with things like suspension on display. It definitely looks impressive.
Extra grip on wheels – The thick rubber around the wheels make for a smooth, comfy ride without the annoying slipping when you press the accelerator. As this is a ride-on for younger quad bikers, there’s a lower speed limit of around 5 km/h – 6 km/h.
Robust and safe – The Kawasaki quad is also extremely sturdy, which is super-important for younger children. The handlebars are wide and easy to grip too.
Assembly isn’t anything too taxing, with the rear axle, wheels, fork and handlebars needing to be added on arrival. You’ll also need to stick the decals on the bike which takes a little time too.
Verdict: A really well made, good looking quad for toddlers. It looks the part and is fun and safe to ride.
- Very sturdy
- Safe and easy to ride
- The rubber band on tyres really grips any surface
- Looks fantastic
- Good value
- Like most of the quads we’ve seen, it’s noisy!
- No working lights or sounds
#3 – Costway Kids Ride on ATV – Amazon
Extra features: Bright lights, entertainment system, horn!
Good choice of colours – With a lot of quads only available in one colour, it’s great to see Costway offering a selection, from Batman black to bright princess pink. And the design is awesome across the range. Nice sturdy, chunky wheels look the part and offer a stable, wide base at the same time.
Brilliant entertainment dashboard – One thing that sets this mini quad apart from a lot of the others we’ve seen is its built-in entertainment console at the front that replicates what your child would see in your car. You can put some favourite songs on a USB and then your little one can cruise along in style.
Slow start function – One common problem we’ve seen with a lot of children’s electric ride-ons is that they can be a bit ‘jerky’ to start up. When a child presses the throttle there’s a jolt that can be quite jarring. With this quad, there’s a slow start function that eases into the acceleration and makes for a more gentle pulling away.
This kids quad is also super easy to use. There are simple chunky buttons for important functions like changing the speed and direction.
Verdict: The extra smooth start to the Costway combined with its fantastic design makes this a really good electric quad to start with. It’s well designed and packed with some great extras like the built-in entertainment system.
- Good design and choice of colours
- Controls are easy to use
- Soft-start function
- Sturdy and safe
- One of the more expensive quads.
#4 – Feber Quad Boxer – Amazon
Max speed: 5km / h
Recommended age: 3 – 5 years
Max weight: 30kg
If you’re looking for a budget price kids quad, Feber’s boxer is well worth a look. There’s a lot of attention to detail throughout this quad bike such as the realistic over-sized wheels that make it look just like the real thing.
There’s one simple switch for forwards and back and a foot pedal to operate and the handlebars are easy for younger children to get to grips with. Sadly, the headlights here are just stickers, but for the price, it’s still a good option if you’re looking for a decent little quad bike that’s lots of fun to ride.
It’s easy to assemble and there’s plenty of power in the 12v motor to ride on a range of surfaces. Riding on pavement or grass isn’t a problem (as long as it’s not too long…) and it’s ideal for outdoor use or a walk around the park.
Top speed caps out at around 5km/h so this is fine for a first quad for a child as you’ll be able to keep up without breaking into a jog.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a good ‘leg-powered’ quad bike, this is definitely a good buy for a birthday or Christmas preset. It’s got a great design, doesn’t cost the earth and the lights and music are top notch. (If a tad loud!) Kids will love this.
- Easy to assemble
- Runs fine outdoors
- Great details on bodywork and wheels
- One of the cheaper kids quads
- No working headlights or sounds
- Only one choice of colour
#5 – Homcom Toddler Non-motorized Quad
Super-cheap bargain quad winner
Age range: 14 months up
If you’re looking for a bargain, this child’s quad has some very impressive reviews on places like Amazon and it’s easy to see why. Suitable for toddlers looking to head out on an adventure, this bike has an awesome design that’s available in green, pink and yellow, with the colour scheme used on the wheel trims and the handlebars.
This quad bike isn’t powered so it’s a great introduction to ride-ons and a good one to get very young children.
For a budget quad, this one has an impressive set of features we’ve only seen on the more expensive ride-ons. You might not expect working lights or music, but Homcom’s bike has those things and they add a lot to the experience. The lights change colour too and flash in time with the funky tunes.
It’s quick and easy to assemble and hardly weighs anything too, so it’s easy to carry around the park when your child wants to hop off and explore on foot.
- Stylish design looks the part
- Super light – 3.5kg
- A very cheap quad
- Teaches toddlers to balance on a bike
- Great bouncy tunes
- Music is very loud and you can’t turn it down
Buyer’s guide for young children’s quad ride-ons
Has this quad got enough power?
One thing you should definitely take a look at when picking a quad is how powerful it is.
While you might not think power is important, and the last thing you want is something zipping off with your child at the controls, an underpowered bike will be a huge disappointment when you take it in the park and it struggles to get up a hill.
An older child will benefit from a more powerful motor. Here’s a quick rough guide on what to look for.
- 3 – 5 years old – 6 – 12v motor
- 6 years or over – 12 – 24v motor
What to look for when picking a mini-quad bike for your 3 – 5-year-old
Amount of driving time per charge
When you’re shopping for a quad bike, one of the things to look at, or find out about is how long it will run for on each charge. This number is really rough guide as there are too many things that can affect how much driving a child can do before it will need charging.
Basically, the harder the motor has to work, the more power it will use. Some things that will impact your run time are:
- Child weight
- How much continuous driving they do
- Whether it’s on slopes
- Different kinds of surfaces will also affect run time
Assembly – how much work is involved?
Every child quad bike will require at least a bit of assembly. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be a whizz with the electric screwdriver to get this done.
While it varies from one bike to the next, kinds quads are normally very simple to put together.
Normally a matter of simply attaching the wheels, steering wheel or bars, and possibly connecting a wire or two. Anyone should be able to do it in around 15 – 30 minutes tops, with one person.
Electric Quad FAQs
Some things you might like to know
If you’re new to buying electric ride-ons for your child, here are some answers that might help you out.
Will my child need a helmet?
It’s very rare you see a child out on an electric quad bike wearing a helmet. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea. That being said, these bikes do not move very quickly.
Are they hard to assemble?
There are many different manufacturers of quad bikes and each one is different but some assembly will always be required due to packing restraints meaning that they can’t be shipped fully assembled. It’s not normally difficult or a time-consuming job but plan to spend 30 minutes at least putting your quad together.
As with most self-assembly jobs, being organized can save you a lot of work and time. Lay everything out carefully and have a read of the instructions before you dive in.
Do you get the charger?
All electric quad bikes are rechargeable and normally have a 12V battery that’s fixed into the bike and is charged with the included cable. Each ride-on will include the charger and everything you need to use the bike.
Are the tyres made from rubber?
Although the tyres on these bikes look the part, they’re actually not rubber but a hardened plastic. While it’s not the smoothest of rides, these wheels are long-lasting and capable of taking a lot of punishment.
Some plastic quad tyres do come with a chunky rubber band around them which can definitely help with comfort and gripping smooth surfaces.
Can you take them outdoors?
The majority of children’s quads can be ridden safely outdoors, on a range of surfaces from cur grass to pavements. They’re able to go over cracks in paving but not safely over large curbs. Rain can also be a problem so dodge the showers and don’t get it too wet.
How long does it run for, and how long do they take to charge?
Many of these quad bikes have the same motors and batteries but the timing will vary from one brand to another. Things like the weight of your child will also affect how much playtime they’ll get.
Generally, you’ll be looking at 2 – 4 hours of drive time but the charging time is a lot longer at 4 – 6 hours. Realistically, it’s good to get into the habit of charging it overnight to get the most active time out of the battery.
Do they last a long time?
If you buy a decent mini quad it will last a long time. It’s highly unlikely it will wear out. The real issue is that your child can outgrow their quad bike, rather than wearing it out.
Where are children’s quad bikes usually made?
The main country of origin is China although we’ve seen some quads being made in Europe in Countries such as Spain. It’s worth noting that the majority are shipped from UK warehouses, or from Amazon directly in some cases so you won’t have to wait for long-distance shipping.
Can I get a replacement charger for my child’s quad bike?
Yes. You can normally get a new charger by getting in touch with the manufacturer. There’s no universal chargers but contacting the company that makes the quad can usually get a replacement.
Are young kids quads heavy?
Despite their size, children’s electric quads are actually surprisingly light! While they’re a bit awkward to carry around the park, they’re light enough to get in and out of the boot, or to course correct a stray child easily enough. It varies between quads but around the 12kg mark is about average.