Brushed vs brushless

Every car on FirstRC lists its motor type. Here is what the two words mean in practice, using the manufacturers' own descriptions.

• Brushed motors are the simpler, older design. Most of the cheapest ready-to-run cars here use them, such as the Arrma Gorgon (MEGA 550 brushed, $189.99) and Traxxas Stampede HD (Titan 550 12-turn, $229.95).
• Brushless motors cost more. Traxxas describes its BL-2s brushless system as offering "more torque, faster acceleration, and less maintenance" (Stampede BL-2s listing, checked 2026-10-19).

What the data shows (2026-10-19)

Of 50 cars tracked, 23 are brushless and 24 are brushed (the rest are unknown). Of the brushless cars, 5 include a battery in the box, compared with 17 of the brushed cars.

Many brushless "223S" Arrma models claim 35+ mph on a 2S battery and 50+ mph on 3S (manufacturer claim). A car's top speed depends on the battery you buy, so check both speed rows on each car page.