There’s nothing like having a child who takes interest in helping out with the yard work. For most folks, it’s nearly impossible to get the kids to help when they are older. However, if you start exposing them to how fulfilling it can be working outside early on in their childhood, they may have that willingness to help do yard work later on.
Now you may be wondering how you can introduce something as mundane and boring as a fun activity to a young child between 3 to 8 years old. Well, the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV is a great start. With the Gator, you can have your little boy help you haul branches, leaves, and weeds to the compost pile.
To find out if the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV is something you would be interested in purchasing for your little one, keep reading! In our review, we are going to talk to you about the various features of the Gator and then take a look at what other parents had to say about the product. Finally, we’ll give you our opinion whether the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV is worth the investment.
About The Ride On
If ever there was a more well-known name in tractors, it would be the John Deere. The John Deere name isn’t just for adults anymore, thanks to the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV. With this ride on toy for children, the most notable features include:
- 2 speeds 2 1/2 and 5 mph plus reverse (5 mph lockout for beginners)
- Accelerator pedal with automatic brakes
- Extra-large dump bed with tailgate
- Adjustable seat for growing kids
- Free 2 year warranty with consumer participation
- Recommended ages: 3 years to 8 years old
Children who have a lot of toys to haul around or they want to lend mom and dad a helping hand in the garden, the extra-large dump bed with a working tail gate makes that possible. The dump bed works on a simple pulley mechanism, so dumping the contents has never been easier.
Because the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV uses a 12V battery, your child has the ability to go two different speeds—2.5 mph or 4.5 mph. If the faster speed worries you, you have the ability to use the speed lockout feature to limit how fast the toy goes. Then once you know your child is capable of maneuvering the toy without any problems, you can release the speed lockout and let them cruise at the toys’ full potential.
Perhaps one of the best features of the Gator is that it features an automatic braking system. This means that whenever your child takes their foot off the brake, the toy stops and you’ll never have to worry about the toy going when you don’t want it to.
What Customers Say
When we looked at the user reviews, we saw that 78% had great things to say about the ride on and left 4 or 5-star reviews. Of these reviews, people commented on how fast the toy can go when it is at full speed—apparently they underestimated how fast 4.5 mph actually is! Other customers felt that this was a great little toy, especially for those who have a real John Deere.
The parents say that their children feel like a grown up riding alongside their father with their Gators. Customers also mention that they felt the overall construction of this product was solid and impressive, especially when compared to other, similar products on the market.
So what did the remaining 22% of customers who left 3-star or below reviews have to say? The most common complaint customers had a complaint about the tires. One customer felt that this toy was not made for the country but rather city life. Several customers said the tires just spin and spin when their child tries to ride it on dirt or grass, which is an inconvenience.
Of the quality, some parents felt that the Gator was not worth the price because, in their opinion, the plastic is easy to push in it feels very thin. Other customers have mentioned that the tailgate doesn’t work after a few uses.
Our Recommendation
There is no denying that the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV is an impressive looking toy. It really does look like something an adult would use when working on the farm or around the yard. The speed lockout and the automatic braking system are great safety features, which will give parents the peace of mind in knowing their children aren’t riding a toy that goes too fast or doesn’t have a fail-safe stopping system.
After reviewing the comments parents left about their experience with the Peg Perego John Deere Gator XUV, and then looking at the price at which the product was being sold, we feel that it is worth the price tag of under $430. While it is true that 22% of parents have had some kind of problem with their Gators, we can’t deny that 78% were happy with the toy.
When people have discussed problems with the tires, they did say they would modify the tires so they are able to get some traction. We do want to remind you that if you do purchase the toy and make modifications, you risk voiding the free 2 year warranty that is offered by the manufacturer with customer participation.
While we don’t know what the company requires you to participate in, it is probably worth it because you are paying a substantial amount of money on a toy.
If you want to make your kids happy and surprise them with their very own tractor, then we feel that this is a great option. Although it may be on the pricy side, you’re getting a toy that’ll provide them with hours of fun, a free 2 year warranty (with customer participation), and a helping hand around the yard! Sounds like a great deal to us!
