Traxxas took everything people love about the full-size Slash — the short course truck styling, the legendary durability, the ecosystem — and shrunk it down to compact size. The result is the Traxxas Mini Slash 4X4, a brushless 4WD short course truck that punches well above its dimensions. It’s faster than you’d expect, tougher than it looks, and small enough to run in your backyard, your garage, or your apartment hallway.
This review covers real-world speed, handling, battery life, the best upgrades, and how the Mini Slash stacks up against the classic 1/16 Slash, the full-size Slash, and the LaTrax Prerunner — so you know exactly which truck fits your situation before you buy.
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Traxxas Mini Slash Specs at a Glance
One quick note before the specs: Traxxas currently sells two different compact short course trucks under similar branding. The 1/16 Slash 4X4 (model #70054-8, ~$200) is the older brushed platform that’s been around since 2009. The Mini Slash 4X4 (model #108164-1, ~$290) is the newer, fully redesigned brushless truck built on the Mini Maxx platform. This review focuses on the new Mini Slash, with comparisons to the original 1/16 Slash where it matters. You can learn more about scale size differences in our RC car scale sizes guide.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale | ~1/16 (Mini Maxx platform) |
| Type | Short Course Truck |
| Drive | 4WD (shaft-driven) |
| Motor | BL-2s 3300 Kv brushless with integrated cooling fan |
| ESC | BL-2s waterproof |
| Radio | TQ 2.4GHz |
| Chassis | Mini Maxx composite tub |
| Shocks | GTR oil-filled |
| Body | Short course truck (Slash replica) |
| Length | 16.06 inches (408mm) |
| Weight | ~3.6 lbs (1.64 kg) |
| Top Speed | 30+ mph |
| Battery | 7.4V 3500mAh 2S LiPo (included) |
| Charger | USB-C 2A balance charger (included) |
| Price | ~$289.95 |
Battery and charger are both included in the box — a genuine advantage over most full-size Traxxas models that ship without a battery. Available colors include Green, Orange, Yellow, and Pink.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas Mini Slash 4X4 Brushless
Mini Slash 4X4 vs. Original 1/16 Slash — Which Version?
If you’ve been searching “Traxxas Mini Slash” and wondering why you’re seeing two different products, here’s the breakdown. Both are compact short course trucks — but they’re very different trucks under the hood.
| Feature | 1/16 Slash 4X4 (#70054-8) | Mini Slash 4X4 (#108164-1) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | Titan 12T 550 brushed | BL-2s 3300 Kv brushless |
| Top Speed | ~20–28 mph | 30+ mph |
| Battery Included | 7.2V 1200mAh NiMH | 7.4V 3500mAh 2S LiPo |
| Gear Pitch | 48-pitch | 32-pitch (stronger) |
| Length | 14.0” (356mm) | 16.06” (408mm) |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs | 3.6 lbs |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Price | ~$199.95 | ~$289.95 |
| Best For | Budget buyers, beginners, younger kids | Enthusiasts, performance, long runtime |
The original 1/16 Slash brushed is the better starting point if budget is the main concern or the driver is very young. It’s cheaper, uses a proven platform with a massive parts ecosystem, and the brushed motor is gentler for beginners. For anyone who wants genuine performance out of the box — without planning any immediate upgrades — the Mini Slash 4X4 is the clear winner. It arrives brushless with a proper 3500mAh LiPo already installed, and its 32-pitch drivetrain is dramatically more robust than the 48-pitch gears in the older truck.
One important note: the brushless VXL power system for the original 1/16 Slash has been discontinued as of 2026. If you’re looking for a brand-new brushless compact Traxxas SCT, the Mini Slash 4X4 at $289.95 is currently the only option. Upgrading the 1/16 Slash brushed with the Velineon VXL-3m combo runs ~$160 extra, pushing your total well past the Mini Slash’s price — making it a poor value proposition. For a deeper look at the technology involved, check out our brushed vs brushless guide.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas 1/16 Slash 4X4 Brushed
Driving Experience
Speed & Acceleration
The Mini Slash 4X4 hits 30+ mph out of the box on its included 2S LiPo — and at this scale, that feels genuinely fast. I’ve run the Mini Slash on my driveway and in a cul-de-sac, and 30 mph in a truck barely over 16 inches long creates a real sense of speed. The scale perspective compresses everything; the ground rushes past at a rate that keeps a grin on your face. Throttle response is snappy and immediate, with the BL-2s brushless motor delivering a punch off the line that the old brushed 1/16 Slash simply can’t match.
The original 1/16 Slash brushed version is more mellow — approximately 20–28 mph depending on whether you’re running NiMH or LiPo — which also makes it significantly more manageable for younger drivers or anyone new to RC.
Handling
Both trucks run 4WD, which gives them solid traction and more predictable handling than a 2WD truck at this size. On smooth surfaces — garage floors, driveways, hard-packed paths — the Mini Slash is planted and confidence-inspiring. You can push it into corners and feel the 4WD system pulling it through.
The short wheelbase amplifies steering inputs more than a full-size truck, so there’s a learning curve with the Mini Slash’s sharper reflexes. On grass, the biggest weakness shows up: anything taller than a short lawn is a problem. The ground clearance and weight just can’t push through thick growth. In deep, wet, or loose terrain, the trucks lose traction and tend to flip during aggressive cornering — a known trait of the narrow-track 1/16 platform. The Mini Slash’s longer 235mm wheelbase improves high-speed stability compared to the original’s 206mm, but aggressive full-throttle cornering still causes rollovers.
I bought the Mini Slash as a grab-and-go winter truck for the garage and driveway — something I could rip around in 15 minutes without hauling my full-size fleet to the park. It’s become the truck I reach for on lazy evenings when I want to turn my brain off and just drive. The fact that it fits in a backpack means it comes with me on trips too.
Durability
Traxxas quality at compact scale — the Mini Slash is well-built for a truck of this size. Lower speeds relative to 1/10 trucks mean lower-energy crashes and less breakage overall. The Mini Maxx platform uses 32-pitch gears and driveshafts 50% larger than the older 1/16 components, addressing the drivetrain fragility that plagued the original platform under brushless power.
The stock plastic shock caps are the most common wear item — they pop off and eventually leak after sustained use. The body shell holds up better than most compact trucks thanks to thick Lexan construction, but repeated inverted landings stress the rear bumper area over time. Crash damage is genuinely more forgiving than a full-size truck: lighter weight means less momentum on impact.
Battery Life
This is the most important performance gap between the two trucks. The original 1/16 Slash’s 1200mAh NiMH delivers just 8–15 minutes of runtime — aggressive driving burns through it in under 10 minutes. That’s the single biggest frustration with the older platform, and upgrading to a 2S LiPo is the single best thing you can do for it.
The Mini Slash 4X4’s 3500mAh LiPo is a completely different experience: 15–25 minutes of mixed driving, with brushless motor efficiency contributing meaningfully to each pack. The included USB-C 2A charger takes 1.5–2 hours to fully recharge the 3500mAh pack; upgrading to a Traxxas EZ-Peak Live charger cuts that to roughly 30 minutes. Either way, buying 2–3 extra batteries is the move if you want a full backyard session without breaks.
Who Is the Mini Slash For?
Perfect For
Kids ages 6–12 are a natural fit — the Mini Slash’s manageable size, 4WD stability, and Traxxas durability make it genuinely hard to destroy during normal use. Traxxas Training Mode (50% power) gives parents an additional safety lever for young drivers. Families on a tighter budget should look at the original 1/16 Slash at ~$199.95 or the LaTrax lineup instead. For anyone starting out, our complete beginner’s guide covers all the best options by category and skill level.
Apartment and condo dwellers who want a quality indoor truck will find the Mini Slash’s footprint manageable in hallways and living rooms, though 30+ mph means you need a real runway even indoors. Experienced hobbyists looking for a grab-and-go secondary truck will appreciate the compact size, the included LiPo, and the zero-setup-time factor. It’s also genuinely travel-friendly — small enough to fit in a suitcase or daypack.
Not Ideal For
Serious off-road bashing in rough terrain or tall grass will frustrate you — the Mini Slash lacks the ground clearance and mass to handle it. Speed addicts who want to feel truly fast should look at the full-size Slash or the Arrma Grom lineup for a compact brushless alternative with more aggressive performance credentials. Adults who plan to make this their primary truck will typically want a 1/10-scale truck for primary use; the Mini Slash works best as a secondary. And anyone expecting a 1/10-scale experience should recalibrate: it IS smaller, lighter, and less capable in rough conditions.
Known Issues & Honest Criticisms
Battery life on the original 1/16 Slash (NiMH): If you own the older brushed truck, the 1200mAh NiMH is a genuine quality-of-life problem. It’s fine for a first drive but you’ll want extra packs or a 2S LiPo upgrade immediately. The Mini Slash’s included 3500mAh LiPo resolves this entirely.
Servo gear stripping: The most commonly reported failure across both platforms. Servo gears are plastic and strip under hard sideways impacts. The Mini Slash uses the larger 2056 full-size servo that’s stronger than the 2080 micro in the original, but it’s still a wear item. The Traxxas 2080R metal-gear servo (~$15) is the standard fix for the older truck. Check Price on Amazon
Rollover tendency: The narrow track width and light weight cause flips during aggressive cornering, especially on smooth surfaces. It’s the nature of this size class — manage your throttle discipline accordingly.
Parts availability: 1/16 and Mini Maxx Traxxas parts are less commonly stocked at local hobby shops than 1/10 parts. Online ordering fills the gap, but plan for shipping time when you need something quickly.
Price relative to size: At $289.95 for a sub-16-inch truck, the Mini Slash can feel expensive compared to full-size alternatives. You’re paying for compact form factor, the included 3500mAh LiPo, Traxxas build quality, and the broader ecosystem — not just dimensions.
Honest bottom line: no major design flaws. The Mini Slash is a solid truck with minor wear-item issues shared by every compact RC truck. The original 1/16 Slash’s NiMH situation is the only genuinely frustrating limitation, and it’s completely solved with a LiPo swap.
Mini Slash vs. Full-Size Traxxas Slash
The comparison isn’t about which truck is “better” — it’s about which one fits your life. For a deep dive into full-size Slash body options and customization, check our Traxxas Slash bodies guide.
| Mini Slash 4X4 (~$290) | Full-Size Slash 4X4 BL-2s (~$350+) | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | ~1/16 (16.06”) | 1/10 (~22”) |
| Top Speed | 30+ mph | 60+ mph |
| Battery Included | 7.4V 3500mAh LiPo | 8.4V 3000mAh NiMH |
| Parts Ecosystem | Growing (Mini Maxx) | Massive (industry standard) |
| Aftermarket Tires | Limited | Enormous (Pro-Line, JConcepts) |
| Indoor Use | Excellent | Too fast/large |
| Off-Road Capability | Light terrain | Full off-road capable |
The full-size Slash is the better primary truck for anyone with outdoor space and a driver aged 10 or older. The aftermarket ecosystem is incomparably deeper — hundreds of tire options, body shells, aluminum hop-ups, and race-legal parts. It handles real terrain with serious capability.
Choose the Mini Slash if: indoor driving is a priority, the driver is young, space is limited, or you want a travel/secondary truck without size overhead.
Choose the full-size Slash if: you have outdoor space, you want maximum speed, you plan to upgrade extensively, or you’re shopping for a driver ages 10 and up.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas Slash 4X4 Full-Size
Mini Slash vs. LaTrax Prerunner
Both live in the Traxxas ecosystem at compact scale, but they target meaningfully different buyers. The LaTrax Desert Prerunner (#76064-5, ~$129.95) is Traxxas’s budget sub-brand — a 1/18-scale 4WD desert truck with a simple brushed 370-class motor, a basic NiMH battery, and no brushless upgrade path. Build quality is lower than the full Traxxas lineup, but it includes Traxxas’s lifetime electronics warranty.
The Mini Slash at $289.95 represents a $160 premium over the LaTrax. That money buys you a brushless motor with the 3500mAh LiPo already installed, a physically larger truck (16” vs 12”), the beefier Mini Maxx platform, and genuine hobbyist credentials. The LaTrax is the right answer for very young children, casual users who want something inexpensive and fun, or gift situations where upgrade potential doesn’t matter.
Choose the Mini Slash if: you want better quality, plan to drive it regularly, or the driver is over 6 with real enthusiasm for the hobby.
Choose the LaTrax Prerunner if: budget is the primary constraint, the driver is very young, or it’s a casual purchase where raw performance is secondary.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas LaTrax Desert Prerunner
Best Traxxas Mini Slash Upgrades
2S LiPo Battery + Charger (~$20–$50)
If you own the original 1/16 Slash brushed, this is the single most impactful upgrade you can make. The stock 1200mAh NiMH gives you 8–15 minutes; a 2S 2200mAh LiPo extends that to 20–30 minutes and adds noticeably sharper throttle response. The Traxxas #2820X (7.4V, 2200mAh, 25C) is purpose-built for the compact battery tray but periodically backordered; budget alternatives from Zeee or Ovonic (~$15–$20) work with an XT60-to-Traxxas adapter. Maximum capacity in the original 1/16 tray is approximately 2200mAh. The Mini Slash 4X4 ships with a 3500mAh LiPo already, so the goal here is extra packs for longer sessions. Never use the old NiMH wall charger with a LiPo. See our best RC car battery chargers guide for the right balance charger.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas 2S LiPo Battery 2200mAh
Aluminum Shock Caps (~$10–$15 per pair)
Stock plastic shock caps pop off and eventually leak — it’s a near-universal complaint across the entire Traxxas 1/16 platform. Hot Racing’s CNC aluminum shock cap kits (~$10–$15 per 2-shock set) seal better and last indefinitely. This is the first hardware upgrade most experienced owners make, and it’s worth doing proactively rather than waiting for leaks to start.
Check Price on Amazon — Hot Racing Aluminum Shock Caps Traxxas 1/16
Upgraded Metal-Gear Servo (~$15–$35)
The stock servo gears strip under hard impacts. For the original 1/16 Slash, the Traxxas 2080R with metal gears (~$15) is a direct drop-in that eliminates the most common failure point on the platform. The Mini Slash ships with the stronger 2056 servo, but aftermarket metal-gear replacements are available for hard-use situations.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas 2080R Metal Gear Servo
Aftermarket Tires (~$16–$25 per set)
The stock SCT tires perform well on dirt and hard pack but lack grip on smooth indoor surfaces. The Traxxas OEM SCT tire and satin chrome wheel sets (#7073, ~$16–$19/pair) are the best direct-fit swap and cross-compatible with the LaTrax Prerunner. Note: Pro-Line does not currently manufacture SCT-specific tires for the 1/16 platform, so the aftermarket tire selection here is far more limited than for the full-size 1/10 Slash.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas 7073 SCT Tires Wheels 1/16
Spur Gear Replacement (~$5–$10)
On the original 1/16 Slash brushed platform, the 48-pitch spur gear wears with aggressive driving over time. Hardened plastic or metal replacement spur gears extend drivetrain life meaningfully and cost almost nothing. The Mini Slash 4X4’s 32-pitch gearing is substantially more robust, but keeping a spare spur gear in your pit bag is always smart.
Check Price on Amazon — Traxxas 1/16 Spur Gear Replacement
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Traxxas Mini Slash good for kids?
Yes — the Mini Slash 4X4 is excellent for kids ages 6 and up. The 4WD system provides more stability than a 2WD truck, and Traxxas’s Training Mode (50% power reduction) keeps speed manageable for young drivers learning the controls. For children under 6 or for ultra-budget situations, the LaTrax Prerunner at ~$129.95 is a better fit. For older kids and teens, the Mini Slash’s brushless performance and long-lasting LiPo make it a truck they genuinely won’t outgrow quickly.
Q: How fast is the Traxxas Mini Slash?
The new Mini Slash 4X4 (model #108164-1) hits 30+ mph on its included 7.4V 2S LiPo straight out of the box. The older 1/16 Slash brushed (model #70054-8) reaches approximately 20–28 mph depending on whether you’re running the stock NiMH or an upgraded 2S LiPo. At 1/16 scale, 30 mph creates a genuine sense of speed — everything is compressed and the ground rushes past fast.
Q: What battery does the Traxxas Mini Slash use?
The new Mini Slash 4X4 ships with a 7.4V 3500mAh 2S LiPo with Traxxas iD connector — included in the box at no extra cost. The older 1/16 Slash includes a 7.2V 1200mAh NiMH; the recommended upgrade is a 2S LiPo in the 2000–2200mAh range (maximum physical size for the original tray). See our charger guide for balance chargers that dramatically cut recharge times.
Q: Is the Traxxas Mini Slash 2WD or 4WD?
Both the new Mini Slash 4X4 and the original 1/16 Slash are 4WD trucks with shaft-driven all-wheel drive. Despite older listings and forum posts referring to “Mini Slash 2WD,” there is no current 2WD version of either truck in Traxxas’s lineup. 4WD provides significantly better traction and more predictable handling at speed, especially on loose or mixed surfaces.
Q: Is the Mini Slash worth it vs. the full-size Slash?
They fill genuinely different roles. The Mini Slash is the better choice for indoor driving, younger drivers, travel, or use as a secondary truck. The full-size Slash wins on speed (60+ mph), off-road capability, aftermarket depth, and overall performance for outdoor bashing. If you have outdoor space and the driver is 10 or older, the full-size Slash is usually the better long-term investment. If space or portability matters, the Mini Slash earns its place.
Conclusion
The Traxxas Mini Slash 4X4 is a well-built, surprisingly capable truck that brings real brushless performance to a compact, portable package. It’s not competing with the full-size Slash — it fills a different niche for different drivers and different situations: indoor use, younger drivers, travel, and grab-and-go convenience. Upgrade to the aluminum shock caps early, budget for a second or third battery pack, and you’ll have a truck that delivers genuine value for years.
If you’re eyeing the older 1/16 Slash brushed at $199.95, the LiPo battery upgrade transforms the experience — our best RC car battery chargers guide will help you choose the right charger to go with it. Ready to step up to full-size performance? Check out our Traxxas Stampede 4x4 vs 2WD guide or the Complete Beginner’s Guide for every top pick by category and skill level.
