Vehicle Reviews

G.I. Joe enthusiasts beware: keep this dune buggy under wraps. Because while it's a terrific military vehicle, it's also versatile enough to fit in with plenty of other play scenarios. One could easily imagine Barbie hopping in for a trip to the beach or even an old Luke Skywalker figure taking it for a buzz around the sandy hills of Tatooine. It's tinted a neutral beige color with a black frame and fires four spring-loaded missiles (perhaps that would dissuade Barbie from stealing the keys) and rolls exceptionally well. It's big enough to fit larger G.I. Joe action figures (not included) or similarly sized figures who purloin it for a quick joy ride. --Charlie Williams

Train enthusiasts can expand their empire with this Great Railway Adventures Straight Track set. It contains four 2-inch-long track pieces--small connectors for those tight squeezes. With the addition of an easily available adapter piece, these plastic track pieces will be fully compatible with most wooden toy train tracks. Trains will glide right over them. The pieces snap together easily, so most kids should have an easy time building and rebuilding the track. --Rob Lightner