In Mario Kart World, unlike Mario Kart 8, you can’t mix and match kart parts to create your ideal build.
What you see is what you get, and that makes choosing the right starting vehicle super important—especially when you’re first getting a feel for the tracks and mechanics.
With eleven starting vehicles to choose from, some are built for balance, while others are better suited for experienced players who want raw Speed above all else.
Below is a full ranking of the best starting karts in Mario Kart World, based on their stats—with a bias toward high Speed, which tends to matter most once you’re comfortable with the game.
11. Funky Dorrie
Speed: Medium to High
Acceleration: Medium to High
Weight: Medium to High
Handling: Low
Funky Dorrie is stylish and unique (it’s literally a Dorrie on wheels!), but it has the worst stat combo across all character types.
It’s fast and packs a punch, but that awful Handling stat makes it a nightmare to drive—especially for beginners.
10. Standard Kart & Plushbuggy
Speed: Medium to High
Acceleration: Medium
Weight: Medium
Handling: Medium
The Standard Kart and its cute cousin the Plushbuggy offer a good baseline for racing. They’re well-balanced across the board but lack the performance spike that makes them stand out.
Also, Light and Extra Light characters struggle with this one due to the Speed loss from their weight class.
9. Baby Blooper
Speed: Medium
Acceleration: Medium to High
Weight: Low to Medium
Handling: Medium
Baby Blooper offers a little more finesse than the Standard Kart. It trades off a tiny bit of Speed for better Handling and Acceleration—great for tight tracks or learning how to recover quickly after hits. Not the fastest, but very forgiving.
8. Standard Bike & Cute Scoot
Speed: Low to Medium
Acceleration: High
Weight: Low
Handling: High
These are the more nimble options, perfect for newer players or those who prefer finesse over force. They’re super light and easy to handle, but you’ll really start to feel the lack of Speed as you push into harder cups. If you’re set on using a bike, these are solid—but others outpace them quickly.
7. Rally Bike
Speed: Medium to High
Acceleration: Medium to High
Weight: Medium
Handling: Medium
A fantastic all-around choice, especially if you’re trying to split the difference between Acceleration and Speed. It performs consistently well across all weight classes and is easy to get comfortable with. It’s only beaten by karts that go harder on raw Speed.
6. Rally Kart & Zoom Buggy
Speed: High
Acceleration: Medium to High
Weight: Medium
Handling: Medium
These two are built for players who can handle the pace. They’re faster than most, a little heavier than the Standard Kart, and offer just enough Acceleration to recover from small mistakes. If you’re not worried about slightly reduced Handling, they’re worth mastering.
5. Mach Rocket
Speed: High
Acceleration: Medium to High
Weight: Medium
Handling: Medium
This bike is one of the speediest starter options. It’s just a touch faster than the Rally Bike, but sacrifices a bit of Acceleration to get there. Great for players who can stay clean during races—if you’re not crashing much, the Mach Rocket shines.
Quick Rankings Recap:
Best for Beginners: Baby Blooper, Standard Bike
Best for Handling: Cute Scoot, Standard Bike
Best for Speed: Mach Rocket, Rally Kart
Best Overall Starter Pick: Mach Rocket
Play Mario Kart World on Nintendo.
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