Summary
Highlights
A 4+ set, the LEGO City Motorcycle Transporter, is designed with large, chunky pieces and simple instructions. It includes two minifigures in racing outfits with spare helmets. The transporter carries two identical bikes with 'Sharks Racing' printed details; a ladder element helps lower them. The sturdy truck, though not visually complex for adults, provides a great toy for its target audience, with space for bikes and helmet hooks. Its top can be removed for the driver. Due to its large pieces, its brick value doesn't compare to regular sets, but its play value for kids is high.
The LEGO City EV Supercar is so well-designed it almost feels like a Speed Champions set. It comes with a minifigure in a blazer. The car's sleek design utilizes new slopes and cutout tiles for headlights, employing 'studs not on top' techniques for a surprisingly good, yet not overly complex build. A removable windscreen allows access to the minifigure, and lifting a section behind it reveals a play-friendly battery. Despite a split black and red color scheme, the car looks excellent and offers good value for its piece count and price, highlighting the impact of printed details.
The LEGO City Yellow Taxi offers more playability than expected. It includes a cab driver and a passenger minifigure with a suitcase. The taxi design, mostly yellow, shares front-end similarities with the EV Supercar. It's a longer design to fit both minifigures, accessible by removing the roof. The interior features a printed GPS screen. Crucially, all decorations like the 'Welcome to Bricksburg' slope and 'Taxi' tiles are printed, not stickers. The trunk opens to store luggage, and the front opens to reveal a double battery, adding multiple play features. Despite a slightly less clean back design, it's considered a very good playset for its price, two minifigures, and six printed tiles.
The Go-Kart Racer is this year's City polybag, a cool, snack-sized build. It includes a driver minifigure with a leopard branding and a Go-Kart in white, lime green, and black, matching larger sets. The build is simple, featuring printed details like engine accents and the kart's number, which is good value for an affordable set.
The LEGO City Hot Rod is a colorful racing car with unexpected value. It features a stylish driver minifigure and a car with cool purple and lime green colors, reminiscent of Evangelion. The engine has flame details, and the slanted roof opens to reveal a basic interior. Impressively, it uses printed pieces for details like the front grille and side flames, a rare and valuable feature for a small, affordable set.
The LEGO City Fries Food Truck, part of a favorite sub-theme, features two minifigures: a construction worker and the food truck owner. The truck has a clean black and white design with new curved bricks for headlights. The engine is accessible for play. It features printed checkered patterns on the sides and a cabin that fits two minifigures side-by-side using a new offset stud element. The food stall can be detached and used independently, featuring an upsized fries sign, a large window, and a sliding window for service. It has a minimalist interior with a deep fryer and ketchup. This is a very important and affordable playset for kids' imaginative scenarios.
The LEGO City Tractor is a massive model, dominated by its huge tires. It includes a farmer minifigure and striking teal highlights that are sparingly used but visually effective. The engine compartment opens for repairs, and connection points hint at possible attachments. Panel elements form steps to the cabin, which has a large windscreen and paddle elements for rearview mirrors. While focused on vehicle design over diverse play scenarios, it remains an impressive vehicle, particularly appealing for its large wheels.
This video provides an early review of 18 new LEGO City products for 2026, kindly sent by LEGO. The reviewer will cover a wide range of sets, from the smallest Go-Kart Racer to the largest Airport with Airplane and Coast Guard Rescue Boat and Helicopter. Timestamps are provided for viewers to skip to specific sets.
The LEGO City Police Prisoner Transport Van offers exceptional play value for its price. It comes with three minifigures: a police officer with detailed vest, a prisoner in orange overalls, and a mysterious character matching a 'wanted' poster. Handcuffs are included. The beefy van, matching other police vehicles in color, features a bullbar, headlights, and curved printed elements. Interesting 'studs not on top' techniques are used on the sides. The reinforced back door is designed to be 'busted open' by an accompanying dark red motorcycle, demonstrating impressive durability for active play. This set provides significant play value.
The LEGO City Snowplow is more impressive than it appears. It includes a minifigure whose outfit matches other utility vehicles in the wave, featuring a white and green color scheme with red and white checkered patterns. Tools like a broom and shovel can be stored on the truck's sides. The plow blade is articulated, moving side-to-side and up-and-down. The tilting cabin reveals a tiny engine detail. Fuel tanks are cleverly represented by black chest minifigure elements. The back features a salt deposit with printed snow logos and warning stripes. Its most incredible feature is a 'simple complexity' mechanism: a wheel rubbing against the vehicle's wheel activates a salt dispenser, showcasing ingenious engineering without complex Technic parts. This niche but well-designed vehicle is a favorite for its innovative function and reasonable price.
The LEGO Van is a smaller, more affordable version of the LEGO City Delivery Truck, sharing a similar concept. It includes two courier minifigures with unique outfits. The van has a good design, suitable for a LEGO City neighborhood. Notable features include printed 2x2 LEGO logo tiles and 6x8 brick pattern tiles for the cargo hold, matching the larger truck. The cabin top opens, the hood reveals an engine, and back and side doors provide access to the cargo area, which contains a wrench, hand truck, and a pallet of LEGO sets. This design allows for interaction with the truck set's forklift. It also references previous LEGO City sets, making it a great base for a custom LEGO Store. Despite its $30 price point, the decorated elements justify the cost, and it wins the reviewer's affection for its brand love and accessibility.
The LEGO City Jet vs. Car set pits two vehicles against each other. It includes the Leopard racing team driver (from the Go-Kart polybag) and the Angry Owl Racing Pilot, with color-matched vehicles. The car has supercar vibes with a streamlined design, lime green rim accents, and 'studs not on top' techniques. Its size is almost identical to the EV Supercar, making it suitable for racing scenarios. The jet, in magenta and teal, features printed Owl Racing team logos on the tail fins and 1x4 tiles. Its shape is simple and effective, with multiple wings and a cone-like front. The pilot seat has basic controls, and a hidden function allows jet flames to pop out when a wall element is pushed. While the reviewer isn't the target audience, the two cool vehicles make it a solid playset for kids, despite the $30 price feeling a bit high for its piece count.
The LEGO City Recycling Truck comes with a driver and a worker in specific recycling outfits, similar to other utility vehicle crews. It includes a shovel and broom for storage and two recycling bins with printed lids (paper for blue, glass for yellow). The main feature is a sorting mechanism: two printed slopes indicate paper and glass, and a small sorter allows separate storage of two different recycling types. Dumpsters are loaded by pushing a lever. The lids have loose connections for easy offloading. To empty the truck, two distinct hatches at the back prevent mixing, and the container lifts. Lifting it reveals the truck's battery, and the low-height cab is fixed. 'Studs not on top' techniques create a good front design, with giant printed recycling logos on the sides. Ladders allow minifigures to inspect operations. This set is a favorite for its simple yet awesome functions and good value, with 434 pieces for $40 and prints over stickers.
The new LEGO City Cement Mixer, released 13 years after its predecessor, is a must-have for construction sites and pairs well with existing sets due to consistent branding and color. It includes three minifigures: an engineer overseeing a Central Train Station (a cool reference) and two construction workers with appropriate gear, barriers, and tools. Their tools can clip onto the truck. The cab is bright orange with prints, fits two minifigures, and tilts to reveal an engine (not battery-powered). Four sets of wheels provide stability. The mixer uses two new dark grey elements and operates by cranking a gear, though it can be uncomfortable for adult fingers. Lowering a ramp causes the 'cement' to pour out, a cool gimmick. While it has play components and minifigures, its function isn't as 'crazy' as other utility vehicles, and at $40 for 371 pieces, it offers less value due to new pieces and small 1x1 cement bricks.
The LEGO City Coast Guard Helicopter is part of the revived Coast Guard theme. It features a woman in distress and three coast guard minifigures (two with matching outfits, one pilot with a distinct torso print). The mission involves rescuing the lady from a folding rescue capsule with an interior radio and flashlight, complicated by a shark. The helicopter is a sizable build in white and red-orange with black and neon yellow details. It has printed logos on the vertical stabilizer and side tiles, with car mudguard elements for frontal headlights. The main propellers, however, do not spin smoothly. A winch mechanism, activated by pressing an orange light, allows for raising and lowering crew. The back has an opening door for a floatation ring, while sliding side doors provide better access to the interior. The cockpit lifts to reveal controls, binoculars, and a first aid kit. The reviewer has nostalgia for this design, praising its impressive appearance, play elements, and free-spinning front wheel. Despite issues with the blades and a high $65 price for 550 pieces (the worst price-per-piece ratio), it's considered a great set.
The LEGO City Airport Fire Engine, intended for use with the airport set, comes with four minifigures: a captain and three firefighters with new dual-molded helmets. The captain's tablet is the first sticker encountered in the review, a testament to LEGO City's increased use of prints. The firetruck itself is impressive with many play features. The cockpit opens, seating all four minifigures, and has two stickers for details. A top knob steers the truck, though its turning angle is limited. The water turret rotates 360 degrees. Storage compartments with printed tiles, though useful, primarily hold shooter pieces instead of more equipment. A fire hose shoots transparent round plates. Blue water deposits add color, and fence-like elements conceal a massive engine that is easily removable, indicating an intended play feature. The set reinvents firefighting within the airport sub-theme. Despite narrow steering and odd shooter elements, it's a cool set at $70 for 700 pieces, offering good value.
The LEGO City Vehicles Remix set is a modular combo deal featuring an Airplane, Service Truck, and Hovercraft, allowing for wacky combinations. It includes three minifigures with extra hair pieces. The Service Truck, a heavy-duty vehicle with raised cab and all-terrain tires, is a favorite. It fits one minifigure and has an electricity logo, suggesting its crane with a bucket is for electrical wiring services, requiring outriggers for stability. The Hovercraft boasts clean shapes and features the recolored red-orange windscreen from the helicopter, cool angles, and sideways building techniques, though it lacks wheels for smooth play. The emergency plane, in neon yellow, has propellers and wheels (not free-spinning in the front). Its cockpit and cargo space are limited due to core connectors for the remix system, consistent across all three vehicles. The modules are sturdy for repeated remixing. While visually odd to adults, kids will love recombining them. The vehicles' individual looks are not compromised. At 1000 pieces for $70, it offers the best value per piece in the entire wave.
The LEGO City Coast Guard Rescue Boat is the largest set of the January wave, featuring a massive hull piece that floats. It includes five minifigures: a man in distress and four Coast Guard members (captain, two crew, and the helicopter pilot from the larger set), plus a dog mascot. A sand green civilian boat with fire needs rescuing. The Coast Guard has its own smaller boat (similar to the civilian boat but with a searchlight, different engine, and flippers) and a small helicopter (good-looking, open cabin, stickers for logos, free-spinning propeller). The Rescue Boat is large enough to carry both, with the helicopter on a helipad and the boat on a tilting platform. Both locations have screen stickers, and the boat includes new floating ring pieces. Color coding is consistent. It has walkable space, stairs to the lower deck and control room, and removable sections for interior access. The lower deck has two bunk beds (with sticker photos/notes), a kitchen area with a coffee machine and dog bowl, tools, and a stretcher with vitals tracking essentials. The heavy-duty door keeps water out. The set’s ability to float is confirmed. These 'ultimate base of operation' sets are impressive for their role-play potential, offering multiple approaches to rescue scenarios. The $100 price for 742 pieces is justified by the giant hull and its floating capability, making it comparable to IP-licensed sets in cost.
A packing error (missing roof piece, extra support piece) occurred with the review copy of the LEGO City Airport with Airplane set, but was easily fixed. It includes nine minifigures: a pilot, stewardess, and ground staff (luggage handler, security, air traffic controller, barista), plus three civilian minifigures with suitcases, passport, boarding passes (all printed 1x2 tiles), and a new printed sunflower lanyard for inclusivity. The luggage car is minimal but functional, with marshalling lights. The airplane has a private plane vibe with side engines, a black and white scheme, and a movable door/steps. It has a free-spinning front wheel (a favorite feature) and big, chunky pieces for clean shapes, with a printed airline logo. The top pieces are removable to access the bare pilots cabin, passenger cabin, and luggage space. The airport building itself is built with many large elements, resulting in a vast construction. While some items are scattered, and solar panels add texture, it lacks explicit 'airport' signage. The entrance has a sliding door. Inside, there's a luggage control with a boarding pass scanner and a neat X-ray machine (showing keys in a pocket print). A baggage claim room with an arrivals board referencing Billund, Paradisa, and other locations features a turning baggage carousel that can be loaded from outside. Above is the barista's workstation with a menu, newspaper, and LEGO box. The connection corridor has a departures board and a boarding gate which allows choosing from four destinations. A 'Welcome to Bricksburg' sign references the Taxi set. The Passenger Boarding Bridge can be lowered or lifted. The air traffic control tower has space for the flight controller. Overall, it's a great playset, without being overly engineered, emphasizing play features and details for a complete airport experience. The 900 pieces for $100 price is reasonable given the large pieces, though the Remix set offers more pieces for less money.
All featured LEGO City products will be available starting January 1st. Viewers are encouraged to use provided links for purchases to support the channel.