Mario Kart Toad P-Wing Glider Review (2024)

Background

The P-Wing was introduced as a special item in Super Mario Bros. 3 that granted Mario or Luigi a Raccoon form with unlimited flight ability for that level (the character could upgrade to a Tanooki suit if they had the P-Wing entering a level that had the suit available). The P-Wing kart was introduced in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the spiritual successor to the Wild Wing.

Packaging

As a glider, this kart has a larger card and blister than a regular kart, measuring 5½" (14cm) wide and 6½" (16.5cm) tall. The character portrait has been moved up to the top right corner next to the hook cutout, and the character's name and vehicle are in a gold band under a rust colored banner featuring a checkerboard, Hot Wheels logo, and Mario Kart logo. Behind the blister is an image of an empty track and surrounding landscape. Unlike the smaller karts, this has a two-piece plastic blister: an inner one that acts as a tray to hold the kart, and an outer one to protect it. The back of the card has co-sells for the other gliders: Bowser, Toad, Luigi, Mario, Wario, Yoshi, and Lakitu. Under the co-sells is a single panel instruction that the glider can be detached and a warning that this kart is not to be used with other Hot Wheels sets, plus a massive block of legal information.

Casting/Paint

The P-Wing Glider has a plastic body, necessary to capture the complex shape of the P-Wing. It does this very well, with sharp details and nice crisp panel lines done in a clean bright white plastic. The glider arm and body are a hair darker and warmer, likely cast from a different material to better resist breaking or sagging over time. There is a faint pebbled texture to the top of the glider to suggest a fabric covering. A short windshield is cast in transparent dark purple and detailed with a painted black frame. The kart's base and glider mount are diecast, painted gunmetal and bright red, respectively. The same bright red is applied to the hood and lower sides in sweeps. The wheels are black and silver variants of the Cyber Slicks we last saw on Dry Bones' kart. The side coves are printed with a carbon fiber pattern in the same gunmetal gray as the base. Full-color headlights and taillights are printed items, as are the dark silver "P" badges just behind the side coves. The engine is dark silver with chrome exhaust ports detailed with black, silver, and gold printing. There's even a tiny third brake light printed below the exhaust ports. The top side of the glider has red stripes down the center of the fuselage and the outer and trailing edges of the control surfaces, and silver has been used to pick out the center rib and hardware. Toad's logo is printed on the hood of the kart and near the tip of each wing. Paint and print are excellent overall, with the only trouble spot being a bit of red bleeding through the silver on the engine.

Toad is the same figure we saw with the Standard Kart, right down to the disturbing fleshy pink steering wheel and column. It looks no better here than it did there, though the rest of the figure is nicely painted.

Features/Accessories

The glider fits into the rear of the kart with a simple friction joint with nubs to secure it. it's easy enough to remove, but the socket just kind of sticks up out of the back of the vehicle. Though not documented, the glider can be removed from the strut, leaving you with a clean but hollow-bottomed glider body.

Accuracy

This is one of the more accurate karts, thanks to its full body not requiring any concessions to be track-ready. The only difference between it and the game model is the rear deck, modified to include the socket for the glider.

Overall

I'm going to have a whole army of kart-driving Toads pretty soon, but as long as they keep making them this good I won't be complaining.

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