The Golf Cart Showdown

STREET-LEGAL CART SHOWDOWN · SLCS · TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA · How we make money — dealers pay for introductions; no brand pays for rank.

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad · Independent, no paid placement · Last verified Sep 26, 2026

WinnerActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted takes it. It wins on the better price and power. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. value), so weigh the price gap accordingly. The full side-by-side of verified specs is below — every figure carries a source and a verification date.

Key takeaways

  • The ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted beats the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted on the better price and power. They sit in different divisions (premium vs value), so weigh the price gap.
  • Range: the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted goes up to 40 mi per charge vs the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted's 35 mi.
  • Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted lands about $14,445 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted about $15,001, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • Both the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted are factory-certified LSVs, confirmed against the NHTSA vPIC registry.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

COMPARISON · ACTIVEV-PULSE-6-LIFTED-VS-STAR-EV-J-MODEL-4-LIFTED
LAST VERIFIED 09/26/2026
ActivEVPulse 6 Seater LiftedWinnerStar EVJ Model 4 Lifted
MSRP range$13,295$13,820
Top speed25 mph†125 mph†2
Top speed as delivered—19.5 mph†2
Range (low)30 mi†330 mi†2
Range (high)35 mi†140 mi✓†2
Battery typelithium†1lithium†2
Battery capacity—105 Ah†2
System voltage—48 V†2
Seats6✓†14†2
Length144 in†1127 in†2
Width48 in†149 in†2
Height79.2 in†181 in†2
Curb weight—1,278 lb†2
Motor power5 kW✓†14 kW†2
BrakesFour-wheel hydraulic†1Front disc, rear mechanical drum with foot parking brake†2
SuspensionFront independent; rear coil spring hydraulic shock†1McPherson coil spring front†2
Display size10.1 in†1—
Warranty2 yr†42 yr†2
Battery warranty (total term)8 yr✓†46.5 yr†5
Battery full-replacement coverage—3.5 yr†5
Battery warranty terms—6.5 years: free replacement through month 42, then a new pack at 50%, 60% and 70% of retail to month 78†5
LSV certified (street-legal capable)Yes†6Yes†2
Ground clearance10.3 in✓†16 in†2
Turning radius21 ft†116 ft✓†2
Range, normalized◆ computed—~40 mi

◆ Range, normalized is our figure, not the maker's: each pack's energy at a standard 0.125 kWh/mile, the same on every cart — an apples-to-apples check on the “up to” range claims above, which are usually measured at 19 mph on the largest optional pack.

†1 SOURCE: activegolfcarts.com · VERIFIED 07/30/2026†2 SOURCE: starev.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†3 SOURCE: bintelligolfcarts.com · VERIFIED 09/25/2026†4 SOURCE: activegolfcarts.com · VERIFIED 09/25/2026†5 SOURCE: cdn.prod.website-files.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†6 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 07/30/2026

◆ The verdict

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted

It wins on the better price and power. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. value), so weigh the price gap accordingly.

Save $525 vs the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

Winner

Why it won

price$13,295 vs $13,820power5 kW vs 4 kWbattery warranty term8-yr vs 6.5-yr

◆ Price the fight — Florida out-the-door

Florida out-the-door estimates (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted lands at about $14,445 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted at about $15,001, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Liftedbase build · FL out-the-door

ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater LiftedMSRP (verified)$13,295.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$847.70
Title + initial registration (est.)FLHSMV: $77.25 new title + $225 one-time initial registration$302.25
DeliveryQuoted by the dealer — we never guess this number—
Out-the-door estimate$14,445

est. $231.56/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.

Star EV J Model 4 Liftedbase build · FL out-the-door

Star EV J Model 4 LiftedMSRP (verified)$13,820.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$879.20
Title + initial registration (est.)FLHSMV: $77.25 new title + $225 one-time initial registration$302.25
DeliveryQuoted by the dealer — we never guess this number—
Out-the-door estimate$15,001

est. $240.48/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.

METHODOLOGY — what's verified, what's estimated
Cart MSRP and kit prices are sourced and dated (see each model page's receipts). Tax = 6% FL state + 1% county surtax on the first $5,000 (Fla. Stat. §212.05 / §212.054 — surtax varies by county). Fees = $77.25 FLHSMV new title + $225 one-time initial registration. Plate/annual registration vary by weight and county and are small. Delivery is quoted by the dealer — we never guess it. Your firm number comes from the named dealers in the quote step.
Compared & SourcedVERIFIED 09/2026

Green ✓ marks the better verified figure where the two differ. Verdict scored on the verified specs above — factory-LSV status gates the win.

Rather skip the configurator? Get a dealer quote on either cart:

Frequently asked

Is the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted or the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted better?
ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted takes it. It wins on the better price and power. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. value), so weigh the price gap accordingly.
What do the Pulse 6 Seater Lifted and J Model 4 Lifted cost out the door in Florida?
Florida out-the-door estimates (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the ActivEV Pulse 6 Seater Lifted lands at about $14,445 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted at about $15,001, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery. MSRPs are verified and sourced; taxes and fees are labeled estimates with the method disclosed. Configure both carts with kits at golfcartshowdown.com/build/compare.