Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2
By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad · Independent, no paid placement · Last verified Oct 3, 2026
Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 takes it. It wins on the better price and power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation. The full side-by-side of verified specs is below — every figure carries a source and a verification date.
Key takeaways
- The Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 beats the Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV on the better price and power.
- Range: the Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV goes up to 80 mi per charge vs the Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2's 40 mi.
- Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV lands about $13,601 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 about $10,947, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
- The Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 is a factory-certified LSV (NHTSA vPIC–verified); the Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.
Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition
Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2
LAST VERIFIED 10/03/2026
| Backyard Escapism4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV | Tara Electric VehiclesExplorer 2+2Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP range | $12,499 | $9,995 |
| Top speed | 25 mph†1 | 25 mph†2 |
| Top speed as delivered | — | 19 mph†2 |
| Range (low) | 40 mi†1 | 40 mi†2 |
| Range (high) | 80 mi†1 | — |
| Battery type | lithium†1 | lithium†2 |
| Battery capacity | 105 Ah†1 | 160 Ah✓†2 |
| System voltage | 48 V†1 | 48 V†2 |
| Seats | 4†1 | 4†2 |
| Length | 129 in†1 | 120.5 in†2 |
| Width | 48 in†1 | 55.5 in†2 |
| Height | 83 in†1 | 83 in†2 |
| Curb weight | 1,250 lb†1 | 1,014 lb†2 |
| Motor power | 5 kW†1 | 6.3 kW✓†2 |
| Brakes | Four wheel hydraulic disc brakes†1 | Four-wheel Hydraulic Disc Brake†2 |
| Suspension | Front Macpherson independent and rear plate spring + vibration absorber†1 | Front: double wishbone independent; Rear: leaf spring†2 |
| Display size | 10.1 in✓†1 | 9 in†3 |
| Warranty | 2 yr†1 | — |
| Battery warranty (total term) | 8 yr†1 | — |
| LSV certified (street-legal capable) | No†1 | Yes†4 |
| Charge time | — | 4 hr†2 |
| Ground clearance | 6.7 in†1 | 7.9 in✓†2 |
| Range, normalized◆ computed | ~40 mi | ~61 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.
◆ The verdict
It wins on the better price and power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.
Save $2,504 vs the Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV
Why it won
◆ 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 Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV lands at about $13,601 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 at about $10,947, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSVbase build · FL out-the-door
est. $218.03/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.
Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2base build · FL out-the-door
est. $175.48/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.
METHODOLOGY — what's verified, what's estimated
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 Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV or the Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 better?
- Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 takes it. It wins on the better price and power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.
- What do the 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV and Explorer 2+2 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 Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV lands at about $13,601 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 at about $10,947, 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.
- Are both the 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV and the Explorer 2+2 street legal?
- The Tara Electric Vehicles Explorer 2+2 is a factory-certified LSV (verified against the NHTSA registry). The Backyard Escapism 4 Forward Facing Street Legal LSV is not a factory LSV — it's street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation, so confirm before you buy.