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.

Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

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

WinnerStar EV J Model 4 Lifted

Star EV J Model 4 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 Star EV J Model 4 Lifted beats the Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) on the better price and power. They sit in different divisions (premium vs value), so weigh the price gap.
  • Range: the Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) goes up to 55 mi per charge vs the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted's 40 mi.
  • Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) lands about $15,509 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted about $15,001, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • Both the Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted are factory-certified LSVs, confirmed against the NHTSA vPIC registry.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

COMPARISON · CLUB-CAR-ONWARD-4-HP-LITHIUM-VS-STAR-EV-J-MODEL-4-LIFTED
LAST VERIFIED 09/26/2026
Club CarOnward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium)Star EVJ Model 4 LiftedWinner
MSRP range$14,299$13,820
Top speed25 mph†125 mph†2
Top speed as delivered—19.5 mph†2
Range (low)30 mi†130 mi†2
Range (high)55 mi✓†140 mi†2
Battery typelithium†1lithium†2
Battery capacity—105 Ah†2
System voltage—48 V†2
Seats4†14†2
Length108 in†1127 in†2
Width48.8 in†149 in†2
Height76 in†181 in†2
Curb weight954 lb†11,278 lb†2
Motor power3.5 kW†14 kW✓†2
Motor power (hp)4.7 hp†1—
BrakesFront hydraulic disc, self-adjusting rear drum; electronic park brake†1Front disc, rear mechanical drum with foot parking brake†2
SuspensionIndependent A-arm front with hydraulic shocks, track-bar rear†1McPherson coil spring front†2
Warranty—2 yr†2
Battery warranty (total term)6 yr†36.5 yr✓†4
Battery full-replacement coverage—3.5 yr†4
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†4
LSV certified (street-legal capable)Yes†1Yes†2
Ground clearance—6 in†2
Turning radius—16 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: clubcar.com · VERIFIED 07/14/2026†2 SOURCE: starev.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†3 SOURCE: storage.clubcar.com · VERIFIED 07/14/2026†4 SOURCE: cdn.prod.website-files.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026

◆ The verdict

Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

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

Save $479 vs the Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium)

Winner

Why it won

price$13,820 vs $14,299power4 kW vs 3.5 kWbattery warranty term6.5-yr vs 6-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 Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) lands at about $15,509 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted at about $15,001, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.

Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium)base build · FL out-the-door

Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium)MSRP (verified)$14,299.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$907.94
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$15,509

est. $248.62/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 Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) or the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted better?
Star EV J Model 4 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 Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) 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 Club Car Onward 4 Passenger LSV (HP Lithium) lands at about $15,509 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.