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.

EPIC Carts E40L vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

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

WinnerEPIC Carts E40L

EPIC Carts E40L takes it. It wins on the better price and power. The full side-by-side of verified specs is below — every figure carries a source and a verification date.

Key takeaways

  • The EPIC Carts E40L beats the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted on the better price and power.
  • Range: the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted goes up to 40 mi per charge vs the EPIC Carts E40L's 25 mi.
  • Vehicle warranty: the EPIC Carts E40L carries 3 years vs the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted's 2.
  • Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the EPIC Carts E40L lands about $14,127 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted about $15,001, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • Both the EPIC Carts E40L and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted are factory-certified LSVs, confirmed against the NHTSA vPIC registry.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

EPIC Carts E40L vs. Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

COMPARISON · EPIC-E40L-VS-STAR-EV-J-MODEL-4-LIFTED
LAST VERIFIED 09/26/2026
EPIC CartsE40LWinnerStar EVJ Model 4 Lifted
MSRP range$12,995 – $15,000$13,820
Top speed25 mph†125 mph†2
Top speed as delivered—19.5 mph†2
Range (low)25 mi†130 mi✓†2
Range (high)25 mi†140 mi✓†2
Battery typelithium†3lithium†2
Battery capacity105 Ah†3105 Ah†2
System voltage51 V†348 V†2
Seats4†14†2
Length130 in†1127 in†2
Width50 in†149 in†2
Height80.8 in†181 in†2
Curb weight1,540 lb†11,278 lb†2
Motor power5 kW✓†34 kW†2
BrakesFour-wheel disc, electromagnetic parking brake†3Front disc, rear mechanical drum with foot parking brake†2
SuspensionMacPherson-style adjustable coil-over front, solid-axle coil-over rear with stabilizer bar†3McPherson coil spring front†2
Warranty3 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 clearance6.7 in✓†16 in†2
Turning radius12 ft✓†116 ft†2
Range, normalized◆ computed~43 mi✓~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: epiccarts.com · VERIFIED 07/14/2026†2 SOURCE: starev.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†3 SOURCE: epiccarts.com · VERIFIED 07/14/2026†4 SOURCE: epiccarts.com · VERIFIED 07/14/2026†5 SOURCE: cdn.prod.website-files.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†6 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 07/15/2026

◆ The verdict

EPIC Carts E40L

It wins on the better price and power.

Save $825 vs the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

Winner

Why it won

price$12,995 vs $13,820power5 kW vs 4 kWwarranty3-yr vs 2-yrbattery 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 EPIC Carts E40L lands at about $14,127 and the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted at about $15,001, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.

EPIC Carts E40Lbase build · FL out-the-door

EPIC Carts E40LMSRP from (verified) — ranges to $15,000 by trim$12,995.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$829.70
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$14,127

est. $226.46/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 EPIC Carts E40L or the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted better?
EPIC Carts E40L takes it. It wins on the better price and power.
What do the E40L 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 EPIC Carts E40L lands at about $14,127 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.