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.

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad · Independent, no paid placement · Last verified Jul 18, 2026

WinnerTara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 takes it. It wins on the better price. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation. 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 Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 beats the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus on the better price. They sit in different divisions (premium vs value), so weigh the price gap.
  • Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus lands about $10,523 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 about $9,887, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • The Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 is a factory-certified LSV (NHTSA vPIC–verified); the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

COMPARISON · EVOLUTION-D5-RANGER-4-PLUS-VS-TARA-ROADSTER-2-2
LAST VERIFIED 07/18/2026
Evolution Electric VehiclesD5 Ranger 4 PlusTara Electric VehiclesRoadster 2+2Winner
MSRP range$9,595$8,995 – $9,695
Top speed19 mph125 mph2
Range (low)40 mi3
Battery typelithium1lithium3
Battery capacity105 Ah1160 Ah3
System voltage48 V148 V3
Seats4143
Length114.6 in1117.9 in3
Width55.8 in1
Height79.5 in180 in3
Curb weight1,058 lb1
Motor power6.3 kW16.3 kW3
BrakesElectromagnetic (EM) brake; braking distance ≤9.8 ft1Four-wheel hydraulic disc, electromagnetic parking brake3
SuspensionDouble-wishbone independent front, leaf-spring rear1Front double-wishbone independent; rear leaf spring3
Display size9 in19 in2
Battery warranty8 yr1
LSV certified (street-legal capable)No1Yes4
Charge time4 hr3
Ground clearance6.8 in17.1 in3
Turning radius14.8 ft1
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.

1 SOURCE: evolutionelectricvehicle.com · VERIFIED 07/14/20262 SOURCE: discoverygolfcars.com · VERIFIED 07/18/20263 SOURCE: taraelectricvehicles.com · VERIFIED 07/18/20264 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 07/18/2026

◆ The verdict

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

It wins on the better price. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. value), so weigh the price gap accordingly.

Save $600 vs the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus

Winner

Why it won

price$8,995 vs $9,595

◆ 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 Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus lands at about $10,523 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 at about $9,887, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plusbase build · FL out-the-door

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 PlusMSRP (verified)$9,595.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$625.70
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$10,523

est. $168.69/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2base build · FL out-the-door

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2MSRP from (verified) — ranges to $9,695 by trim$8,995.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$589.70
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$9,887

est. $158.49/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 07/2026

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 Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus or the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 better?
Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 takes it. It wins on the better price. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. value), so weigh the price gap accordingly.
What do the D5 Ranger 4 Plus and Roadster 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 Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus lands at about $10,523 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 at about $9,887, 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 D5 Ranger 4 Plus and the Roadster 2+2 street legal?
The Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 is a factory-certified LSV (verified against the NHTSA registry). The Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus is not a factory LSV — it's street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation, so confirm before you buy.