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. Venom EV Strike 2

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad · Independent, no paid placement · Last verified Aug 1, 2026

WinnerVenom EV Strike 2

Venom EV Strike 2 takes it. It holds the stronger overall balance of range, value, power, and warranty. 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. The full side-by-side of verified specs is below — every figure carries a source and a verification date.

Key takeaways

  • The Venom EV Strike 2 beats the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus on the stronger overall balance of range, value, power, and warranty.
  • 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 Venom EV Strike 2 about $13,597, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • The Venom EV Strike 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. Venom EV Strike 2

COMPARISON · EVOLUTION-D5-RANGER-4-PLUS-VS-VENOM-STRIKE-2
LAST VERIFIED 08/01/2026
Evolution Electric VehiclesD5 Ranger 4 PlusVenom EVStrike 2Winner
MSRP range$9,595$12,495
Top speed19 mph125 mph2
Battery typelithium1lithium2
Battery capacity105 Ah1105 Ah2
System voltage48 V152 V2
Seats4122
Length114.6 in198 in2
Width55.8 in151 in2
Height79.5 in176.5 in2
Curb weight1,058 lb1960 lb2
Motor power6.3 kW15 kW2
BrakesElectromagnetic (EM) brake; braking distance ≤9.8 ft1Hydraulic 4-wheel disc2
SuspensionDouble-wishbone independent front, leaf-spring rear1Front dual-camber independent MacPherson, rear independent dual coil-over with stability bar2
Display size9 in110 in2
Battery warranty8 yr18 yr2
LSV certified (street-legal capable)No1Yes3
Ground clearance6.8 in16.3 in2
Turning radius14.8 ft1
Range, normalized◆ computed~40 mi~44 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: venom-ev.com · VERIFIED 08/01/20263 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 08/01/2026

◆ The verdict

Venom EV Strike 2

It holds the stronger overall balance of range, value, power, and warranty. 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.

Winner

◆ 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 Venom EV Strike 2 at about $13,597, 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.

Venom EV Strike 2base build · FL out-the-door

Venom EV Strike 2MSRP (verified)$12,495.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$799.70
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$13,597

est. $217.96/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 08/2026

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 Venom EV Strike 2 better?
Venom EV Strike 2 takes it. It holds the stronger overall balance of range, value, power, and warranty. 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.
What do the D5 Ranger 4 Plus and Strike 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 Venom EV Strike 2 at about $13,597, 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 Strike 2 street legal?
The Venom EV Strike 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.