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.

GEM e4 vs. Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)

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

WinnerGEM e4

GEM e4 takes it. It wins on the better range and power. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. luxury), 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 GEM e4 beats the Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2) on the better range and power. They sit in different divisions (premium vs luxury), so weigh the price gap.
  • Range: the GEM e4 goes up to 117 mi per charge vs the Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)'s 40 mi.
  • Vehicle warranty: the Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2) carries 5 years vs the GEM e4's 4.
  • Both the GEM e4 and the Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2) are factory-certified LSVs, confirmed against the NHTSA vPIC registry.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

GEM e4 vs. Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)

COMPARISON · GEM-E4-VS-TOMBERLIN-E-MERGE-SHADOWHAWK
LAST VERIFIED 08/31/2026
GEMe4WinnerTomberlinE-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)
MSRP range$25,699
Top speed25 mph1
Range (high)117 mi140 mi2
Battery typelithium1lead-acid2
System voltage48 V2
Seats4162
Length135 in1
Width55.5 in1
Height73 in1
Curb weight1,135 lb1
Motor power6.5 kW15 kW2
Motor power (hp)8.7 hp117 hp2
Display size7 in2
Warranty4 yr15 yr2
Battery warranty7 yr1
LSV certified (street-legal capable)Yes3Yes2
Ground clearance8 in1
Turning radius14.4 ft1
1 SOURCE: gemcar.com · VERIFIED 08/03/20262 SOURCE: tomberlinusa.com · VERIFIED 08/31/20263 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 08/03/2026

◆ The verdict

GEM e4

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

Winner

Why it won

range117 mi vs 40 mipower6.5 kW vs 5 kW

◆ Price the fight — Florida out-the-door

GEM e4base build · FL out-the-door

No sourced base price for the GEM e4— we don't estimate what the maker doesn't publish, so this side has no ledger.

Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)base build · FL out-the-door

Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2)MSRP (verified)$25,699.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$1,591.94
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$27,593

est. $442.33/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 GEM e4 or the Tomberlin E-Merge Shadowhawk (E4+2) better?
GEM e4 takes it. It wins on the better range and power. These sit in different divisions (premium vs. luxury), so weigh the price gap accordingly.