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.

Star EV J Model 4 Lifted vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

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

WinnerTara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 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 Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 beats the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted on the better price and power.
  • Florida out-the-door (6% state sales tax + ~1% county surtax on the first $5,000, FLHSMV title + initial registration): the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted lands about $15,001 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 about $9,887, base build before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.
  • Both the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 are factory-certified LSVs, confirmed against the NHTSA vPIC registry.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

Star EV J Model 4 Lifted vs. Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

COMPARISON · STAR-EV-J-MODEL-4-LIFTED-VS-TARA-ROADSTER-2-2
LAST VERIFIED 09/26/2026
Star EVJ Model 4 LiftedTara Electric VehiclesRoadster 2+2Winner
MSRP range$13,820$8,995 – $9,695
Top speed25 mph†125 mph†2
Top speed as delivered19.5 mph†1—
Range (low)30 mi†140 mi✓†3
Range (high)40 mi†1—
Battery typelithium†1lithium†3
Battery capacity105 Ah†1160 Ah✓†3
System voltage48 V†148 V†3
Seats4†14†3
Length127 in†1117.9 in†3
Width49 in†155.5 in†3
Height81 in†180 in†3
Curb weight1,278 lb†1904 lb†3
Motor power4 kW†16.3 kW✓†3
BrakesFront disc, rear mechanical drum with foot parking brake†1Four-wheel hydraulic disc, electromagnetic parking brake†3
SuspensionMcPherson coil spring front†1Front double-wishbone independent; rear leaf spring†3
Display size—9 in†2
Warranty2 yr†1—
Battery warranty (total term)6.5 yr†4—
Battery full-replacement coverage3.5 yr†4—
Battery warranty terms6.5 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†5
Charge time—4 hr†3
Ground clearance6 in†17.1 in✓†3
Turning radius16 ft✓†116.4 ft†3
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: starev.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†2 SOURCE: discoverygolfcars.com · VERIFIED 07/18/2026†3 SOURCE: taraelectricvehicles.com · VERIFIED 07/18/2026†4 SOURCE: cdn.prod.website-files.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†5 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 07/18/2026

◆ The verdict

Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2

It wins on the better price and power.

Save $4,825 vs the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted

Winner

Why it won

price$8,995 vs $13,820power6.3 kW vs 4 kW

◆ 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 Star EV J Model 4 Lifted lands at about $15,001 and the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 at about $9,887, base build, before kits and dealer-quoted delivery.

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.

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 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 Star EV J Model 4 Lifted or the Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 better?
Tara Electric Vehicles Roadster 2+2 takes it. It wins on the better price and power.
What do the J Model 4 Lifted 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 Star EV J Model 4 Lifted lands at about $15,001 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.