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

The Star EV J Model 4 Lifted raises the four-passenger J Model on 23x10-14 tires with 6 inches of ground clearance, and steps down to a 4 kW HSLT AC motor and 350A controller (the standard J Model 4 runs 5 kW). It keeps the Marxon 48V 105Ah lithium pack and front disc / rear drum brakes, with a 30-mile full-load and 40-mile no-load range. It ships at 19.5 mph; 25 mph is its LSV configuration. Warranty matches the J Model 4: 2-year bumper-to-bumper, 4-year frame, and a 6.5-year lithium battery warranty. Star EV publishes no factory MSRP; its dealer feed lists $13,820 (a Miami dealer shows $14,545 list). Street-legal: yes (LSV certified). MSRP range: $13,820.

Verified · sourced specs · NHTSA vPIC · no paid rank
Factory LSV — verified

Factory-certified Low-Speed Vehicle (FMVSS 500)

Verified against the NHTSA vPIC registry · 09/26/2026 · How we verify LSV status →

Deal score · Premium price

$346/mi of range · $3,455/seat vs. the field median $283/mi · $3,000/seat across 86 carts. Priced above the field — you're paying for the tier or the badge.

Your pick if

you want a proven factory-LSV in the value class without paying up for the belt.

Verified specification sheet

The facts, with receipts

MODEL FILE · STAR-EV-J-MODEL-4-LIFTED
LAST VERIFIED 09/26/2026
Top speed25 mph†1
Top speed as delivered19.5 mph†1
Range (low)30 mi†1
Range (high)40 mi†1
Battery typelithium†1
Battery capacity105 Ah†1
System voltage48 V†1
Seats4†1
Length127 in†1
Width49 in†1
Height81 in†1
Curb weight1,278 lb†1
Motor power4 kW†1
BrakesFront disc, rear mechanical drum with foot parking brake†1
SuspensionMcPherson coil spring front†1
Warranty2 yr†1
Battery warranty (total term)6.5 yr†2
Battery full-replacement coverage3.5 yr†2
Battery warranty terms6.5 years: free replacement through month 42, then a new pack at 50%, 60% and 70% of retail to month 78†2
LSV certified (street-legal capable)Yes†1
Ground clearance6 in†1
Turning radius16 ft†1
†1 SOURCE: starev.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026†2 SOURCE: cdn.prod.website-files.com · VERIFIED 09/26/2026

◆ Range reality check

~40mi, normalized
Maker claims 30–40 mi

Computed from the ≈5.04 kWh pack (system voltage × amp-hours) at a standard 0.125 kWh per mile — the same efficiency on every model, so ranges compare apples-to-apples. Real-world range varies with load, terrain, speed, and battery age.

◆ Value scorecard

Cost per seat
$3,455
MSRP ÷ seats
Per mile of range
$346
MSRP ÷ ~40 mi
Cost per kWh
$2,742
MSRP ÷ 5.04 kWh
Power-to-weight
3.1 W/lb
motor watts ÷ weight
Warranty
2 / 6.5 yr
vehicle / battery

Our figures, from verified specs + MSRP — lower cost-per-seat and cost-per-mile is better; higher power-to-weight means more pep and hill-climb. Range uses the normalized estimate. Cost per kWh is what the price actually buys you in battery — the single figure that separates a cheap cart from an under-batteried one, and almost nobody publishes it. Pack energy is the maker's published kWh where they give one, otherwise volts × amp-hours.

Read from the verified specs

Where it wins, where it gives

Strengths

  • Factory-certified LSV — VIN'd, titleable, and insurable with no dealer conversion.

Trade-offs

  • No material knock on the verified specs — the call comes down to fit and price.

Frequently asked

Is the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted street legal?
Yes. The Star EV J Model 4 Lifted is a factory-certified Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), confirmed against the NHTSA manufacturer registry. It carries a VIN and can be titled, registered, and insured for roads posted 35 mph or under.
How fast does the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted go?
25 mph — the top of the federal LSV range.
How far does the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted go on a charge?
Up to 40 miles per charge, per the manufacturer. Real-world range depends on load, terrain, speed, and battery age.
How much does the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted cost?
$13,820 MSRP. Run our 5-year cost-of-ownership calculator for the true cost including charging, maintenance, and insurance.
How many people does the Star EV J Model 4 Lifted seat?
The Star EV J Model 4 Lifted seats 4.

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