LEGO Technic 42099: 4x4 X-Treme Off-Roader: Control+, New Pieces, Speed Build & Review [4K] 

As a casual Technic fan I've quickly grown to love your reviews. They are always well researched, with great care taken to analyze the physical features and capabilities of new elements as well as the set as a whole. Your praise and criticism are both voiced extremely well-no kneejerk reactions, just straightforward analysis of the pros and cons as well as differentiating objective strengths and weaknesses from your own personal preferences. The hamster cameos at the end are just an added bonus!

Hamster would prefer cat skull prints.

The statement at 4:39 is incorrect. It's widely known that USB plugs exist in 4-dimensional subspace and it's not uncommon for three (or more) attempts to be required to plug it in.

It seems that in the Technic world, there's the "cool-factor" people, the "good-looking" people, and the "all creative functions" people. This is a "cool factor" people's set. Thanks for this 30+ minute review Sariel! I can't imagine the time you invested in it.

Thx for a great review. This time x-ray shots really do come handy.

Nice Review! The pieces are great and I like the mechanics, but the ground clearance is a joke for a model like this! "Oh no, the enemy is coming with the new LEGO 42099!" "Don't worry, I have three 1x6 bricks left!"

id rate it 3.6 roentgen: not great not terrible

That's strange, I was able to run the L and XL motors with the AA PU hub without any problem, even using the remote.

Excellent review. I really appreciate the x-ray shots as well as the thorough testing. The range on this thing is amazing. It is like MRC Tamiya and Lego had a baby. I LOVE it! This is definitely on my list as one of my next Lego sets to get. Thanks again.

Thanks to show us the new parts properly, also with x- ray images.

Great review as usual Sariel! There are definitely some very useful and interesting new pieces in this set, I am looking forward to trying them out myself at some point!

Great review, appreciate all the work that went into it.

Wow that base looks rock sturdy! Dang its compact

You and racing bricks are awsome Makin some cool vids and stuff

Vroom vroom nice building sariel

*That is one good lookin' lego set!!*

I love your reviews! I'm interested in this model because of the powerUp system and unique parts for me- suspension, steering, tyres and the biscuit connectors

Nice review Sariel, i might buy the set , it looks great :)

Super nice LEGO RC 💖😊👍

I’m not sure if the designer made the front ground clearance low than the back on purpose, I think the more clearance it has the more the new wheel hub rubs against the lower control arm(around the ball joint area). But that’s not a big deal. I’m pretty satisfied with its preformance. The new motors work surprisingly faster and quieter than I expected.

Can’t wait for the comparison to the 9398, Sariel!

Wow that front end is something else ugh!

i watched this after assembling my set, it wasn't until you pointed out the motors being geared up that i figured out why it had such little power...so far i've swapped one set of gears per motor and it's made a huge difference, the hard part is going to be switching the second set deeper inside without having to rebuild the whole thing...

Wow amazing !👍🏻👍🏻👐🏻

Excellent review as always. I really wanted to like this off-roader but wish it would have more torque. I have the original and like it bit thought this would have been an improvement. Thanks for the excellent side by side comparison.

clear descriptive review. all the other reviews shows it going down hill. i wanted to see the torque and up hill vids. ty!

It does read the battery level. The fuel sign below the speed indicator. Nice Review

Am I the only one, who noticed the gas symbol in the middle, and the fact that it has changed during the video? Is it possible, that it shows the battery level?

Ordered mine at 10am today, should here tomorrow.

Finally, I've been waiting for this video all week! EDIT: LEGO screwed up AGAIN? Even with all the new parts? We waited 7 YEARS for a new crawler, and this is what we get?

Good review

Great review as always loved the technical review superb video of it working but I won’t be buying it too similar to other sets come on Lego come up with something a bit different to trucks etc look forward to your review of the new liebhrr excavator now there’s a kit, regards David from the uk looking forward to your surprises soon

Great Video and it helped me to resist buying this model. Too much restrictions. Agree with all of your Cons.

Great review as always. New drivetrain pieces and "biscuit" connector are very nice but there are still a lot of questions regarding the Control+ system. When the app will become customizable and how much customisation will we have? Specifically you've mentioned that the hub cuts off power when the motors are stalled. I understand that it's a toy for children, but as an AFOL I don't want any handholding. What is the torque of new motors in comparison to PF ones? So recently I've bought a used 42030 to stack up more PF elements. And I really hope that someone would eventually make a C+ to PF adapter.

Still wonder these people come up with these designs! Its just mind-boggling :)

That Magic card reference at the end killed me hahaha

excellent sariel ;)

Thanks for the review! Cool set, but I feel that power cut-off feature would quickly get annoying. Unless I want to keep it on fairly level terrain, which in turn kind of defeats the purpose of being off-road...

The new Control+ system seems interesting and all the controls and measurements it provides should help creating cool models in the future. But it's yet another new, apparently incompatible system, causing too much fragmentation. It would be nice to have some PFC+ adapter cables, since I assume a lot of people have a bunch of PF pieces that they would want to re-use with a C+ hub. And also the big issue is that the durability of this system is limited by how long the app is going to be maintained. If one day they decide they can't support it anymore, you'll be left with a useless system. This would be less a concern, for this Control+ system, as well as for SBrick and Buwizz, to have the (bluetooth) control protocol published, so that the community can develop their own controller apps and ensure its viability. (I think SBrick has published their protocol, though.). I think I'm more excited by the new pin connector piece, at 11:37 :-)

The black connector 11:36 is really great :)

szkoda - taki se im wyszedł - ciekawe czy ten nowy system działa z czujnikiem od boost i WeDo - power up działał.

Great review Sariel! I'll be getting this set

OK I'll save for this

33:39 well, then it's rather an extreme SUV than an extreme offroader🤔😂

Does the app also collect data like ridden meters, extreme angles. Perhaps special moves made and such?

The price dropped to 140€ across most stores here for a while now. Which is a pretty amazing price imo. Not really that much into building but 140 for this seems to be a good price just for the parts alone.

They should also bring back the 9398 and 41999, rock crawlers own, this new one if pretty good, new power functions looks awsome.

No one: Sariel: This is the hub X-rayed

It looks almost exactly like an American style monster truck with a Humvee body. Almost, because at the front the turntable projects down and to the front in a way that greatly reduces ground clearance compared to a real monster truck. Personally, I make a distinction between monster trucks and off-roaders, they do fairly different things even if they both have larger tires and lifted suspensions compared to production vehicles. "4x4 HUMMER monster truck" would be a more accurate name for it I think.

Do you guys think these new powerfunctions will be a great succes or not? I wonder...

I really feel like the LEGO electronic sysyem is getting too complicated just for the fact of making it foolproof

thanks for review, since I am almost slept with 42099 last weeks, It was a pleasure to see something different in your and @racingbrick's review. I also visited x-Ray at dentist clinic, but they have weak and small x-ray module for human teeth, so I can't check motors as you. I also did measure of torque (using 6x AA Rechargeable 1,2V elements) - they have similar torque, close as RPM's. So what's the difference (except differnt motors inside and reductors)? Any advantages? Powered UP "XL" NEW!!! RPM 296 TORQUE H*cm 20,6 Powered UP "L" NEW!!! RPM 272 TORQUE H*cm 21,8May be L is quicker to accelerate and XL is slower and more intertional?

Nie mogę się doczekać 42100 :D

I like the original RC system more

No kurde blaszka, a już się miałem brać za pracę

In terms of MOCs, I suppose one could create their own "body" for the set, right?

combine the new wheel hubs and motors with the old 9398 and you will have decent model with better remote

I wonder if its possible to get semi realistic drive shaft speed by connecting the inputs of hubs together and powering one output while the other output drives the differential shaft

I need it

from an offroader's perspective, I definitely agree that it needs more torque, and possibly better traction. (Lego can we have some squishy balloon tires for better surface contact?) but I feel your concern about the axle clearance is unjustified. when offroading, it's the driver's job to evade obstacles that can strike the axle (or worse, the diff) by driving around them, or putting the tire directly on them as you did on the three brick stack. if a stack of three bricks stops that thing, the error rests between the steering wheel and seat, not in the design of the axles.

I don't know if anyone would make such a vid, but i would really like this compared to 42065 and/or 42095

I saw some different vids from PF vs PU motors and PU shows speedier and how a bit more torque. Weird that the inner parts looks the same. Also not being able to connect visa versa is really a steel i think

I really hope they get us some smaller motors as well. Not strictly as small as the micromotor but maybe something 3x3x3?

super tout terrain

In terms of actual offroading: older is better. In nearly everything else: This one. The hub is interesting, but I don't have any designs that could use such a thing, so for now I won't bother.

Super curious how this will sell right away. Personally ,I’m going to try and wait for a sale although it’s going to be hard after watching this video.

Great review as always :) not fussed about the lack of a B-model, as those are rarely ever as good as the A-model Question about the new orange colour - isn’t that just the colour Bionicle fans call keetorange?

I love my 9398 and 8466

Hey. I just finished mine but I am wondering if it is normal that the blue light (on the box where the batteries are placed) remains always on. Even if we do not use it, this light stays on. I am afraid batteries won't stay long like this. Any idea? TX a lot

Dang do you get all these models or do you need to return them? I guess returning isnt that bad, you get a nice time with them and its super cool to test all models :)

Did anyone try to integrate Lego Lights 88005 to this model? and if yes how did you manage to get them working. Thanks.

Great review. It's a fun set but that price is even worse than I expected. I wonder if TLG will redesign the stickers for the Chinese market?

The problem with this set is that app is not forever, it will not work in 2-3-5 years if not updated. Then remote control of this set (and forecoming controlled by this app) will be useless. What about old sets? On the contrary, you can still play with old Lego sets like 9398. Anyway, nice review Sariel.

How deep is the male part of that new CV joint? 1.5 studs as the old one?

Imagine if Lego released a high speed motor or high torque motor. It would make builds so much more fun.

Give it selectable rear steering and new gear ratios and it's cool as hell

all it needs now is a high speed motor and then you can have some fun offroading

i love this orange since it reminds me of mango ice cream mmmm

Pro-line Racing makes 1.9" rim size R/C rock crawler tires that fit on the rims. I bought some knock offs on Amazon. 4.7" tall, look wicked cool on the 42099! Have not run it with new tires as I'm about to tear down and build MOC's I saw on Rebrickable before I play. I posted photos on Rebrickable forum, search for Non Lego Tires.

Ehh I’m not liking the new smart hub, the only huge upside is that it does better in sunlight. But I prefer the usual PF system. That new wheel hub will definitely be used by other builders in the future! Such a handy piece, you planning to use it for any of your creations sariel?

the skulls do bother me a little bit, like sariel says, it is after all a toy, not a halloween prop. and if lego puts skulls on their vehicles, why don't they make (designed by and official) lego tanks, both technic and non-technic (like the sets cobi makes). i mean, if they offer sariel a contract as tank designer/builder. i would try my best to buy those sets then

Well,outdoors it doesn't get completely outperformed by the 9398 because the 9398 would lose the IR link all the time :)

Nice review! Shame about the torque. I really have to consider whether to buy it or not now.

Why the skulls? Because racecar!

Hello Sariel! Great vids. How old is your hamster, now?

If you were to use these new motors in a moc without using the gear reducing hubs, you could potentially get a decently fast rc car right?

Gimme the 42100 !!!!!!

THey could just made the front studier by making that front steering column in an angle, than a second part could be connected to the suspension. Making it as sturdy as he rear counterpart

Hey Sariel, what are your thoughts on "illegal" building techniques? Do you use them for custom MOC's, or do you use only techniques that Lego uses?

What happens if you mod it and use regular wheel hubs? What about increasing the ride height, potentially locking the diffs and changing the gear ratio like racing brick did?

Can you help me with my problem. İ bought this set and while i was playing it for the first time it was normal. Next time i play it when i turn the wheels by cotroller or even manually, the motors make a really bad high pitch sound. İs this normal??

Lol Cannibal Corpse, nice

They should have used the 9L springs.

Sariel, zawsze nurtowało mnie dlaczego Lego daje wiele kolorów klocków, z których buduje się wnętrze modeli (czasami również zewnętrznych)? Co przeszkadza w ujednoliceniu lub sprzedaży zestawów w odcieniach danego koloru?

Have you tried using ni-zn rechargeable batteries in your MOCs? They have a voltage of 1.6 volts and a max voltage of 1.9, so work amazingly with Sbrick

9398 definitely looks much, much better but those XL motors are nice. I wonder how 9398 would do with XL motors? I see in the impressions that 42099 is outperformed by 9398. Certainly not in the speed department. Did I miss a part where there was more comparison? Thanks Sariel for another great review.

I would like to see this setcompared to the CaDa 61006w, a comparison of the performance. How about it?

3:15 it's "recommended" 11+ anyway

I know I could try this myself but, I was wondering if the round part of the planetary hubs fit inside of the hole in the 60T turntable? that way we can have more torque on something like a winch or a crane arm. I suppose you could also hook these hubs in in parralel (i.e as a comopound planetary gear set) and get something like 10:1 instead of 5:1.

Hi Sariel, great review as always! Is this a new orange colour, different than the Porsche and unimog? Edit: just watched the part compared with the Corvette colour! It’s new