LEGO Mario Kart: Mario and Standard Kart Built

The LEGO Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart set, now available for preorder, is poised to delight builders of all skill levels. Casual enthusiasts will be drawn to its vibrant primary colors and chunky, user-friendly pieces, making it an instant hit. For the seasoned LEGO aficionados, the set offers a rewarding challenge with its intricate construction details and the unique absence of stickers—every decorative element is expertly printed directly onto the bricks.

LEGO Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart

Priced at $169.99 at the LEGO Store, the set's official name, LEGO Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart, positions it as part of the LEGO Mario subgenre. This opens the door for potential future releases, such as a large Luigi in a Sports Coupe or Princess Peach on a Cat Cruiser. While smaller, playset-scaled Kart sets are available (see at Amazon), this larger model caters to a different audience seeking more detailed builds.

Building LEGO Mario Kart - Mario and Standard Kart

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The set is divided into 17 bags, offering two distinct builds. The first is the Standard Kart, starting with a LEGO Technic mesh framework secured by pins and reinforced with bricks to form the Kart's floorboard. The body shell is then meticulously assembled using rods and clamps, featuring rockets/exhaust pipes, side panels, and a functional steering mechanism that also serves as the front exterior.

The steering mechanism is a highlight, ingeniously designed to blend aesthetics with functionality. It attaches to the front via clamps and folds over the hood like a hinged storm door, allowing the front wheels to turn in sync with the steering wheel.

Despite its seemingly simple appearance, the Kart's construction involves numerous small steps that cumulatively create a sophisticated effect, juxtaposing its playful and whimsical design with the evident craftsmanship involved.

Following the Kart, you build Mario, whose assembly echoes that of The Mighty Bowser set from three years ago. Starting with the torso using ball-and-socket connections, you then attach the legs, arms, and finally, the head and hat. The hat's construction is particularly intricate, involving two smaller builds to achieve its iconic bent shape.

Building Mario allowed me to appreciate subtle details like his hair peeking out from under the hat, the markings on his gloves, and the rolled-up cuffs of his jeans. This experience mirrors assembling a jigsaw puzzle of a famous painting, where you discover new nuances in color and texture. Building Mario from LEGO pieces reveals the finer details that contribute to the overall character, even if they aren't immediately noticeable.

Unfortunately, Mario is not detachable from the Kart; his torso directly connects to a gray plate attached to the seat. While this design choice is understandable, it does limit the play possibilities. However, this might inspire LEGO enthusiasts to explore DIY modifications to separate Mario from the Kart for a rainy-day project.

The final model looks stunning, mounted on a versatile stand that can tilt and rotate 360 degrees, allowing for dynamic poses whether Mario is navigating uphill, downhill, or through a banked turn. My favorite pose has Mario gripping the steering wheel with one hand and triumphantly pumping the air with the other, almost as if you can hear his iconic "Whoo-hoo!"

If LEGO continues in this direction, fans can look forward to more high-quality, visually striking sets. The Mario & Standard Kart set joins the ranks of impressive releases like The Mighty Bowser from 2022 and The Piranha Plant from 2003, maintaining a high standard of build quality and presentation. The more iconic Mario replicas we get, the better.

LEGO Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart, Set #72037, retails for $169.99 and comprises 1972 pieces. It will be available exclusively at the LEGO Store starting May 15. Preorder now.