Rover Testing Drive

"With a BrickScore of 53.1 and a Skip It tier, this Mars rover is a set where critics and owners genuinely disagree: expert reviewers found the real-world execution disappointing and the $30 price hard to justify, while 4.8 stars from nearly 2,000 owners shows it delights the kids and families it is designed for."

Reviewers are sharply divided on the 2019 City Mars Rover set, with the sole expert critic (JANG) calling it a poor-value disappointment that looks better in photos than in hand, while owner ratings tell a completely different story at 4.8 stars across nearly 2,000 reviews. Brickset's analysis finds genuine merit in the new geode pieces, dual-molded helmet, and exploration-focused aesthetic, but flags the $29.99 US price as steep and points to real design gaps like the lack of suspension and stickered solar panels. The critic-versus-owner split here is stark: the BrickScore of 53.1 and Skip It tier reflect the weight given to the more analytical expert assessments over enthusiast consumer ratings.

Where they split: The gap between the expert critic score (JANG: 35, Skip It) and owner enthusiasm (4.8 stars, 93% would recommend) is the defining story of this set. Critics focus on design shortfalls and value-per-dollar; families and kids who own it rate it among their favorites. The BrickScore weights the analytical assessments, hence the Skip It verdict despite strong consumer approval.