Powerglide Targetmaster Returns Transformers Age of the Primes Deluxe Class Item No.: Asst. G0474 No. G2010 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Blaster, alien mask Action Feature: Converts from robot to plane Retail: $27.99 Availability: April 2026 Other: We're almost done updating the Minicars!
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I was going to make a crack that Powerglide almost sounds like an adult product, but it turns out that it sort of is. Searching on a major e-retailer, it turns out it's a brand name for Snooker products. Who knew? I always thought of it as a word that goes with a red Autobot plane with a face plate. In the interest of killing lower price points, Hasbro sliced off its sub-deluxe products so now you can't buy anything cheaper than a $27.99 Deluxe-class toy. In previous lines, we saw Powerglide as one of their cheaper characters. In the 1980s, it was a "minibot." In Combiner Wars, it was a $10 Legends-class toy - a pretty decent item but one that fans groused after they eliminated the Micromaster sidekick figures. Today it's $27.99, and as you can see, it's not much larger.

This sort of thing is increasingly prominent in our culture. There are no more "cheap" cars. Some places won't sell you a "small" when it comes to food or drink. The most common "basic" 3 3/4-inch Star Wars figure is now loaded with joints and is $19.99, even though we've seen they can make something very close (sans ankles or wrists) for $10. Is it worth it? Well... I don't know. Given this figure's extra accessories and features let's start with "maybe." Hasbro makes an argument for it by actually trying to give it some worthwhile upgrades from previous releases.

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Hasbro released Combiner Wars Powerglide [FOTD #1,153] nearly 12 1/2 years ago. Adjusted for inflation, that $9.99 2014 toy would be $14 today. This new version costs twice as much, but adds in a telescoping gun, a blaster, and a fully-painted alien face mask from the episode "Hoist Goes Hollywood." I consider those improvements, and if we were still in the $20 or $23 deluxe price point range I would call this a worthy upgrade without question. Factoring recent tariffs in, I feel this guy is a bit more than I'd like to pay for it - but Hasbro did go the extra mile to upgrade the core figure, too.

Combinber Wars was 4-inches tall at its highest point on the wings, and its successor in Age of the Primes is about 4 1/12 inches tall at the tip of the helmet. They're both functionally similar, but this new version shows you what money gets you - like better hip joints with more moving parts, or rocker ankles, or thigh cuts. It's certainly an interesting view of the current team's philosophy, because back in 2014 you got full-range-of-motion ball-and-socket-joint hips, while the 2026 model gets the same range of movement but uses a red hip piece, two gray pieces to make up the upper leg joints, plus a metal rivet. It looks better, it's sturdier, but it's fundamentally a much more expensive solution to a cheaper problem. You'll find similar complications in Powerglide 2026's shoulders, while the simplistic version from 2014 isn't much more complicated than the way Kenner did things for Beast Wars deluxe toys in 1996.

So why make the change? 2026 Powerglide has a more imposing, fuller silhouette. His arms seem more complete, giving him a less skeletal build. Hasbro added in a rotating face with a tab for his alien mask, while the main cartoon face has a differently colored face plate and blue eyes. They even simulated the 1980s silver screw in his forehead with a silver dot - a nice touch. The chest even opens up to show a faint LED red heart like we saw in "The Girl Who Loved Powerglide." But it doesn't stop there, the figure retails the G1 toy's sticker (originally on the robot crotch and plane back), although this time it's a painted detail where his zipper would go on his pants. You get a much more robust robot with good gear, but that comes with a price. Hasbro (and the most vocal of fans) have decided that it's better to spend more money on a richer toy, but I certainly do feel increasingly guilty buying more expensive stuff when I'm getting a pretty good kick from Blokees.

Hasbro's detail choices are largely all excellent, but I'm a little bewildered why his default robot eyes has somewhat angry eyebrows. Perhaps it's a premold face for Dog Fight, Bad Boy, or even Viper. It might also just have been an intentional design choice to give him a more stern expression, but I always think of Powerglide as a lighter character. Well, I guess we'll see what future remolds and recolor exclusives bring us.

Transformation is a unpleasant when going from bot to plane. His engines are partially articulated and must be moved for this process, and mine popped off on both sides. I had to use a tool to move the inner joint and re-attach it, which is not how this toy is supposed to work. The panels are all kind of floaty, and the back halves don't exactly stay closed gap-free. I'll say I didn't really enjoy the transformation. It isn't painful, but it feels undercooked.

I found plane to bot to be smoother.

Plane mode is similar to previous versions. The wings are a little floaty, despite tabs. The chest plate juts out under the plane, and his tail fins seem a little bulky thanks to the panels for his toes. It's bigger than previous models, with a more unified coloring that actually looks pretty good. The silver windows are nice. The fake rubsign is really brilliant. Aside from that, Hasbro molded the whole thing almost entirely in color which has to be good for the budget. There's no landing gear or other valid moving parts in plane mode, but that telescoping gun is more than we usually get. As such, I have to call it a net improvement in features but I think that 1985 original has a more cohesive plane mode.

I particularly appreciate the 5mm port on top, which allows you to stow both the blaster and the mask. Hasbro and Takara-Tomy used the old noodle here so you don't have to misplace your gear. This is always appreciated.

But this one has the best robot mode, better scaled for the past seven or eight years of deluxe "minicars." They did a nice job trying to capture elements of the toy and cartoon, with the alien mask being a great example of giving us something we've never seen before. The heart is a nice touch and the best version of the feature in a toy. He has more articulation here than ever, so for the time being this is your best Powerglide on the market. I assume we'll get another version again around 2036, but I am unsure I have the appetite to go through another upgrade cycle now that Hasbro has mostly completed the core "minicars" (or will have, with Tailgate.) I recommend getting this figure on sale without reservations. At $28, it's a very small - but relatively luxe - deluxe. It doesn't feel cheap or hollow, but you might find that it doesn't hold together as well as some older toys. And if you're happy with the Powerglide currently on your shelves, you may not find it worth reorganizing to add a taller version. If you have no Powerglides, or only want the best, I'd probably recommend this if the orignial isn't sized for your needs.

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