 Autobot Hot Rod
Target Exclusive
Transformers Studio Series Voyager Class Toy
Item No.: Asst. E0702 No. F0713
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Blasters, Blast effect, backdrop
Action Feature: Transforms from robot to space ship
Retail: $34.99 pre-order, $42.99 on-shelf
Availability: March 2026
Other: Different deco, different accessories, no backdrop
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This new Autobot Hot Rod is very good. It's a redeco (with some different accessories) of the 2021 Hasbro Transformers Studio Series Autobot Hot Rod, which is one of Hasbro's most fantastic collector Autobots of all time. One might think it shows signs of age. The mold is still amazing five years later, even though Hasbro blew it out for 70% off through Burlington for some reason.
Even with the price increase over the $29.99 version, collectors will probably find a lot to like here. The main selling point is improved deco - Hot Rod is now in magenta, rather than red, which matches the movie. He also trades away three blast effect accessories, and in return gets a sword, shield, and fishing rod. The 20226 Matrix is unpainted, which is a bit of a bummer... but you won't be using it much. It's an acceptable loss, especially as you likely have other Matrix toys at home.
But what about the other gear? The blasters are similar, but the tabs are left unpainted so they're easier to mount on the car mode, or on other accessories. The store-brand lightsaber looks fantastic, and has a slot for storage. The shield is no slouch, and that's also a first on official toys. The fishing rod is new to Studio Series, but we have had a few others over the years on other collector toys. It's really too much stuff - Hasbro would have been well-served to cut back on the gear. You're just going to lose some of it.
You can stack everything on his back, but I don't recommend it. I found it stressed the saw arm slots a bit in my case.
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Yet again packaged in robot mode, the figure makes a few changes to his paint masks - but is largely the same basic figure. From the front, you'll notice some yellow added to the end of his wrists, some magenta added to his collar, a little orange were added to his lower legs below the knees, and some additional shading was added around his waist and hips. The paint masks seem generally similar otherwise, altering the hues here and there as needed. It's $13 more than when you probably bought it before, and it is fortunate that you can see a little extra paint to make you go "OK, OK. That's pretty good." If you flip the figure around, you'll notice some parts on his back (primarily visible in car mode) are no longer yellow, but are cast to better match the rest of the figure. I'm sure someone else will find a detail to nitpick, but the only thing I would have liked to see changed are his gray elbows. They seem to be magenta in the movie, so why keep them in gray?
I would still recommend consulting the instructions unless you've memorized this guy's ins and outs. It is not a simple toy, and if you were like me you never transformed the other molds all that much. I treated this guy more like an action figure than a traditional transforming toy, mostly because the robot mode was just so good.
The car looks great, and is a vast improvement over the last one. A huge yellow joint marred the roof of the original, which this fixes. I prefer the new magenta colors, but the orange and yellow (and gray) from his arms are something of an eyesore. Perhaps if Hasbro and Takara-Tomy try again - and oh, I hope they don't - they might make the change. They may also elect to paint the center of the big yellow spoiler, but I don't really feel it's necessary. His flames look great, the blue windshield looks good, and the pipes are fine. Takara-Tomy has a Transformers Masterpiece Edition MPG-20 Hot Rod Style Gen coming, which actually paints the spoiler, and fixes the elbows, but the forearms are still visible in car mode. And he's not magenta. Also, he's $125. Is it worth it? Not to me, but a larger toy built on the same form is possible for those who want to pay up. The wheels of the Style Gen toy are also much nicer... but it's not magenta. And it lacks the gear.
Given how many variations on Hot Rod exist, you have quite a few options. Walmart had a gorgeous movie-color rerun of the original toy. Style Gen amps up the Studio Series mold. This one is probably in the middle of all the other toys, giving you a good transforming toy, with unique accessories, in the best (so far) colors you can possibly get. I jumped on the $35 pre-order because it seemed to good to be true. And was. At $43, it's still pretty excellent - but this is effectively the most plussed-up deluxe toy you can get. I'd love to complain about the price, but if this toy didn't include a fishing rod, or the sword, or the shield, I might find myself buying a $15-$30 upgrade kit. As such, I would recommend this as your one Hot Rod purchase. Or your fifth. It's great that they found a new reason to make it compelling beyond "correct color," at least, it's great for their sales. I was content with the previous release until this one shows just how much better an already nearly-perfect figure could be. If you have the means, get one. If it ever goes on clearance, buy two. I can't imagine you'll be sorry.
If you don't have any Studio Series guys, start here. Hot Rod is the best. It will ruin you for all other robots in disguise.
--Adam Pawlus
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