ARRMA Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX Review: Is the Brushless 4WD Worth It?

Should you buy the ARRMA Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX? If your plan is to run a compact truck on packed dirt, grass, or gravel, the answer is yes. The brushless 4x4 drivetrain gives you the grip and punch those surfaces demand, and the small size keeps it easy to carry and store. If, however, you only have smooth pavement available, a lighter 2WD brushed model will be easier to drive, cheaper to maintain, and still plenty of fun. The BLX earns its premium when the terrain gets loose.

The Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX: Should You Buy It?

The Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX is a compact, ready-to-run basher that packs a brushless motor and four-wheel drive into a platform that fits in a duffel bag. When you take it to a dirt lot or a patch of scraggly grass, the 4x4 system keeps the rear end planted under throttle, and the brushless motor delivers the kind of punch that makes small jumps feel effortless. That combination is exactly why the BLX commands a higher price than the entry-level brushed Grom. For a buyer whose weekday is spent on asphalt, though, the extra weight of the front drivetrain and the cost of a quality 3S battery are hard to justify. The direct answer is simple: buy it if you will point it at loose terrain most of the time, and pass if your running surface is a smooth driveway.

Before you trust that verdict, remember how independent buying guides work: they purchase every product they test and accept no free samples, because a spec sheet is not the same as verified performance. Apply that same skepticism to the Mojave Grom. The box might say 'brushless 4x4,' but exact top speed, run time, and ground clearance depend on the battery you choose and the gearing ARRMA ships in the 223S BLX. That is why seasoned RC buyers check the official product page before checkout. They want the confirmed numbers for weight, battery connector, and chassis clearance, not a marketing claim. Treat category-level reviews as a filter for what to look at, then go to the manufacturer's documentation for the final call. That verification step is also a good way to learn what the truck includes out of the box, so you know whether you need a charger and battery before your first run. A quick check of the official manual will also tell you the correct battery connector, which prevents a costly adapter mistake.

What Sets the 4x4 223S BLX Apart?

On the outside, the Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX looks like the little desert truck that ARRMA built to bounce down dirt paths, but the part that separates it from the brushed 2WD version is hidden under the body. A brushless motor replaces the brushed can, delivering more power per watt and running cooler when you hammer it. A front differential and driveshafts turn it into a genuine 4x4, which changes how the truck hooks up on loose gravel and wet grass. The platform itself is sized for small spaces, so you can run it in a backyard or at a local track without needing a football field. Those two upgrades, motor and drivetrain, are the reason the BLX badge exists, and they are why the price sits above the standard Grom. That extra initial cost goes into hardware you will feel on the first throttle squeeze, not just a badge.

Common sense says you should read the manual, but the habit is easy to skip when a truck looks great in the photos. A category-level lesson from independent guides is that official, model-specific documentation beats secondhand summaries every time. The same is true here: ARRMA's site lists the exact battery requirements, the connector type, and the recommended running gear for the Grom 4x4 223S BLX. Those details matter because battery voltage affects speed and runtime, and the wrong pack can stress the electronics. Before you add it to your cart, pull up the spec sheet and note the battery input range and any included accessories. The extra five minutes keeps you from assuming a brushed 2WD parts list will transfer over, because the drivetrain differs underneath. In particular, check the connector type, because an unexpected plug means an adapter and extra cost. This small step turns a speculative purchase into a confident one.

Brushed vs Brushless: Does It Matter?

Motor choice changes more than top speed. A brushed motor is the old workhorse: cheap to replace, simple to drive, and perfectly fine for a first truck. A brushless motor, though, uses electronic commutation instead of brushes, which means less friction and heat, more efficient power delivery, and a longer service life under sustained load. In a small truck like the Grom, that efficiency translates into quicker acceleration and a longer run time on the same battery. The catch is cost: brushless trucks are pricier upfront, and they demand better batteries to reach their potential. If you feed a brushless motor a weak pack, you will still feel the difference from brushed, but you will not unlock the full performance. You are also paying for speed that a novice driver may not be able to handle in a tight space. That speed is thrilling on a wide dirt lot, but it can turn a small backyard into a wall-dodging game. The best approach is to match power to the space you have available.

Use one question to decide: do you want the truck to be fast out of the box and stay that way after fifty packs, or are you experimenting with the hobby on a budget? If the former, spend the extra money on the BLX and buy a good 2S or 3S LiPo battery with the correct connector. If the latter, a brushed 2WD Grom will still drift on pavement and jump small curbs, and it will cost less to repair when you flip it into a pole. The key is matching the motor to your driving style and your willingness to maintain the battery. Brushless is not automatically better for everyone, but for a basher who wants strong off-road performance, it is the logical choice. Think about how often you will replace batteries and how much spares cost before you commit. A quick rule: if you plan to keep the truck for years, the brushless upgrade usually pays for itself.

4WD vs 2WD: Which Drivetrain for Your Terrain?

Traction is where 4WD earns its keep. When you hit a patch of loose dirt, the front wheels pull the truck through while the rear wheels push, which keeps the nose from digging in and the chassis from swapping ends. On grass, the extra drive wheels help maintain momentum because each tire has less work to do. On gravel, the front differential pulls the car into corners instead of relying only on the rear. The trade-off is weight, complexity, and cost. A 2WD truck is lighter, simpler, and often cheaper to maintain, and on smooth pavement it feels more playful because the rear end can step out easily. The problem comes when you leave the pavement: 2WD bogs down in soft dirt, struggles to climb grassy slopes, and gets hung up on small obstacles that a 4x4 rolls over without flinching. This is why 4WD trucks dominate at bash spots but 2WD cars still rule the local parking lot. Consider how much of your run is on loose ground before you choose.

Independent guides treat maintenance advice as conditional on how the gear is used and how often, so apply the same logic to choosing 2WD or 4WD for the Mojave Grom. If your regular loop is a dusty trail behind the garage, four drive wheels will save you from constant spin-outs and keep the run smooth. If your loop is a skate park or a flat cul-de-sac, the extra front drivetrain just adds weight and drag without a noticeable benefit. That conditional thinking is what turns a category-level checklist into a smart purchase decision. You are not buying the most impressive spec sheet; you are buying the drivetrain that matches the dirt you actually have. You don't need the most aggressive truck; you need the one that fits your terrain and your driving style. That habit of asking 'where will this actually run?' separates a good purchase from a regretted one.

Key Specs to Check Before You Order

A product page can make any truck look perfect, but the numbers that matter for daily use are often buried in the specifications tab. Before you click buy, build a short checklist: top speed with the recommended battery, included battery and charger, ground clearance, wheelbase, and the type of connector on the speed control. Also look for the weight, because a heavier truck needs more space to stop and a stronger servo to steer. Finally, check parts availability and price, because every basher crashes eventually and you want to know how easy it is to get a new arm or a driveshaft. Write those numbers down, then compare them to the terrain you plan to run. That checklist takes five minutes and prevents the disappointment of ordering the wrong truck for your yard. You are looking for the gap between what the marketing headline says and what the fine print lists, because that gap is where surprises hide. Take a screenshot of the spec page for later reference when you compare models side by side.

Start with the battery: what cell count does the literature recommend, and what connector is on the truck? That tells you whether you can use batteries you already own or need to buy new ones for the 223S BLX. Next, check the ground clearance and the tire diameter, because those decide whether you can run on grass without dragging the skid plate. Look at the included charger and whether the truck is available as a ready-to-run package or needs a transmitter and battery. Then search for the exploded view or parts list to see if the chassis uses common pieces or a special drivetrain. Finally, confirm the warranty and support contact, because a manufacturer with a clear support page is a different friend than one that disappears after the sale. Also note whether the manual lists a recommended battery capacity, because a truck that needs a high-discharge pack will cost you more at the counter. A few extra minutes here will save you from an expensive mismatch.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX?

Here is the verdict you can build your purchase around. The Mojave Grom 4x4 223S BLX is the right truck if you have access to dirt, grass, or gravel and you want a compact machine that will not need an immediate upgrade. The brushless motor gives you speed you will not outgrow in a month, and the 4x4 system makes you look like a better driver on loose surfaces. It is not the right truck if your only running area is smooth pavement, because the extra drivetrain weight and the battery cost will not pay off there. The same rule that independent guides apply to maintenance applies to buying: verify the official numbers before you commit. Check the ARRMA site for the exact battery rating and included electronics, and your decision will already be made by the time the box arrives. This is not a truck for people who want to stay on the pavement; it is built for the back forty or the local dirt track. Resist the urge to buy the biggest battery you can fit; follow the manual's recommendation instead.

Set your budget before you buy, and remember the truck is only part of the cost. A good 2S or 3S LiPo battery and a suitable charger can add a surprising amount to the total, so ask whether the package includes everything you need. Also consider your skill level: if you have never run a brushless truck, the instant throttle response might feel twitchy at first, so start in a wide open area and use the training mode if the transmitter offers one. Parts support matters too; check that your local hobby shop or the brand's online store carries replacement arms, shocks, and differential parts. If those pieces are easy to get, the long-term cost of ownership stays sane, and you will not park the truck after its first hard crash. Batteries, connectors, and spare parts are the real cost of this hobby, so factor them in now. A realistic budget is the difference between a fun truck and a garage ornament.