Advent Calendars · Head-to-head
Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) vs LEGO 42698
Best for Car Lovers
Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)
7.3/10
$26.99 at Amazon
Check price at Amazon
The short answer
LEGO 42698 comes out ahead overall with 7.7/10 against 7.3/10 for the Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41). LEGO 42698 is stronger on chocolate taste & quality, variety & no repeats, freshness, shipping & availability and value.
- Choose the Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) if: Car-obsessed kids ages 3+ who want die-cast cars that get played with all year.
- Choose the LEGO 42698 if: Families who want a genuine LEGO calendar at the lowest entry price.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) | LEGO 42698 |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Taste & Quality | 7.5Standard Hot Wheels die-cast quality | 8.0Same LEGO part quality, but with fewer and smaller builds |
| Variety & No Repeats | 6.510 cars out of 34 items; the clips are filler | 7.29 figures in total; builds are smaller |
| Presentation & Daily Experience | 6.5Ornament clips hang cars on the tree; no track or play scene | 6.8No playmat or game board listed |
| Freshness, Shipping & Availability | 8.5In stock and sold by Amazon.com | 8.8In stock at Amazon (sold by Amazon) and at Target |
| Health, Ingredients & Sustainability | 7.0Mattel's small-parts choking warning (not for under 3) | 7.0Small parts, ages 6+; packaging mostly paper-based |
| Value | 7.510 cars plus an exclusive for about $27 | 8.0Lowest in-stock LEGO price this year, though slightly worse per piece than Disney at $30 |
Specifications
| Spec | Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) | LEGO 42698 |
|---|---|---|
| Countdown Days | 24 days | 24 days |
| Total Pieces | 34 pieces | 211 pieces |
| Chocolate Types | None (toy calendar) | None (toy calendar) |
| Style (solid / filled / mixed confections) | Die-cast cars + accessories | Brick-built mini builds + minidolls |
| Servings per Day | 34 items over 24 days (some days hold multiple items) | 1 mini build or figure per door |
| Reusable / Keepsake Packaging | — | No |
| Extras | 10 ornament clips; 1 exclusive vehicle | — |
| How It's Sold | — | One-time purchase (annual edition) |
| Allergens | None (non-food); small parts | None (non-food); small parts |
| Ingredient / Sourcing Claims | — | LEGO says ~93-95% of its packaging by weight is paper-based |
| List Price | — | 34.99 USD |
| Minimum Age | 3 years | 6 years |
| Figures / Characters Included | 10 vehicles | 3 minidolls, 6 animal figures |
| Primary Toy Material | Die-cast metal/plastic vehicles | Plastic LEGO bricks |
Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)
Pros
- Ten 1:64 die-cast vehicles
- Exclusive snow-globe car
- Low price, sold by Amazon
- Recommended by TODAY, Hello! and Mommy Poppins
Cons
- Only ten of 34 items are cars
- Accessories and clips are less durable play value
- Small parts, not for under 3
A good budget calendar for kids who already love Hot Wheels. Expect cars on some days and accessories on others.
Full Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) review →LEGO 42698
Pros
- Lowest price of the 2026 LEGO calendars
- Three minidolls and six animal figures
- In stock at Amazon and Target
- Recommended by TODAY
Cons
- Fewest pieces (211) of the 2026 LEGO set
- No playmat or game board
- Small parts, so not for under 6
A sensible budget LEGO choice. Pick it when the lowest price is the priority, and look at Disney Princess if you can pay a little more for more pieces.
Full LEGO 42698 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Toy & LEGO Advent Calendars for Kids of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.