Magic Mobility Power Chairs Brand Review 2024

Note that while we will be taking a brief look at the indoor/outdoor machines in a later section of this review, the models listed there are minor variations of the V6 and the two V4 (FWD and RWD) frames. In a later section, we’ll draw your attention to the relatively few subtle differences.

These four models offer something for everyone. Magic Mobility has built one of each. The Frontier V6 is a mid-wheel drive, the V4 is offered in front-wheel or rear-wheel drive configurations, and the Extreme X8 is the company’s four-wheel drive model. So, if you prefer, you can get precisely the drive train you want.

Although these models have some differences, all four have a lot in common, so here, we’ll only be looking at the basic stats of the Magic Mobility wheelchairs. We’ll cover everything else in later sections of this review.

Magic Mobility Frontier V6 Power Wheelchair

We were fairly surprised when a mid-wheel drive model won top honors in the category of general outdoor use because certain terrain types (especially soggy, wet ground, or sandy beaches) prove challenging to mid-wheel drive chairs because of how the weight is distributed.

Courtesy of the Magic Mobility V6’s articulated frame, however, this model glides almost without effort over most types of terrain. As with its cousin, the Frontier V4, it features quick-release wheels that make it a snap to pop on tires that are more suitable for indoor use. Combined with its impressive turn radius, it is a winner, indoors and out, so we ranked it the highest of all of Magic Mobility’s models.

Specifications

Magic Mobility Frontier V4 Rear Wheel Drive

Rear-wheel drive models can sometimes struggle on sloping terrain, making them slightly less adept in the great outdoors than their cousins. On the other hand, their smaller size and impressive turn radius make them even better for indoor use. The smaller size and slight weight reduction over the V6 also give them a smidge more range per battery charge, although the difference is small enough that it can’t be considered compelling.

Specifications

Magic Mobility Frontier V4 Front Wheel Drive

Magic Mobility Frontier V4 offers a great mix of features and is, in our view, the second-best chair the company makes behind the Frontier V6. The front-wheel drive configuration makes the chair a sturdy little mountain goat on sloping terrain, and its lighter weight again allows it to eke out slightly more range on a charge than its big brother, the V6. It also tends to handle a little better indoors (again, owing to its smaller footprint).

Our recommendation is this: If you plan on primarily using a chair outdoors but need something for occasional indoor use, get the V6. If you plan on mainly using the chair indoors but need something capable outdoors as well, get the V4 FWD. Occasional outdoor users who won’t tackle steep slopes would probably find a better fit with the V4 RWD model.

Specifications

Magic Mobility Extreme 8 4×4 Wheelchair

We’ve written a separate review on the Magic Mobility Extreme X8, which you can find below. We urge you to read it for complete details, but we’ll also summarize it here.

Specifications

This chair is a beast. Its four 14” x 3” wheels and four-wheel drivetrain enable it to conquer just about any terrain you find yourself on, but it comes with two major drawbacks over the V6 and the smaller Magic Mobility V4.

First, it’s got a steeper learning curve associated with it. Second (related to the first point), it’s an outdoor chair, exclusively, with its mind-bogglingly poor 55” turning radius, which takes a fair amount of practice to get used to. Even in some outdoor spaces, you’re likely to get hemmed in and have to execute an awkward multi-point turn to get yourself sorted out.

Even so, if you’re looking for a go-anywhere outdoor brute, the Magic Mobility X8 is the one you want.

Magic Mobility Power Chairs – Indoor/Outdoor Models

Three of Magic Mobility’s four outdoor models can be used indoors, too.  The only one of the four models you can’t use inside is the Extreme X8 – the turning radius won’t allow it unless you live in a palace.

Technically, the company lists eight indoor/outdoor models, but these are minor variations of the V4 and V6 frames. 

Here’s a list of Magic Mobility USA’s Indoor/Outdoor models, with a few relevant notes:

Doesn’t Magic Mobility Make Manual Wheelchairs Too?

Until recently (Valentine’s Day, 2018), Magic Mobility USA carried a small line of manual wheelchairs that were as excellent as its powered products. Unfortunately, these are no longer available, except on the secondary market so that we won’t cover them in detail. We did, however, want to mention them in case you’d heard of the “Jewel Wheelchair” and came here looking for one.

Magic Mobility Power Wheelchairs Features

Adjustability & Comfort

In addition to offering a wide range of extras (which we’ll talk about next), another advantage to owning a Magic Mobility wheelchair is that virtually every aspect of your chair can be tweaked or modified to maximize your comfort.

The following items are adjustable, whichever model you gravitate to:

These things, taken together, mean you can tweak your ride so it fits you like a glove, optimizing your comfort.

On-Board Storage & Extras

This is another thing that Magic Mobility does well. In fact, of all the mainstream mobility aid manufacturers we’ve found, this one comes closest to matching 21st Century Scientific’s impressive array of extras. Here’s what you have to choose from:

Color and Finish Options

Color options fall into two categories:  Frontier options and Extreme X8 options. We’ll list both just below:

Note that for the Frontier, the first three are stock colors. The rest are considered premium colors and are offered for an additional charge.

Seating Options

Note that in addition to these, various custom upholstery options are available.

Multiple Headrest Options

The stem-based options are articulated and can be positioned precisely to maximize comfort.

Leg Rest Options

There are three choices here: manual, power, or gas elevating. You can also choose between a single post footrest or swing-away leg rests, which make transferring into and out of the chair a bit easier.

Several Magic Mobility Frontier V6 reviews agree that the single post footrest is recommended for the Frontier V6 because the swing-away leg rests may interfere with the casters. You can certainly outfit your V6 with the latter, but if you do, be aware that there may be times when they get in your way.

Foot posts can be ordered singly or double and, depending on your preference, fixed, flip-up, or angle-adjustable.

Three Different Control Options

Controller Mount Options

In addition to that, the joystick controller has three different mounting options:

Power Options

Not everyone will need these, but this is a compelling reason to consider a chair in the Magic Mobility product lineup if you do. The following power options are available:

Other Add-Ons and Accessories

As impressive as the above list is, we’re still not done! The following optional gear is also available:

Unless otherwise noted, all of these are available on any company model. Also, note that the company takes special requests, so if you want or need an accessory not listed here, they’ll be happy to work with you and see if they can figure out how and where to include it!

What About Portability?

All models and variants built on the Magic Mobility Offroad V4 and V6 chassis are portable. These are serious pieces of machinery weighing over two hundred pounds each (depending on the model and accessories selected). 

Given their weight, however, you won’t have any difficulty fitting them into a van, full-size SUV, or the back of a pickup truck, although anything less than that might prove daunting, if not impossible.

The X8 is the outlier here and isn’t as portable as the others, although it can fit nicely into a truck bed or roomy van. If you don’t have any of those types of vehicles, you’ll probably want to invest in a lift to move your chair from point A to point B.

World Class Customer Service and Support

This is another nod in favor of the brand. Magic Mobility is one of the major players in the Australian market, and it has a sterling reputation for post-sales service and support. Its products are rugged and reliable, but if you ever have any issues with them, help is just a phone call away.

You’ll get to experience firsthand how awesome their customer support team is long before you have your first problem with the chair because if you decide to buy one of their products, given the sheer number of configuration options, you’ll be working with a customer service rep quite extensively.

Not every option works in conjunction with every other option, and your rep will explain the pros, cons, and tradeoffs associated with your choices. 

Also, they’ll be your point of contact if you’ve got any special requests (custom upholstery options, a hidden storage compartment, or anything else you can dream up), so you’ll be in good hands before you even finalize your purchase.

Conclusion – Magic Mobility USA Brand Review

All of Magic Mobility’s products are a cut above, which is why the company dominated our list of general-purpose outdoor all-terrain wheelchairs. 

Although we regard the V4 as the weakest of the bunch, you won’t be disappointed if you’re in the market for an exceptional front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive model, and the other brands you’ve been investigating have left you a bit underwhelmed. It will come down to how you plan to use the chair and your needs.

With exceptional engineering, world-class quality, and top-notch customer service and support, it’s hard to find a serious weakness in any of their designs other than the price. You will pay a premium for these chairs, an unavoidable consequence of their amazing quality and longevity.

We highly recommend the Magic Mobility Power Chairs, with a special nod to the Frontier V6.

Recommended Reading

Bounder All Terrain Power Wheelchair Reviews

Check out our comprehensive review of the Bounder Wheelchairs, which are exceptional products from a small but reliable company.

Official Manufacturer Support

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

• Magic Mobility, Official Brand Website
• All Terrain Wheelchair – The Countryside at Your Doorstep!, Invacare.
• Mobility Gear for Outdoor Occupations, Cyber-Sierra.
• All-Terrain Wheelchair Connects Disabled People with Outdoors, Herald Courier.