Looking for a Set 42172 Alternative? An Honest 1:8 Comparison (2026)

HONEST COMPARISON · BY THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ONE OF THEM

We make and sell one of the two models in this comparison, so read this as a maker's comparison, not neutral journalism. The deal we offer in return: real numbers, and we tell you plainly where LEGO wins. If you finish this page knowing that set 42172 is the right buy for you, good. That is what an honest comparison is for.

The two sets, honestly described

Set 42172 is the current flagship of LEGO's 1:8 Technic supercar line, released in August 2024: 3,893 pieces at a list price of $449.99. It is a superb piece of mechanical design. You get a 7-speed gearbox plus neutral shifted through paddle shifters, a brick-built V8 with pistons that pump as the wheels roll, independent suspension on all four wheels, spring-assisted butterfly doors, a manually adjustable rear wing and working steering. One thing surprises many buyers: nothing in the box is powered. The brick-built electric motor and the drive-mode selector are static representations of the real hypercar's hybrid system. Every function is driven by your hands, and published reviews note the finished model is best enjoyed as a display piece.

The Zenith 720S is our flagship: 3,658 pieces at $299, also 1:8 scale, about 58 cm long and around five pounds finished. It takes the opposite philosophy. The chassis carries drive and steering motors, so the finished car actually drives from the included remote. The scissor doors are motorized, the roof mechanism works, the suspension compresses under the car's own weight, dual LED headlights are wired during the build, and the V8 has moving pistons that turn with the drive.

Our side of the comparison: the finished Zenith 720S, about 58 cm nose to tail.

Spec by spec

Set 42172 figures are from LEGO's published listing and independent reviews, checked August 2026. Prices are list prices and can change.

Where LEGO wins

Saying this plainly is the point of an honest comparison. LEGO's molding consistency and quality control are the benchmark of the entire industry, and buying from the biggest brand in the category is the safest possible purchase: familiar instructions, polished packaging, easy returns through global retail. The 7-speed paddle-shift gearbox in 42172 is a mechanism the Zenith does not try to match, since the Zenith has no shifting gearbox, and mechanism connoisseurs will appreciate that difference. And one more thing no alternative can change: the two sets portray different cars. If your heart is set on the specific hypercar that 42172 portrays, buy 42172. An alternative that leaves you wishing you had bought the original is a bad deal at any price.

Where the Zenith wins

The Zenith argument comes down to what happens after the last bag. For $151 less, the finished model is not a shelf piece: it drives, steers, opens its doors on motors, and lights up. If the reason you build a supercar is to end up with a machine rather than a sculpture, that difference matters more than any spec row above. The per-piece math also favors us at about 8.2 cents against about 11.6 cents, and our set is recommended from 14 up rather than 18 plus, which matters if the build is shared with a teenager.

The Zenith's rear deck: the wing lifts and the engine bay opens over the V8.

The honest buying guide

• ✓Buy set 42172 if you want the specific car it portrays, the deepest manual gearbox in the category, or the reassurance of the biggest brand. It is an excellent set and we will not pretend otherwise.
• ✓Buy the Zenith 720S if you want the finished car to drive, light up and open its doors on command, and you would rather keep $151 in your pocket.
• ✓Buy neither if this would be a first-ever brick build. Both are multi-evening 3,000-plus piece projects, and we regularly talk first-time builders into starting smaller.

Before deciding, read our full Zenith 720S build review, which covers where builders struggle, and our reviews page, which links all 234 verified buyer reviews and an unedited third-party video. We publish the critical reviews too.

LEGO and Technic are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this article or our products. NexusBrick is an independent brand and our models are original brick interpretations of automotive forms. Set 42172 details were checked against LEGO's published listing and independent reviews in August 2026.