LEGO.com
4/5
just good enough
The set brought a lot of positive emotions: it’s larger than it looks; it looks great on a shelf; the suspension design is brilliant and stays true to the original; the wheels look like they were taken straight off a real rover; the build is interesting and the functions are engaging…
But when it comes to the functions, it turns out they are mostly demonstrative. Perseverance can’t overcome obstacles on its own without assistance, it has noticeable play in the mechanisms, and its handling strongly depends on the surface it moves on. Its robotic arm wobbles heavily due to its weight and also has a lot of slack.
- On top of that, Lego continues to refuse to produce Technic connector parts in different colors, which hurts the appearance of any set. I understand that this can be explained by the high requirements for simplified building aimed at the 10+ category, but the same situation is observed in sets aimed at 18+ as well.
Set 42158 turned out to be ambiguous: it feels as if the designers wanted to make a fully functional working replica of Perseverance, but once they found out the set would be rated 10+, they still tried to cram in as many parts as possible, neglecting the functions or their actual performance. As an adult, I’m very happy with this approach, but as a child I wouldn’t be sure that I’d enjoy the functions of this set.
However, the virtual reality feature adds some advantages—though it’s a pity that you interact with it not through the rover itself, but only via a phone. Stickers can also be explained by the low entry threshold and the requirement to allow rebuilding the model into something else, but this issue is also present in “display-only” 18+ sets, so it’s not really an excuse.
In the photos, I tried to fix the issue with inappropriate part colors wherever I could, and also added a couple of tweaks, like other fans did, while trying to stick to Lego’s standards in terms of structural strength.
I really liked the set for its price, but I can’t ignore the obvious issues—it has plenty of shortcomings.
Amazon.nl
5/5
Product well packaged
The product arrived in perfect condition, well packaged, and very quickly. I recommend it!
Amazon.nl
5/5
Love LEGO
Husband bought and loved building it with our kids.
Bol.com
5/5
Looks fantastic
Another birthday boy who can have a lot of fun with this LEGO set.
Amazon.nl
5/5
The box arrived intact.
It's perfect, I used it to give as a gift and the box arrived intact. I totally recommend it.
Amazon.nl
5/5
Not complete, but simply amazing
There's fascination and frustration with this kit.What you get is a box full of bags. About ten or so, each with totally random parts. The bags are numbered for certain stages, but I found that all the parts required for a given stage weren't in the specific bag for that stage, so I ended up opening all the bags. Any given step often requires sorting through two, three or more bags. In order to even try to complete the build you have to open all the bags eventually and search for even the most basic part. This is not fun, though I guess it might be STEM training for accountants (that would be the M, though maybe for kits like this it should be “STEAM” to account for accounting, and reflecting the exasperation you’ll feel). No slam to accountants, but if you are an accountant Lego models will drive you absolutely mad. Oh, and on the accountant side of things, this kit is a surprisingly good bargain for a Lego model. I thought I might try their Land Rover model, but it was over twice the price (possibly due to licensing fees).Despite what may seem like a negative review, I really enjoyed this build, and was fascinated by the design while building it. But I don't think LEGO is keeping up with the magnitude of their models on the production/delivery end. They keep doing amazing things in the design/engineering department (this model is a glowing example), but they just can't seem to get the parts (or “fulfillment”) right, which is strange given the manufacturing and tracking available today.There's a bit of anxiety with any Lego kit, especially as you near the end. With this kit, the anxiety is amplified by the number of parts (1132) and is warranted. there's roughly 8 parts that just aren't there (some similar parts but not the actual part). More surprising, there are 40 random pieces left over. And no, I didn't skip anything – I confirmed each step by carefully comparing everything to the instruction diagrams. But there's just a grab-bag of weird parts left over, and I had to substitute parts where possible.That seems to be a given with Lego... so much so that they offer a complete list of part numbers at the end of the manual, with a web url that I assume will ship missing parts. That's great, right? Well, maybe not so great – much of the build is sequential, so you would have to remove parts to replace the missing ones, Or you might think "we'll just wait on this until the part arrives." You and/or your child would lose interest after a few of these instances (again, I noted 8 mostly at the end, and there were likely more not less).This took me three days... about 25 hours or so (I'm retired). I am not a Lego guy (I am a Mars Rover guy), but I am a visual person with eye/hand coordination. Again, there's fascination and frustration with this kit.If you're the parent of a child doing this, then you might suggest doing it together. We old folk are used to dealing with disappointment, and then finding solutions. I think going through that mental process together may be the best gift you can give your kids, since it's real life.All in all, an amazing model that is a joy to assemble, but a bit tainted by the usual Lego parts thing. On the positive side, there are numerous surprises along the way. The suspension and steering are amazing (the steering is pretty loose due to the number of mechanical connections, mechanisms, and the nature of plastic, but it's not a huge deal). And yes, there are two steering modes as in the actual rover… one turns in a typical arc and the other allows the rover to spin on a dime as with the real rover. This is just insane for a Lego model to replicate – absolutely fantastic engineering and design!Oh, and one quick note on the decals: I would recommend applying them *while* assembling (in other words, when the directions say to do so). I was so into the building part that I thought "I'll just apply them after everything is built." This can be done, but it's more difficult to get them placed well. Two things that make this easier: some nylon tweezers to handle the decals while positioning them (typically used for model building when you don't want to scratch parts) and an X-acto knife (or some similar sharp blade) for when you need to lift the decal off if it's not quite positioned to your liking... the blade can be used to lift a corner enough to give the nylon tweezers something to grip. When (not if :) you need to lift a decal off, pull slowly and keep the tweezers in line with the decal (meaning don't bend the decal with the tweezers – lift slowly and directly up).My favorite mechanical treat was a total surprise. Early in the build, you’re doing things that aren’t really clear, but you just follow the directions. At the end of the 250-page instruction book, you’re treated to something truly cool – SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!Seriously. Don't read the rest of the review.Sigh... okay. I tried. So there are two “pipes” poking out of the back, which I thought was strange since they aren’t on the actual rover. Turns out these are knobs for lowering and rotating the proboscis (the sensor in front). The mechanisms are created early on and are hidden, but they are just an incredible example of the thought that went into this kit. They’re somewhat of an Easter egg… you only discover the function in the last few pages.Pretty freaking awesome bit of thought and engineering. I’d give this 5 stars for that feature alone, but I can’t give it that rating because they really have to get their parts thing together, especially as they develop more intricate kits. This isn’t 1980.So see this as a 4.8 star review.
LEGO.com
5/5
Superb set for space fans
I purchased this set for my 9yr old son who currently has a love of all things to do with Lego and Space! This was also his first Technics set. Having read the reviews I was a little bit unsure if this would be a little bit too difficult for him but I needn’t worry. He received this Christmas Day, started building that afternoon and by the following afternoon it was complete. He loved building it and didn’t seem to face any difficulties that others had mentioned. It’s also bigger than I expected. It’s such a great set with lots of moving parts and the AR app is a great addition, he particularly liked flying the drone and completing all the missions. I can see this being a much loved set.
Bol.com
4/5
Nice project
Nice model, it doesn't take too long to build. The model also moves, but the arm can only be moved in a very minimalist way; it's more of a static model. The suspension/interior is the most interesting part.
LEGO.com
5/5
5 Stars
Easily my favorite set I’ve ever built. I’m really into space and this rover has so many functions. Would recommend to anybody who enjoys space or moving parts.
LEGO.com
4/5
Cool build.
The LEGO set is awesome. The problem is it was shipped with UPS who crushed the box that this and another expensive set was in, then dumped it on the porch with a single piece of tape holding the entire thing closed. Large gaps, glad nothing fell out.
LEGO.com
5/5
Tolle Erlebnis, richtige Abenteuer
Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance is an impressive product in every way! The Lego is made of high-quality materials and is designed in detail, which provides a fun and educational experience for both children and adults.
The assembly was not only fun for me, but also an exciting challenge. If I had children, putting the product together would certainly give us many shared experiences. It can be an excellent father-son program for those who have children. When assembling the model, which consists of many parts, children can develop their problem-solving skills, patience and precision, and adults can fly back to their childhood and relive it with the help of Lego. I haven't played Lego in a long time, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I think the price is totally fine.
What makes the product even better is that there is a great app that you can download to your phone that you can play with and get to know the product better. The application that allows you to play with the finished product adds a really innovative and exciting element to the game. Virtual experiences allow both children and adults to gain insight into the knowledge gained from exploring Mars and learn interactively about the mysterious world of our solar system.
Overall, the Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance is an excellent choice for all space explorers and Lego fans. Enjoy the challenge of assembling it and discover the mystical world of Mars using the innovative application! A toy that offers a real permanent experience that is guaranteed to keep children and adults entertained for hours!
LEGO.com
5/5
Incredible!
I’m writing this review in the hopes that the team that designed this product sees it. I just want to say how blown away by the build quality and the engineering that went into mechanically linking so many components. The drivetrain is more complex than any LEGO set I’ve ever seen and being able to actively control multiple degrees of freedom on the boom is super cool! As an engineer who worked on the opportunity mars rover as well as many other nasa missions, I can confidently say that this set does justice to the real rover! So props to the design team you guys absolutely killed this one.
I highly recommend this set to anyone who is interested in engineering and seeing step by step what it takes to achieve complex moving parts!
LEGO.com
5/5
Remarkably Detailed
As a retired engineer, I found this build incredibly rewarding. Steps were simple enough (one or two pieces added per step) that a young engineer (age 10 and up) could tackle this one. Unlike some earlier Lego kits, this one has several durable multi-linked transmissions that give the lander unparalleled operational variety. The six wheels turn in/out or together. Extras like a retractable arm for exploration are sturdy in the build design. Engineers of all ages that like Lego will love this build. I'm a tough reviewer, but I give this one a 5.0 out of 5! What a great value.
LEGO.com
5/5
Good
Honestly the building experience was great with a few problems with certain areas, would like the arm control to be easier to use/quicker movement
LEGO.com
4/5
Perseverance
Great build.
Good detail and working parts.
Good value.
LEGO.com
5/5
Mars rover
One of the better ones I’ve done the build was great and very sturdy I really enjoyed this one
LEGO.com
3/5
it's... meh
Instructions could be done better. My set had a gazillion extra pieces but ended up missing a few parts. Lucky I had these parts in my Lego bin to substitute. This drove me crazy for a bit. Parts from Bag 1 have been mixed with the other Bags which caused me to open all bags and mix to locate the right parts. This was a bit annoying.
LEGO.com
5/5
Great set!
"I really like this set because it has amazing attention to detail. The suspension is very interesting because of all the specialty parts used in the gears. The arm is articulated and fun to build with the different gears, but it's a little floppy. I would have used more gears to tighten up the joints a bit more. I also really like the attention to detail in the Ingenuity Drone. The gold foil stickers are really neat. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys building technics and loves details. There was one missing piece, a white 7 by 1." (~T.I. age 13)
Wehkamp
5/5
A mechanical masterpiece
It is a very beautiful set with excellent attention to detail and a mechanical wonder. The mechanism behind it is a true masterpiece, both the wheels and the drill are examples of pure engineering.
LEGO.com
5/5
A great family activity
It took us forever to build but we were excited every time we finished a bag. It took us about a month to complete so it was at least 15 hours all together. The app was so helpful in putting it together. For smaller projects we usually use the included booklet but this manual was huge. My daughter and I loved building it together and we can’t wait our next Lego challenge. The worst part was trying to fix pieces on the inside once the shell was put together. I couldn’t keep the spinning panels on top from falling apart. That part in the 2nd pic should have been saved for last.
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