Everything LEGO Space is a potential must-buy for me. This is the way. And so I was excited to see that after only some two years there was another space/space port themed subseries from City!!

Parts

One word: tyres!! I've never had a set with so many tyres in it! Since we have six pairs of wheels, we get12 - rather thin - tyres! The new meteorite is also very nice, it even as some kind of transparent geode on the inside! Other than that, there's nothing too special. Big window screens, large hatches and a reasonable number of stickers.

Minifigures

Three minifigures accompany the rover, which is a good amount. We get a male driver for the vehicle and a male and female astronaut in full space gear. Of course, they also have some additional gear, such as a shovel, a flag and a metal detector.

The build

The instuctions come in one nicely designed booklet and are easy to follow, as usual. The build starts with the small patch of ground with the meteorite on it. The next step covers the main hull of the vehicle, followed by the exterior (manipulators, hatches, chassis and roof). Everything is very straightforward, as we're used to, and can easily be done in some 20-25 minutes.

The completed model

Upon finishing, we are presented with a sturdy, yet flexible and mobile planetary exploration vehicle. The independent suspension for the wheels gives it the opportunity to drive in every direction and turn on the spot. The two manipulators hold a small drill and a metal detector. To both sides are large hatches which fit to the extendable tunnel of the 60350 Lunar Research Base (check my review). The solar panels on both sides can also be opened to access a small compartment where the astronauts can be fit into. To the back of the vehicle is a small platform that can be lowered to store the meteorite.

Overall opinion

Another good set from a very nice City-subtheme. My positives are the good number of minifigures, the flexibility and movability of the vehicle and the many small but appealing functions, such as the many hatches, the completely openable roof and the cargo platform to the back. The abundance of wheels with golden rims is a welcome addition to my large wheels-and-tyres-storage!

My main negative point is the limited playability of this set on its own. You can flawlessly combine it with the other space-sets, as mentioned above, but if you have only this one, your possibilities are rather few. Still, it's a nice set for the younger space enthusiasts.

Ah man. I'm so thrilled and yet at the same time so disappointed with this set. Thrilled because it is a fantastic rover and yet, it is not.

I was stoked when I saw the first pictures for this new LEGO space theme. The sets looked amazing. I checked brickwatch on a daily basis for discounts, right until a nice one popped up, and I felt comfortable enough to buy this set (because the initial price was way too high).

Now that I have it, I have to admit that this is the first set since long that I have been busy playing with almost non-stop after building it. It is so swooshable, you will not believe it. It's 12 tiers make it twist and twirl and swoosh and glide and spin and turn and drift and.... I'm loving it!

Hahaha, this is so much fun... I am having a real blast here! So why not 5 stars?

Well, I feel like LEGO messed up part of the interior.

Now, don't get me wrong: I love the fact that all 3 figs can be seated inside the rover. I love the fact that the accessories (shovel and Chainsaw) can be stored on the back. I love the fact that different parts can open up, so you have some sort of flexibility. What I don't like is the centre compartment with the 2 computers behind the driver.

This space feels like a missed opportunity.

I like the fact that there is some kind of research-area. But why 2 computers with the same print? (The new prints aren't even that nice). Why not 1 computer, for example, 1 computer panel, 1 stud wide, a flat area with a jumper piece and maybe some sort of telescope build. Why also did they not include the new 1 x 1 round amoebae-tile... It would have made a world of difference, would have added so much to the playability, and could have made this set stand on his own. Now, I feel like it cannot.

It is such a shame: this set could have been gold, but now it ends up with silver...