LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape review

LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape offers a decent take on a flashback scene, but its appeal undoubtedly rests on one minifigure in particular.

LEGO Star Wars sets that draw a crowd thanks to their minifigures are becoming more common and 75378 BARC Speeder Escape appears to be the latest to do so. Don’t be deceived though: the models and other minifigures in this new LEGO Star Wars set make it one to look out for this month.

75378 BARC Speeder Escape recreates the flashback sequence from The Mandalorian Season 3, complete with the first minifigure of Ahmed Best’s Kelleran Beq. While it’s up against some fierce competition in the May the 4th 2024 wave, this is one set not to miss thanks to a surprisingly reasonable price, impressive build and one of the most unusual but strangely appealing side models in the theme to date.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape set details —

Theme: LEGO Star Wars Set name: 75378 BARC Speeder Escape Release: May 1, 2024

Price: £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99 Pieces: 221 Minifigures: 3

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape —

75378 BARC Speeder Escape is available now at LEGO.com, in LEGO Stores and through third-party retailers – including The Minifigure Store – for £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape build —

The majority of the 221 pieces in 75378 BARC Speeder Escape are put towards the BARC Speeder and the attached sidecar. Such a vehicle is nothing new for LEGO Star Wars: in the past 25 years there have been nine different models of this speeder.

As the latest in that reasonably long line of brick-built BARC Speeders, 75378 BARC Speeder Escape is the most accurate and satisfying take on the vehicle yet. It’s still far too big compared to a standard minifigure but the odd proportions of the LEGO Group’s iconic figures don’t make replicating smaller vehicles an easy task without specially-moulded elements.

Given the existing constraints and challenges that every other take on the BARC Speeder has faced, 75378 BARC Speeder Escape‘s model features the most detail of any of them. The engines at the back of the set are especially strong and feel vastly different to any other model. The shaping is fantastic too and you can easily remove the stud shooters for a more accurate appearance, though they don’t detract too much from the design.

Still, for those aiming to focus on the display value of 75378 BARC Speeder Escape, you’ll be satisfied with the speeder part of the set with or without the shooters at the front. The sidecar is less impressive and feels bulkier than that of 5012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar, though the curved elements provide a natural, smoother aesthetic.

The sidecar has enough space for Grogu in his hover pram as well as more than enough space for a standard minifigure, although normal minifigures have a bit too much legroom and don’t look secure in the sidecar compared to the speeder.

The sidecar can be easily detached and tilted for some dynamic action scenes, despite the baby on board. While the BARC Speeder is the main attraction, the side builds have proven a welcome surprise too. The hover pram is a familiar design but one that is still notably rare in LEGO The Mandalorian sets. The existing build has been re-used here and it works just as well as ever.

LEGO models based on Coruscant are rare but the planet’s unique architecture has been practically begging for more builds, whether they’re based on the Jedi Temple or the seedy underbelly of the planet. Thankfully, 75378 BARC Speeder Escape provides a crumb of LEGO Coruscant in the form of a stylised street light.

The lamp doesn’t make or break the build in any sense of the phrase, though its curvature and size make it an oddly appealing model. This might be due to the lack of LEGO Coruscant in general, but the BARC Speeder is good enough that this smaller lamp doesn’t detract from the main model while offering just enough decoration to help set the scene. It could have been better, but it could have been much worse for a build such as this.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape minifigures —

The minifigures – specifically one minifigure in particular – are the stars of 75378 BARC Speeder Escape and for £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99, four characters are included with three full minifigures and Grogu. It’s a great amount for a LEGO Star Wars set as inexpensive as this and will bolster your existing collection while providing a brand new character.

There’s no doubt that Kelleran Beq is the highlight of 75378 BARC Speeder Escape as the only exclusive character in the LEGO Star Wars set, his on-screen counterpart marking the return of both Ahmed Best (known for his work as Jar Jar Binks) and a character that had previously only featured as the host of a children’s game show.

Thankfully, Kelleran Beq got the spotlight in the third season of The Mandalorian and has managed to score a detailed and enticing LEGO minifigure too. LEGO Kelleran Beq has printing on the torso, legs and arms. It all appears to be exclusive to this minifigure and the gold detailing on the torso is a fantastic addition that may be useful for High Republic minifigures too.

The face print is suitably neutral given that the character is bald and there’s no room to hide an alternate face. An extra head with a different face could have been good but there’s no major precedent for this in LEGO Star Wars and it doesn’t seem reasonable to expect it now.

Two lightsabers are included for the character to use, just as he wields in The Mandalorian Season 3. The green lightsaber is the Jedi’s while the blue was picked up from a fallen Jedi during Order 66. It’s good to see them both included here to recreate the sequence more fully.

Compared to Kelleran Beq, Grogu and the two 501st Clone Troopers are destined to be overlooked – though they shouldn’t be. The printing on these minifigures is solid too and the pair of Clone Troopers will be useful in expanding an existing 501st army.

Grogu’s baby figure is as detailed as it has ever been in The Mandalorian models and while the printing only covers a minuscule surface area of the body, a small set such as 75378 BARC Speeder Escape doesn’t seem like a reasonable place for an upgrade – no matter how much one will become more necessary over time.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape price —

At £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99, 75378 BARC Speeder Escape feels just right. There’s enough volume in the models to justify the price tag and combined with the minfigures, it feels completely fair in all regions.

No further minifigures are required to explain the price point and while the lamp side build is as basic as expected, the detail in the speeder, the minifigure selection and the accessories make this model one to watch out for this May the 4th. It’s also ideally priced as an add-on to a larger order to qualify for any May the 4th gifts-with-purchase you desire.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape pictures —

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape pros and cons —

While minifigure-centric LEGO Star Wars sets are becoming common – including 75372 Clone Trooper & Battle Droid Battle Pack, 75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship and more – rest assured that 75378 BARC Speeder Escape has a satisfying model selection too.

The speeder and sidecar and even the lamp should look good on display, but the minifigures (or Kelleran specifically) are the stars of 75378 BARC Speeder Escape. For Star Wars and LEGO Star Wars enthusiasts alike, you’ll probably be planning to add this set to your collection eventually for the exclusive Jedi, but the rest of the set offers an enjoyable experience at a reasonable price too.

This set was purchased from The Minifigure Store, where you too can purchase the new May 1 LEGO Star Wars sets from now, with worldwide shipping available.

In-stock orders are sent within 24 hours of being placed with free UK tracked shipping from £24.99 (£49.99 on larger items), as well as a number of discount codes available at their site, including 17% off polybags.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO through one of our affiliate links.

— Alternatives to LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape —

Some good alternatives to 75378 BARC Speeder Escape for Grogu, 501st minifigures and speeder-centric The Mandalorian builds include 75363 The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter Microfighter for £12.99 / $15.99 / €15.99. 75345 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack can expand on the two troopers featured in the new set too.

The best alternative to 75378 BARC Speeder Escape is the retired 75299 Trouble on Tatooine with a similar assortment of models, though none of these sets include Kelleran Beq’s first minifigure.

— LEGO Star Wars 75378 BARC Speeder Escape FAQs —

Author Profile

Jack Yates

LEGO has been a part of my life ever since I was young. It all started when my brother passed down 7657 AT-ST to me. It’s guided me through my early years, through school and eventually through my degree in journalism. I still have all my collection proudly on display, including my many NINJAGO sets, my favourite of all the LEGO Group’s themes. Outside of Brick Fanatics I am an avid gamer and enjoy a good game of Dungeons & Dragons.

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