LEGO Santa’s Delivery Truck (40746) Review: Compact Holiday Cheer in Brick Form
Introduction
The LEGO Santa’s Delivery Truck (40746) is a compact seasonal set designed to bring a bit of North Pole charm to your holiday building lineup. With 224 pieces and an 8+ age recommendation, it sits in the sweet spot between a simple stocking stuffer and a more involved display piece. It aims to be both a festive toy for kids and a decorative element for LEGO winter villages or Christmas mantels.
Available around $9.99 on Amazon, it’s positioned as an accessible way to add some Christmas spirit without committing to a large, premium winter set.
Key Points
- Set number: 40746 – Santa’s Delivery Truck
- Piece count: 224 pieces
- Recommended age: 8+
- Theme: LEGO Seasonal / Christmas
- Main build: Festive delivery truck with opening cargo area
- Included character: 1 elf minifigure (truck driver)
- Accessories: Mini Christmas tree (fits on the roof), presents, letter, Santa’s sack, decorative sticker sheet
- Use cases: Play-focused vehicle toy, small holiday display, winter village add-on
Experience
Build Process
The build is straightforward but satisfying, making it well suited to the suggested 8+ age range. Younger builders with some prior LEGO experience should find the steps clear, while adults will appreciate how much visual interest is packed into a relatively small footprint.
- Truck chassis and cab: The first portion of the build focuses on the vehicle’s base and driver’s cab. Standard brick and plate techniques are used, with a simple but effective front grille and headlights to convey a classic holiday delivery truck look.
- Cargo section and interior: The rear of the truck opens to reveal storage space for gifts and accessories. Hinged elements and removable sections give good access to the interior without making the structure fragile.
- Tree and accessories: The mini Christmas tree is a quick sub-build that can sit independently or mount on the roof. Small builds representing wrapped gifts, a letter, and Santa’s sack add narrative detail without complicating the build.
Overall construction time is modest—often under an hour for experienced builders and a comfortable afternoon activity for kids. The build strikes a good balance between ease and engagement, and the color palette (reds, greens, whites, and festive accents) immediately reads as Christmas-themed.
Design and Play Features
For play, the truck offers:
- Rolling wheels for simple push-and-go play on flat surfaces.
- Accessible cab where the elf minifigure can be seated to drive.
- Opening or removable cargo area so children can load and unload presents and the tree.
- Decorative stickers that let builders customize the truck with festive signage and details.
For display, the proportions are compact enough to fit onto a shelf, desk, or within a larger winter village layout. With the tree placed on top, the truck reaches about 5.5 in. (15 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) long, and 2.5 in. (7 cm) wide, so it won’t dominate other models but still stands out visually.
Minifigure and Accessories
The single elf minifigure is the focal character:
- Festive torso print suitable for Santa’s workshop or village scenes.
- Classic elf hat and cheerful facial expression that work well across other LEGO holiday builds.
Accessories help tell a clear story:
- Mini Christmas tree that can be displayed on a base or clipped to the roof.
- Gift builds that can be stacked, hidden in the truck, or placed around a village display.
- Letter element and Santa’s sack that reinforce the idea of Christmas deliveries.
These elements expand role-play potential—kids can imagine the elf loading up at Santa’s workshop, driving through snowy streets, and making deliveries to houses and shops.
Pros
- Good value as a seasonal set: A solid piece count and a fully realized vehicle build at around $9.99 makes this an approachable entry into LEGO’s holiday line.
- Dual-purpose design: Works both as a children’s playset and as a modest display model for adults, especially when combined with winter village or Christmas scenes.
- Strong theming: Color choices, stickers, accessories, and the elf driver all contribute to a cohesive festive aesthetic.
- Compact footprint: Easy to place on a crowded shelf, office desk, or mantel, and simple to store away with other holiday decorations.
- Expandable: Integrates naturally with other LEGO Christmas sets and general city layouts, giving it use beyond a single season.
Cons
- Only one minifigure: Some buyers may wish the set included Santa himself or an additional elf or child figure to enrich storytelling.
- Sticker reliance: Key decorative details rely on stickers rather than prints, which may disappoint collectors who prefer printed elements or younger builders who struggle with precise sticker placement.
- Limited complexity for advanced builders: Experienced adult fans may find the build techniques relatively simple compared with larger winter village sets.
- Seasonal specificity: The design is strongly tied to Christmas, so it may see less use outside the holiday period unless repurposed in a broader village or fantasy layout.
Verdict
The LEGO Santa’s Delivery Truck (40746) is a well-rounded seasonal set that successfully bridges play and display. Its approachable build, charming elf driver, and assortment of classic Christmas accessories make it a versatile addition to both children’s toy rotations and adult winter village collections.
At roughly $9.99, it offers a solid amount of content for a compact seasonal box, especially if you’re looking to expand a holiday display or give a festive gift that doesn’t require hours of building. Families seeking a manageable holiday craft project, or collectors wanting a small vehicle to complement larger winter sets, will find this to be a thoughtful and thematic choice.
