Stephen Holden of The New York Times said the "movie doesn't waste time admiring the technology at the expense of human drama, of which there is plenty, none of it overblown". Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle compared Race the Sun to Cool Runnings for solar cars, saying it "boasts not only the lively spectacle of the race but also the kids learning to set aside their differences and insecurities to bond as a team.
Stephen Holden of The New York Times commented that the movie does not overemphasize technology at the expense of human drama, which is present in abundance. Peter Stack from the San Francisco Chronicle likened Race the Sun to Cool Runnings for solar cars, stating it "boasts not only the exciting race scenes but also the children learning to resolve their conflicts and insecurities to work together as a team."