Forza Horizon 5: The Best Cars In Each Class (2024)

Forza Horizon 5's been out for a good while now. Quite a few cool new additions have been added to the game since its launch, and a new rally-themed DLC is on the way too. As a result, some of us might either be considering buying it now or getting back into it after a bit of time away. With that being the case, some of us who are new to the game or might be a bit rusty might need to know the best cars in the game.

Updated July 2023: Forza is one of today's most popular racing games series. Forza Horizon 5 covers various driving disciplines, from road racing to cross country, drifting to dirt racing. With over 500 cars available in-game, we have updated this list with the best cars in each class to buy, customize and upgrade. Also included is in-depth information about these 15 best cars in Forza Horizon 5.

RELATED: These Are The 13 Fastest Cars In Forza Horizon 5

The Forza Horizon 5 game is the most realistic racing game and has an almost dizzying amount of choice across all 6 of its car classes. It can sometimes be hard to choose what car you want to mainly run for each class!

We've researched and found the best cars you can get for all of them. Surprisingly, the choices across all the classes are quite varied. Some of them are cars you might not have even considered before!

16 S2 - Mosler MT900S (2010)

Value: 320,000 CR

Performance Index

The Mosler M900S has become legendary among Forza players. There's a good reason for this: if tuned properly, it can be faster than almost anything else in the game! People have achieved top speeds of over 290 mph with 6.5-liter V12 engine swaps. Weighing only 2480 lbs and with a 9.8 handling rating, it's also one of the game's best canyon carvers.

The Mosler M900S is definitely most suited to anything that's on the tarmac. If you want a dirt racer in S2 class, choose a different car. But, for street or drag races, you'll be almost unbeatable.

Engine Specs & Performance

15 S2 - Hoonigan Ford "Hoonicorn" Mustang (1965)

Value: 320,000 CR

Performance Index

Want to dominate drifting? Look no further than the Hoonigan Ford "Hoonicorn" Mustang (1965). Why? It's bred as a bespoke drift car by Hoonigan with more power than you need. Second, according to Autoblog, it boasts the quickest 0-60 mph launch out of any car in the Forza series. Because the Hoonigan Ford "Hoonicorn" Mustang (1965) features AWD, you can take it offroad and ride high in the leaderboards

The major downside with this Mustang in previous games is that it was a rare reward or DLC car, making it quite difficult to acquire in the game. But now, in Forza Horizon 5, you can easily get it on the auction house. But that's if you're lucky, as it's still highly desired.

Engine Specs & Performance

14 S2 - Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (1998)

Value: 2,000,000 CR

Performance Index

RELATED: The Best Drag Car In Forza Horizon 5

It probably shouldn't be surprising that the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of the best cars for S2 class races. Much like the Mosler M900S, it's become legendary in Forza circles for being near unbeatable. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the CLK GTR's ability is that, with an AWD drivetrain swap, it can actually be very good in dirt races!

If you can get the CLK GTR in Forza Horizon 5, you absolutely should. You'll be guaranteed to be at the front of the pack in almost any S2 class races. Just ensure you do that AWD swap and unlock its potential.

Engine Specs & Performance

13 S1 - Jaguar Sport XJR-15 (1991)

Value: 500,000 CR

Performance Index

The Jaguar Sport XJR-15 is one of Forza Horizon 5's barn finds. This makes it a bit more of a challenge to get than other cars in its class. If you manage to get it, you'll be rewarded well! Thanks to being extremely lightweight, it's incredibly fast. It also handles brilliantly, with its 2315 lbs weight distributed 48%/52% between the front and rear.

The XJR-15 is best suited to anything that's on the tarmac. Thanks to its handling, It'll be great in street races. If you get the XJR-15 and work out a good tune for it, you'll be near-unbeatable in S1 class races!

Engine Specs & Performance

12 S1 - Lotus Elise GT1 (1997)

Value: 1,800,000 CR

Performance Index

You wouldn't think the Elise GT1 would be a world-beater in Forza Horizon 5. But, with the right tune, it is one of the game's best all-around cars! While it's most suited to street racing, thanks to its great handling, you can also use it for any other kind of competition.

The Lotus Elise GT1 might not be your immediate choice for an S1 class build. But it's absolutely worth it as this car can hang with the best of them in this class!

Engine Specs & Performance

11 S1 - Porsche Taycan Turbo S "Welcome Pack" (2020)

Value: 185,000 CR

Performance Index

RELATED: 10 Rare Cars In Forza Horizon 5

If you want to top the speed charts without splashing cash, Porsche Taycan Turbo S is an excellent choice in FH5. It is a stunner in looks and performance on the tarmac.

Being an electric car, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S's acceleration is impressive, making it one of the best cars for speed traps and speed zones. The "Welcome Pack" version on the top end pushes 270mph in stock form! Handling is also very impressive despite its 5121 lbs weight. The Taycan Turbo S gets in and out of corners and drifts betters than some expensive gas-powered cars.

Engine Specs & Performance

10 A - Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (2002)

Value: 63,000 CR

Performance Index

The Nissan Skyline GT-R appears in many racing games, so it's unsurprising that it also pops up in Forza Horizon 5. The 2002 GT-R V-Spec II is a brilliant buy for any A-class racing in this game. Its handling and speed are both great as it's a track-focused model. And thanks to it being AWD, it can also easily be modified to be competitive in dirt races.

The penultimate model of the Skyline GT-R "R34" series, this JDM legend gets put in all sorts of racing games. Something apparent in Forza Horizon 5 is that this car is a genuine threat across the board in A-class races. You definitely won't regret buying one and spending the time tuning it to make it a proper A-class weapon!

Engine Specs & Performance

9 A - Hot Wheels Bone Shaker (2011)

Value: 150,000 CR

Performance Index

The Hot Wheels Bone Shaker has been a staple of the Forza Motorsport series for a while now, thanks to its partnership with Hot Wheels. While it looks like it could just be a fun Hot Wheels-themed addition to the game that doesn't have any substance, that is absolutely not the case. The Boneshaker can make a fantastic A-class build in pretty much any category.

The Hot Wheels Boneshaker is one of the most eccentric-looking cars in Forza Horizon 5. As a result, it might not be to everyone's taste. But if you try making a build with one, you'll find out that it's a brilliant car for pretty much any form of racing! It sounds and drives like a monster.

Engine Specs & Performance

8 A - Sierra Cars RX3 (2021)

Value: 45,000 CR

Performance Index

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Big, high-clearance SUVs, off-roaders, and buggies are the way to go for cross-country events. Only added recently to the game, the Sierra cars RX3 is one of the best cheap options in the Forza Horizon 5's A-class. It is a fun off-road buggy meant to dominate where smooth road surfaces end.

Handling and braking are not its biggest strengths. But don't that fool you; the Sierra Cars RX3 is pretty impressive in navigating tight, technical road layouts. It is available for 45,000 credits on the Autoshow.

Engine Specs & Performance

7 B - Nissan Pulsar GTI-R (1990)

Value: 20,000 CR

Performance Index

The Nissan Pulsar GTI-R has been in the Forza franchise since Forza Horizon 4. It was quite difficult to purchase in that game, but in Forza Horizon 5, it's available to buy freely from the Autoshow. This is absolutely brilliant for players, as it's a brilliant car for racing in B class!

It is based on one of the hottest hot-hatch of the 90s. As such, it's small and nimble and has a good turn of speed. It's also all-wheel drive as standard, so it'll be easy to adapt for dirt races too. For B-class races in almost any category, you can't go that wrong by buying and tuning up this little JDM pocket rocket. Whether you race it on tarmac or dirt, it'll be competitive.

Engine Specs & Performance

6 B - Honda Civic Type R (2016)

Value: 38,000 CR

Performance Index

The Honda Civic Type R is another car you shouldn't sleep on in the B-class. It is relatively easy to get in the game, and you don't need to shell out at all. This race-bred super hot-hatch is a blast to drive.

Thanks to heavily modified aero and bodywork, it boasts good acceleration and some very sharp handling. In short circuit racing, it can compete with just about anything with the right tune.

Engine Specs & Performance

5 C - Mini John Cooper Works (2009)

Value: 25,000 CR

Performance Index

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At first glance, the Mini John Cooper Works seems to be a fairly ordinary car among the usual fare you get in Forza Horizon 5. It's nowhere near being the fastest car in the game, and in its stock form, it doesn't look that special. But, with some tuning, it's a fantastic car for C-class races! The Mini John Cooper Works is pretty versatile and can be competitive on the dirt as well as on the tarmac.

You shouldn't sleep on the Mini John Cooper Works, especially for racing in lower classes. It can be competent in almost any kind of race at this level. Also, thanks to it being small and nimble its handling will be great for street races.

Engine Specs & Performance

4 C – Dodge Charger R/T (1969)

Value: 103,000 CR

Performance Index

Another good option in the C-class that has been a Forza mainstay is the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T (Road and Track). It first appeared in the LaFerrari Car Pack for Forza Motorsport 5 and has been in every main game since.

The 1969 Dodge Charger R/T is car is a revered icon within the muscle car world that brings back memories of the golden period. It performs nicely in Forza Horizon 5 and is a car you can even tune to wheelie for fun. Even though it's rare, it's a good option for making into a drag race rocket because acceleration and launch are its biggest strengths.

Engine Specs & Performance

3 D - Mazda MX-5 Miata (1994)

Value: 25,000 CR

Performance Index

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a staple of many racing games, not just the Forza series. So, it makes sense that one of the best cars in the lowest D class is the original early '90s version! These cars can be very competitive in D class with relatively few modifications. While they can be used for pretty much any type of competition, you're probably best off using them for street races or drifting.

While the Miata can be taken up into higher classes through engine swaps and other big modifications, it's at its best in the lower classes. Its nimble handling will work well and give you the edge in street races or drifting competitions.

Engine Specs & Performance

2 D - Ford Super Duty F-450 DRW Platinum (2020)

Value: 70,000 CR

Performance Index

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The Ford Super Duty F-450 DRW Platinum is definitely the least sporty car you can get in Forza Horizon 5. It's not one that you would think could have genuine performance credentials. But, with the right tune, it can be a great car! As you might expect from a big heavy-duty truck, the F-450 has great natural ability on the dirt. It can also be tuned for some seriously big power, should you want that for straight-line performance.

Where the F-450 will excel the most is in dirt races. Its naturally rugged capability will make it a great rally raid-style car for lower-class dirt races. Also, its big diesel power could make it a bit of a dark horse as a drag car!

Engine Specs & Performance

1 D - BMW Isetta 300 Export (1957)

Value: 45,000 CR

Performance Index

It may look odd with its egg shape and bubble-like windows, but the BMW Isetta 300 Export microcar can be a very fun car to play with in the D-class. Some players have even succeeded with it in doing drift zones in Forza Horizon 5.

Of particular note, it takes having the right code and luck to get those drift zone three stars. But why not try for a car that is easy to get. With offroading being its best quality, others have managed to make the BMW Isetta 300 Export a fun high-speed rally car with unique tunes like this.

Engine Specs & Performance