Picking the best Forza Motorsport cars makes the difference between leading the pack in the racing game and getting left in the dust. Finding which car is right for you – or for a specific situation – isn’t so easy, though. Forza Motorsport throws dozens of cars at you from the start – top-class cars, cars with smooth handling, super fast rides, and numerous other combinations of adjectives and synonyms for “car.” There’s a lot to consider in the Xbox game, including how many credits you feel like throwing out for a new set of wheels.
We’ve put together this list of the best cars in Forza Motorsport to help give you an idea of how to pick what’s right for you, with a few recommendations in every class.
How to choose the best car in Forza Motorsport
Finding the best car in Forza Motorsport that you click with is about more than just which car goes the fastest. Speed is often the least important, as the fastest cars tend to perform weakly on corners.
Aside from speed, you also need to consider:
- Handling
- Braking
- Acceleration
Handling and acceleration are the most important, in our experience testing Forza’s cars. Rides with good handling have better traction during turns and don’t suffer as much from under- or oversteering. Good acceleration gets you a good advantage early by putting you ahead of the competition.
The best car balances these features and is ultimately easier and more satisfying to drive throughout the race. If you really like a car that just doesn’t perform that well, though, you can stick with it and upgrade it incrementally after each race. They might not land in first place for a while, but you can still make your favorites work – within reason.
If you notice a 0.4-0.5 point gap or greater in speed between the top of the class and your car, you might want to reconsider. In such a case, you’ll want to go for something a little speedier, since your slow fave won’t be closing that gap anytime soon.
Forza Motorsport: Which starter car to choose in the Builders' Cup Intro Series
Forza Motorsport drops you into the Builders’ Cup Intro Series first thing, a quick little prologue that introduces you to the wider career mode. You can pick one of three cars for free:
- 2018 Honda Civic Type R
- 2019 Subaru STI S2019
- 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Free is good, but the downside is that Motorsport doesn’t actually let you see each car’s attributes before you choose them.
Our top pick for this initial cup is the Honda Civic. Sure, the 2018 Ford Mustang GT is easily the fastest, and the 2019 Subaru STI S2019 is probably the most recognizable. The 2018 Honda Civic Type R is the most balanced, though, and that means you have the best chance of winning, especially pn the last turn at Grand Oak Raceway. Getting it just right – the way the Civic lets you do – means you can go full throttle and get an extra lead.
Forza Motorsport: Best cars to buy early
Practical Performance – 2021 Volkswagen Golf R
This one isn’t the fastest, but it’s the most balanced option for the race.
- Speed 3.6
- Handling 2.5
- Braking 2.4
- Acceleration 2.8
- AWD – IP 488
- Cost 70,000 C
Built for Sport – 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
This is the fastest of the sporting bunch.
- Speed 5.1
- Handling 2.9
- Braking 3.0
- Acceleration 4.5
- RWD – IP 608
- Cost: 115,000 C.
Super Sedans – 2018 BMW M5
This BMW stands out thanks to its superior acceleration
- Speed 6.5
- Handling 2.8
- Braking 3.3
- Acceleration 5.8
- AWD – IP 711
- Cost 179,000 C
Enthusiast Tour best car
Splash out your hard-earned credits on this for the Enthusiast Tour.
Track Specials – 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
- Speed 3.5
- Control 2.8
- Braking 2.9
- Acceleration 2.8
- RWD – IP 447
- Cost 82,000 C.
It might look old, but the 1990 Mercedes-Benz stands wheel and rim above pretty much every other car in this tour. It sports a respectable set of balanced stats and is one of the few that lets you go full on while getting out of corners without losing the rear end.
Power Tour best car
Iconic Muscle – 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8
- Speed 3.5
- Control 2.4
- Braking 2.7
- Acceleration 4.1
Forza Motorsport best Class X car
2017 Porsche #2 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid
There’s not much to choose from in Class X at launch. The three very expensive cars cost the same and perform comparatively similarly to each other, but the Porsche’s all-wheel drive means it handles more efficiently. If you splash out for Class X, this should be your first.
Forza Motorsport best Class P car
2014 Toyota #8 Toyota Racing TS040 Hybrid
The TS040 is an exceptional car that brings high speed, acceleration, and handling to the table. Class P cars might not be as near-perfect as Class X, but this one sure comes close.
Forza Motorsport best Class R car
2015 Radical RXC Turbo OR 1989 Ferrari F40 Competizione
Class R is a bit of a weird one, with cars that don’t perform that well, but still carry a hefty price tag. The Radical RXC Turbo and the 1989 Ferrari are the best of the bunch, though. Both are – comparatively – more affordable and have respectable stats. The Turbo’s high handling and acceleration make it an easy recommendation, though the Ferrari’s higher top speed means it’s a serious competitor.
Forza Motorsport best Class S car
1998 Nissan R390 (GT1)
The stats are noticeably lower on most Class S cars, but the Nissan R390 stands out as an exception. Its high speed and acceleration make it a standout pick in this class, though the handling could be better.
Forza Motorsport best Class A car
1993 Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar XJ220 has always performed well, and while it might not be S-class material anymore, its high speed and solid other stats mean it’s still worth your credits.
Forza Motorsport best Class B car
2023 Lotus Emira
It’s hard to recommend a B-class car when their stats are this low, but the Lotus Emira is a nice, balanced package with good handling, speed, and acceleration.
Forza Motorsport best Class C car
Chevrolet Camaro 35th Anniversary Super Sport
The Super Sport is always a strong contender in Class C, thanks to its surprisingly high speed and acceleration. Braking and handling are a bit low, but at least you’ll get back on your proverbial feet more quickly.
Forza Motorsport best Class D car
1994 Nissan Fairlady Z
We’re breaking our rule just a bit with the Fairlady. It’s not the most balanced of the Class D bunch, but it does have high speed. That’s important at this rank, where even the most balanced cars have low stats that make pulling ahead a challenge.
Forza Motorsport best Class E car
1973 BMW 2002 Turbo
It’s hard to recommend any car from Class E, the “you get what you pay for” class. Still, the BMW has higher acceleration than most and fairly even numbers in the other stats. You won’t go fast, but you’ll hit top speed before most other Class E competitors.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
