Forza Horizon 5: Best Cars To Upgrade (2024)

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the most popular racing games around, with its breathtaking graphics and amazing gameplay being an absolute joy to play through. The title is full to the brim with many scenic vistas and amazing challenges to accomplish, and players are constantly incentivized to get the best cars around so that they can ace the many races in these games.

There are numerous cars that players can choose to own and drive in Forza Horizon 5, and the vast majority of them can be upgraded to improve their performance. That being said, upgrades are expensive and players will have to think twice before selecting a car that is worth upgrading in the first place. The following vehicles should be right up their alley and justify the amount they invest in improving the car's performance.

Updated May 31, 2024 by Vlad Mazanko:Following two full expansions and dozens of smaller updates, Forza Horizon 5 is now in its best shape, featuring over 800 upgradeable vehicles for every taste. Some rare supercars can additionally benefit from full body kits, enhancing their visual appearance as well as boosting various stats such as aerodynamics and downforce. Below are some of the best cars with extensive upgrade options, including some of the most recent exotic cars added to Forza Horizon 5 in 2024.

15 Ferrari FXX

A Roaring Track-Focused Supercar With A Beastly Design

• Default Rating: S2 956
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

A classic car that still performs well to this day, players who want to experience one of Ferrari's best vehicles firsthand should check this vehicle out. Not only does this car look amazing, building on the impressive appearance of Ferrari Enzo, but it's a blast to use as well.

That being said, some members of the Forza community dislike this car for how unbalanced it is, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. With a bunch of upgrades, this car can be pretty fun to use and breeze through a crowd of racers in no time flat.

14 Radical RXC Turbo

An Extreme Track Toy For Conquering S2 Events Full Of Turns

• Default Rating: S2 928
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

Radical RXC Turbo is easily one of the coolest-looking cars and one that Forza Horizon 5 players will love to use for short sprints and drag races. It may lack top speed, but it more than makes up for it with its supreme acceleration and handling.

This makes it the perfect car for racetracks with a ton of turns. Players shouldn't expect it to perform very well on straight-line circuits, no matter how many upgrades are brought into the picture, but during more tricky racing events it could prove invaluable.

13 Mosler MT900S

High-Performance Supercar For An Affordable Price

• Default Rating: S2 919
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

Speaking of amazing S2 cars, another great vehicle that comes to mind is the Mosler MT900S. The sheer amount of speed this car generates makes it well worth checking out for Forza Horizon players who want to reach unprecedented levels of speed.

It can be quite pricey to upgrade, but investing in Mosler MT900S is quite worthwhile. The vehicle is already fast as is, and upgrading its specs to the max makes it one of the best cars out there by a country mile. It is also very affordable, with a price tag of just 320,000 CR.

12 Mercedes-AMG One

Hybrid Sports Car With A Track Or Highway Mode Toggle

• Default Rating: S2 927
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

One of the greatest sports cars of all time that looks absolutely stunning, it goes without saying that Mercedes-AMG One is one of the best cars in Forza Horizon 5. The car might have more wheelspin than most people would want, but players can easily make up for a bad start in any race with the car's stronger attributes.

With upgrades, this vehicle turns into an all-rounded beast that players can rely on in any race. Of course, being a jack of all trades means that some tracks are better suited to other cars...but Mercedes-AMG One will still serve seasoned racers pretty well regardless.

11 Koenigsegg Jesko

The Fastest Car In The Game That Can Go Even Faster With Some Upgrades

• Default Rating: S2 971
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

Players get a taste of Koenigsegg Jesko during a pretty memorable challenge where they need to narrowly avoid as many cars as possible. It makes for a great time, with the incredible speed of the Jesko being the highest top speed most players have experienced at that point in the game.

Players need to hoard a ton of cash before even thinking about buying this car, but the cost is well worth it. Additional funding into this car's upgrades makes it a speed demon that will win most straight-line races with the greatest of ease.

10 Nissan GT-R Black Edition R35

A Great Supercar For Almost Every Racing Discipline

• Default Rating: S1 810
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 955
• Wide Body: Liberty Walk

The Nissan GT-R Black Edition is one of the best choices overall in Forza Horizon 5, offering high speed and acceleration without compromises in handling on the track. Starting in the S1 class, players can push this vehicle for great results even in S2, enjoying its unparalleled responsiveness while cornering.

Players can obtain the Liberty Walk wide body kit for the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, complete with a huge rear wing by the same brand, pushing this vehicle to its limits. With an aggressive low stance, the upgraded version of this car won't leave a chance for any competitors in S1 Street Racing events.

9 McLaren 650S Coupé

One Of The Few Supercars With A Wide Body Kit Available

• Default Rating: S1 859
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 967
• Wide Body: Liberty Walk

The McLaren 650S Coupé is a rather affordable supercar in Forza Horizon 5 (420,000 CR) that proves more than capable for its price. Players can upgrade the vehicle to stay on top of the S1 class or push it even further, significantly boosting its top speed and acceleration capabilities.

It is recommended to purchase a Liberty Walk wide body kit for the McLaren 650S Coupé, along with a Forza rear wing, completing its upgraded track appearance. The car is one of the few in its category allowing for such transformative upgrades, so it's best to take full advantage and enjoy its enhanced performance across S2 class events.

8 Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV

A Rare Lambo With An Aggressive Track Bodykit

• Default Rating: S1 818
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 970
• Wide Body: Liberty Walk

Lamborghini Murciélago is unique for being one of the few legendary Italian cars with more upgrades available, including visual body parts. On its own, the car is a decent representative of the S1 supercar class, yet with some time spent in the garage, players can create something truly remarkable.

Lambo Murciélago can also benefit from a full conversion via a Liberty Walk wide body kit, along with a huge rear wing for extreme downforce. With some performance upgrades on top, players can unleash one of the most competent S2 supercars in Forza Horizon 5, competing head-to-head with much more expensive choices in that class.

7 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 2024

A Newly Added And Fastest Corvette Ever Made

• Default Rating: S1 834
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 988
• Wide Body: Sigala Designs

The Corvette E-Ray is one of the most recent cars added to Forza Horizon 5 and is quite notable on its own. Not only is it claimed to be the “fastest Corvette ever,” but its moderate price of just 181,000 CR and extreme flexibility in terms of performance and visual upgrades deserve one's full attention.

For this car, a unique Sigala Designs carbon fiber wide body kit with an exquisite rear wing is available, which shouldn't be missed. When fully upgraded, the Corvette E-Ray can perform as well as much rarer and more expensive cars in the S2 class, so, given its price, this one should be in every player's collection.

6 BAC Mono 2014

The Ultimate Choice For Best Jumping Results

• Default Rating: S1 868
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 991

The BAC Mono is a rather special vehicle in Forza Horizon 5, especially for those wanting to maximize their High Jump results in Mexico. With its weight of just 1,354 lbs, and impressive top speed and acceleration, this ultralight car can bring players three-star jumps all across the map. Tweaking its parts can boost this car's performance almost to the S2 class limits, meaning they can go even faster and jump much further than with the stock version.

Even though fans can purchase this car directly from the Autoshow, BAC Mono is very easy to get nowadays: there are plenty of offers for just about 30-40k CR at the Auction House in Forza Horizon 5 available, so if players don't own one yet, don't waste any more time.

5 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

One Of The Highest-Performance Porsches For A Moderate Price

• Default Rating: S1 888
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998
• Wide Body: Duke Dynamics

There's something about this beloved Porsche model that makes it such a fun vehicle to drive. Sure, other cars may be more optimized for various types of races and challenges...but none of them are as iconic as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

If players don't care too much about min-maxing during competitive play, then this vehicle is the way to go. It's a smooth and satisfying car to drive that can be quite satisfying if tuned and upgraded properly. It is also quite affordable for its stats, costing just 315,000 CR.

4 Jaguar XJR-15

This Barn Find Can Cover Your Needs For S1 And S2 Classes

• Default Rating: S1 828
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

One of the best barn finds in the game is the Jaguar XJR-15. It's an incredibly fast car that is a ton of fun to use, with skilled drivers getting a ton of mileage out of this vehicle. This car requires no luck to find, making it a popular choice for most Forza Horizon 5 players.

That being said, players should know exactly what they're doing before upgrading this car. The last thing they want is for this car's strengths to become muted and ineffective because of poor customization. It should be noted that this Jaguar can reach the top tier of the S2 class, making it rather versatile as well.

3 Honda NSX-R GT

Extremely Rare, But Worth It

• Default Rating: A 725
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 996

One of the best default A-class cars out there, the Honda NSX-R GT is preferred by people who want their cars to handle like a peach. It's a smooth and satisfying car to drive, and beginners who manage to obtain this car for themselves will learn the ropes of the game pretty quickly.

There may be faster A-class vehicles out there, but none of them are as easy to drive as the NSX-R GT. It's a great vehicle that players can use to tackle A-class races - and much more with some upgrades - and win in style.

2 Lotus Elise GT1

This Supercar Can Take You Through Even The Trickiest Corners Easily

• Default Rating: A 794
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998

Players who prioritize good handling over everything else will love the GT1 for how smooth it is to control. There's a reason why this car is so popular in the game, with the player's control over this vehicle being pretty pronounced.

This makes it a good car to upgrade and get more power out of since handling will rarely be an issue in the game. As long as players don't poorly tune this car, they'll be pleased with what the vehicle has to offer. Lotus Elise GT1 is suitable for use in a wide range of racing events, proving to perform well from the A to S2 class.

1 Ford Mustang GT 2024

A Newly Added Muscle Car With Flexible Upgrades And A Jaw-Dropping Bodykit

• Default Rating: A 739
• Max Upgrade Rating: S2 998
• Wide Body: Triple Seven

As one of the most beloved cars already, the Ford Mustang GT is always a great choice, but the most recent 2024 variation can push that even further. Featuring an impressive Triple Seven wide body kit with a fascinating rear wing, this newly added car in Forza Horizon 5 is one of the most flexible ever.

Starting as an A-class vehicle, the Ford Mustang GT can dominate the A, S1, and S2 classes, going all the way to the top. Combining its classy, recognizable design with several modern upgrades, 2024's Ford Mustang GT could be a crown jewel in any collection.

Forza Horizon 5

Released

November 9, 2021

Developer(s)

Playground Games

Genre(s)

Racing

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X