Overall Ranking · All Classes

20 Best Launch Cars in Forza Horizon 5

Every car in FH5 ranked by stock launch — no upgrades, no tunes, straight from the Autoshow. These 20 cars post the highest launch ratings in the entire game.

Updated February 2025 Ranked by Stock Launch · 899 cars analyzed
10.0
Best Launch
10.0
#20 Launch
AWD
Dominant Drivetrain
170K
Cheapest
899
Total Cars

Class Breakdown — Where Do the Best Launch Cars Come From?

A 2 of 20
S1 9 of 20
S2 9 of 20

Drivetrain: 16× AWD, 4× RWD — AWD dominates the top 20.

Price range: 170,000 CR – 2,500,000 CR

Our Methodology

How We Ranked the Best Launch Cars

Every car on this list is ranked by stock launch rating — completely untuned, straight from the Autoshow. We analyzed all 899 vehicles in Forza Horizon 5 and sorted them by their default launch stat. No subjective picks, no sponsor influence — just raw data.

Stock rankings matter because they reveal a car's natural advantage. A car that starts with the highest launch gives you the best foundation for upgrades. When two equally-tuned cars meet, the one with better base stats wins.

Beyond Stock

Stock Rankings Are Only the Starting Line

In competitive online racing, nobody runs stock. The right combination of upgrades can transform a mid-tier car into a class leader. The question isn't "which car is best launch stock" — it's "which car is best launch after the optimal tune?"

Premium

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See how every car performs with every upgrade and tuning option applied — find the true best launch car for your class and race type.

  • Tuned stats for every upgrade combo
  • Filter by class, drivetrain, race type
  • Updated every patch
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Explore More Rankings

See the best launch cars broken down by class, or explore other stats.

Fastest CarsBest Handling CarsBest Acceleration CarsBest Braking CarsBest Offroad Cars All Class Rankings

Why Launch Matters in Forza Horizon 5

In Forza Horizon 5, the Launch stat reflects off-the-line acceleration from a standstill. Sprint races and drag events are won or lost in the first few seconds.

Budget Pick: 2017 Acura Nsx

You don't need to spend millions to get top-tier launch. The 2017 Acura Nsx costs just 170,000 CR and still scores a 10.0 launch rating — enough to compete in S1 class online races.

Class Breakdown

Of the top 20 best launch cars, 2 are A class, 9 are S1 class, 9 are S2 class. A class dominates with 2 entries — not surprising given these are the highest-PI vehicles in the game.