Retro Saloons

Best Retro Saloons by Acceleration in Forza Horizon 5

Retro Saloons is one of the most popular car categories in FH5. These five post the highest Acceleration ratings in the category.

Updated February 2025 Ranked by Acceleration · 24 cars analyzed
5.5
Best Acceleration
Retro Saloons
Type
AWD, RWD
Drivetrain
30K CR
Cheapest
24
Cars in Group
#1
Rank
2001 Audi Rs 4 Avant B663

2001 Audi Rs 4 Avant

COMMON RETRO SALOONS AWD
94,000 CR
2001 Audi Rs 4 Avant

The undisputed Acceleration champion in this group. A natural advantage that's hard to overcome, even with a perfect tune on a weaker platform.

Speed
6.4
Handling
5.3
Accel
5.5
Launch
4.7
Braking
3.6
Offroad
5.7
Power 375 HP
Torque 324 lb-ft
Weight 3,571 lbs
Displacement 2.67L
Front % 58%
Drivetrain AWD
View full 2001 Audi Rs 4 Avant details →
#3
Rank
2003 Audi Rs 6 B677

2003 Audi Rs 6

RARE RETRO SALOONS AWD
105,000 CR
2003 Audi Rs 6

Pairs high Acceleration with competitive all-around performance — a rare combination. An excellent all-rounder that doesn't force trade-offs.

Speed
6.8
Handling
5.2
Accel
5.1
Launch
5.0
Braking
4.1
Offroad
5.8
Power 450 HP
Torque 415 lb-ft
Weight 4,024 lbs
Displacement 4.17L
Front % 59%
Drivetrain AWD
View full 2003 Audi Rs 6 details →
#4
Rank
1995 Audi Avant Rs2 B601

1995 Audi Avant Rs2

COMMON RETRO SALOONS AWD
60,000 CR
1995 Audi Avant Rs2

A great mid-price option with Acceleration that punches above its weight. Lower PI leaves significant tuning headroom.

Speed
6.0
Handling
4.6
Accel
5.0
Launch
5.3
Braking
3.2
Offroad
5.6
Power 311 HP
Torque 302 lb-ft
Weight 3,517 lbs
Displacement 2.23L
Front % 58%
Drivetrain AWD
View full 1995 Audi Avant Rs2 details →
#5
Rank
2003 Bmw M5 B694

2003 Bmw M5

COMMON RETRO SALOONS RWD
30,000 CR
2003 Bmw M5

The most accessible car on this list with Acceleration that holds its own against pricier competition. Ideal for budget builds.

Speed
7.1
Handling
5.0
Accel
5.0
Launch
5.2
Braking
3.8
Offroad
5.5
Power 394 HP
Torque 368 lb-ft
Weight 3,990 lbs
Displacement 4.94L
Front % 53%
Drivetrain RWD
View full 2003 Bmw M5 details →
Our Methodology

How We Ranked These Cars

The rankings above are based on stock performance data — every car shown is completely untuned, straight from the Autoshow. If a car ranks #1 for Acceleration in stock form, it has a natural advantage that's hard to overcome.

At ForzaLabs, we built an automated system that collects every upgrade and tuning option for every car in Forza Horizon 5 — thousands of parts across hundreds of vehicles.

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 stock" — it's "which car is best after the optimal tune for my race?"

That's exactly what our full database answers. Enter your race restrictions — class limit, drivetrain rules, weather conditions — and we'll show you the optimal car and build.

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Explore More Retro Saloons

Browse all Retro Saloons cars, filter by any stat or price — or check out our other rankings.

Why Acceleration Matters

In Forza Horizon 5, the Acceleration stat reflects how quickly a car reaches top speed. Tracks with frequent braking zones reward cars that recover speed fastest.

Budget vs. Premium Picks

If you're just starting out, the 2003 Bmw M5 at 30,000 CR is a strong entry point. The 2001 Audi Rs 4 Avant leads at 5.5 Acceleration, but costs 94,000 CR.