Best S1 Class (900 PI) Cars in Forza Horizon: FH5 Picks Heading Into FH6
S1 (801–900 PI) is one of the most-played classes in Forza Horizon online racing, and with Forza Horizon 6 launching May 19, 2026, the FH5 S1 meta is the best predictor of what will dominate the FH6 launch lineup since the vast majority of FH5 cars carry forward. This page collects the best S1 (900) cars from creator tier lists and community rankings built up over the FH5 lifecycle, broken out by use case.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Class PI Range | 801–900 PI |
| Top Road Pick (FH5) | Ferrari FXX Evoluzione |
| Top AWD Launch Pick (FH5) | 2017 Acura NSX |
| Top Overall (Forum Reviews) | Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion |
| Top Dirt Pick (FH5) | Hot Wheels Bone Shaker |
| Top Budget Pick | Ford Focus RS |
| FH6 Release Date | 2026-05-19 |
| FH6 Premium Early Access | 2026-05-15 |
| FH6 Carryover Expected | (unconfirmed) |
Best S1 Cars for Road Racing
Road races — tarmac circuits and street sprints — reward high top speed, a stable AWD or planted RWD chassis, and clean cornering behaviour through technical sections. The consensus FH5 top picks heading into FH6 are:
| Rank | Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari FXX Evoluzione | Top ForzaFire road S1 pick; Legendary rarity, 36,100 CR parts cost |
| 2 | Ford Focus RS | Cheap AWD platform, 91,800 CR parts, Epic rarity |
| 3 | Jaguar Sport XJR-15 | Lightweight (~1,050 kg) and quick, 0–60 in 3.9s |
| 4 | Lotus Elise GT1 | Legendary class meta pick |
| 5 | Honda NSX-R GT | Epic, top handler |
| 6 | Ford GT (2005) | “A monster waiting to be unleashed on S1-Class Street races” |
ForzaFire’s road-racing top six — Ferrari FXX, Focus RS, XJR-15, Elise GT1, NSX-R GT, Ford GT — is the cleanest data-driven list available pre-FH6. The Ferrari FXX is powered by a 6.3-litre V12 producing 800 horsepower, and its combination of power delivery and aerodynamic downforce puts it ahead of the pack on most sealed-surface layouts. Solox.gg independently identifies the Jaguar Sport XJR-15 as “one of the best S1 cars available in Forza Horizon 5,” pointing to its weight advantage. WhatIfGaming additionally calls the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR “the perfect all-rounder car for all your road activities in Forza Horizon 5,” making it a strong alternative for players who prefer RWD builds.
Best S1 Cars for Dirt & Cross-Country
Off-road S1 favours AWD launch, suspension travel, and weight distribution over peak top speed. The handling priorities flip almost entirely compared to road racing: a car that is untouchable on a circuit can be embarrassingly slow over loose ground if its suspension geometry is wrong.
| Rank | Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Wheels Bone Shaker | Legendary, 80,600 CR parts |
| 2 | Koenigsegg CC8S | Epic |
| 3 | Jeep Trailcat | Rare, cheapest entry at 184,250 CR total |
| 4 | TVR Cerbera Speed 12 | Epic |
| 5 | Lotus Elise GT1 | Doubles up from road list |
| 6 | Lola #6 Penske Sunoco T70 MkIIIB | Epic |
ForzaFire’s dirt rankings highlight the Bone Shaker as the dominant Hot Wheels chassis at S1. The Jeep Trailcat represents the best value entry point for players who don’t want to invest heavily in a dedicated off-road build. For rally-specific events, WhatIfGaming recommends the Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution: “Rally. Just drive it, and you’ll see why.” The RS200’s low weight and AWD system make it exceptionally forgiving over the mixed-surface stages that cross-country routes typically include.
Best AWD Launch S1 Cars (Drag & Sprint Starts)
ForzaLabs’ February-2025 ranking of S1 cars by raw launch score is the definitive reference for drag races and sprint-start events. All five cars listed below scored a perfect 10.0/10 for launch:
| Rank | Car | Power | Drivetrain | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 Acura NSX | 573 HP | AWD | 170,000 CR |
| 2 | 2022 BMW M5 CS | 626 HP | AWD | 250,000 CR |
| 3 | 2018 Chevrolet Hot Wheels COPO Camaro | 1,100 HP | RWD | 205,000 CR |
| 4 | 1966 Fast & Furious Chevrolet Impala Super Sport ‘Fast X’ | 1,100 HP | RWD | 300,000 CR |
| 5 | 2017 Ford #14 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Fiesta | 608 HP | AWD | 300,000 CR |
The AWD trio — NSX, M5 CS, and Fiesta RLL — are the safest choices for online S1 drag because they don’t punish a missed clutch or a traction slip at the line. The NSX stands out as the cheapest entry in the group at 170,000 CR while still matching the launch score of cars that cost nearly double. The two RWD entries (COPO Camaro, Impala Super Sport) can match the launch number in ideal conditions but carry significantly more risk in competitive lobbies where consistency matters more than peak times.
Community Meta & Expert Reviews
Beyond aggregator sites, the official Forza forum’s long-running “S1 Car Reviews” thread offers more nuanced takes from players who have tested these cars extensively across all event types:
- Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion — “This is the overall strongest of the cars reviewed so far.” The default tournament pick across the FH5 lifecycle.
- Ford Focus 17 — “The Focus is genuinely one of the best S1 AWD cars in the game.” Its affordable parts cost and competitive performance make it the go-to recommendation for players entering S1 for the first time.
- Ferrari Enzo — “It’s a good second tier option and very smooth to drive.” Recommended for players who enjoy a more analogue feel at the limit.
- KTM X-Bow GT4 — A niche pick with clear limitations: “With a top speed of only around 160mph you don’t want to take this for a run on Goliath.” Suited to short technical circuits only.
Creator videos from late 2024 reinforce the same consensus. The November 2024 video “Forza Horizon 5 | BEST S1-CLASS CARS | Top 25 Meta Builds and Tunes” compiles 25 current-meta builds across event types. An earlier reference video, “BEST S1-CLASS CARS (Handling, Speed, Allround, Dirt),” splits picks explicitly by use case in a format that remains useful for new players. Both sources push the Porsche GT1, Ford Focus, and Ferrari FXX trio to the top of the overall S1 rankings.
What This Means for FH6 at Launch
Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19, 2026 (Premium Early Access May 15, 2026). Playground Games has confirmed a large carry-over roster including modern hypercars and the GT and Ferrari halo cars that dominate FH5 S1, plus new additions including the 2024 BMW M4 CSL, the 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB, and the Evolution Coupe 1020 (1,020 hp, sub-3-second 0–60).
Expected day-one S1 meta based on confirmed information:
- Returning meta locks: Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion, Ford Focus RS, Jaguar XJR-15, and the 2017 Acura NSX are all expected to remain S1 (900) ceiling cars (unconfirmed) — final FH6 PI tuning has not been published.
- New launch contenders: The 2024 BMW M4 CSL (described as “the current pinnacle of M division engineering”) and the 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB (described as representing “Ferrari’s hybrid future”) are the most likely new S1 ceiling cars based on confirmed class placement.
- Evolution Coupe 1020: At 1,020 hp and a sub-3-second 0–60, this is more likely an S2 build once PI tuning is finalised.
- Access note: Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass include the Standard Edition from May 19. The Premium Edition pre-order unlocks Forza Horizon 6 release date and unlock times on May 15 — see Premium vs Standard Edition early access and FH6 day-one Game Pass availability for full details. PC players can also check FH6 PC system requirements before upgrading from FH5.
Until FH6 PI numbers are public, the FH5 S1 meta documented on this page is the strongest predictor of what will win the first weeks of FH6 online S1 lobbies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best S1 car in Forza Horizon 5?
For mixed road racing, ForzaFire ranks the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione #1; the Forza forum review thread calls the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion the overall strongest S1 car reviewed. For AWD launch events specifically, the 2017 Acura NSX is the #1 ranked car.
What is the best cheap S1 car in FH5?
The Ford Focus RS — 91,800 CR parts cost, Epic rarity, and described as “genuinely one of the best S1 AWD cars in the game” by the FH5 official forum review thread.
Will the best FH5 S1 cars carry over to FH6?
Most modern FH5 cars are confirmed in the FH6 lineup, so the meta should carry over, but exact PI tuning per car has not been published yet (unconfirmed).
What is the best S1 dirt/cross-country car?
ForzaFire ranks the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker #1 for dirt racing in S1. WhatIfGaming recommends the Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution specifically for rally events.
What PI range counts as S1 class?
S1 covers 801–900 PI. “S1 900” refers to a build tuned right at the 900 PI ceiling, which is standard practice for competitive online play.
What is the best new S1 car confirmed for Forza Horizon 6?
Likely the 2024 BMW M4 CSL or 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB based on confirmed class placement in the FH6 car list. Final S1 rankings depend on PI tuning that has not yet been published (unconfirmed).
Sources
- ForzaFire — Best S1 Car List - Forza Horizon 5
- ForzaLabs — Best S1 Class Cars by Launch in Forza Horizon 5
- WhatIfGaming — Best S1 Class Cars in Forza Horizon 5
- Solox — Forza Horizon 5: Best S1 Class Cars
- Forza.net (Official Forums) — S1 Car Reviews - FH5 Discussion
- YouTube — Forza Horizon 5 | BEST S1-CLASS CARS | Top 25 Meta Builds and Tunes
- YouTube — Forza Horizon 5 | BEST S1-CLASS CARS (Handling, Speed, Allround, Dirt)
- PC Gamer — Forza Horizon 6 car list: All the vehicles confirmed so far
- KeenGamer — Forza Horizon 6 – All Cars List