Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure: Sierra Nueva, Cars & Championships
Released on March 29, 2023, Rally Adventure is the second and final paid expansion for Forza Horizon 5, taking the festival to the rugged Sierra Nueva region of Mexico. As Forza Horizon 6 prepares to launch on May 19, 2026, Rally Adventure remains the most racing-event-dense DLC ever shipped for the series. This page covers everything in the expansion: price, biomes, rally teams, championships and the full 10-car roster.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Release Date | March 29, 2023 |
| Price (Standalone) | $19.99 USD |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Windows & Steam), Cloud Gaming (Beta) |
| Location | Sierra Nueva, Mexico |
| Map Road Length | 38 miles (61 km) |
| New Biomes | 6 (Pueblo Artza, Abandoned Quarry, Sand Dunes, Desert Gorge, Green Hills, Palm Forest) |
| New Cars | 10 |
| Rally Teams | 3 (Horizon Raptors, Grit Reapers, Apex Predators) |
| Included In | Premium Add-Ons Bundle, Premium Edition, Expansions Bundle |
| Requires Base Game | Yes (Forza Horizon 5 required) |
| Metacritic Score | (unconfirmed) |
| IGN Review Score | (unconfirmed) |
Release Date, Price & How to Access
Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure launched on March 29, 2023 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Windows Store and Steam), and Cloud Gaming. It is a paid expansion that requires the base Forza Horizon 5 game to play.
| Purchase Option | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Standalone expansion | $19.99 |
| Premium Add-Ons Bundle (launch promo, until April 3, 2023) | $29.99 |
| Premium Edition / Expansions Bundle | Included |
On release, players unlocked the expansion content by completing a short intro mission that flies them from the main Mexico map to Sierra Nueva. Rally Adventure is the second expansion for FH5, following the FH5 Hot Wheels expansion (July 2022), and is generally considered the final paid DLC before the focus shifted to Forza Horizon 6. PC players looking to check system requirements before purchasing can consult the Forza Horizon 5 PC requirements page.
Sierra Nueva: The New Map & Biomes
Rally Adventure adds an entirely new location: Sierra Nueva, a rugged region inspired by the highlands of Mexico. According to Playground Games, the map features “38 miles (61km) of the most exciting driving roads ever in Forza Horizon” with “unpredictable turns with steep inclines, blind crests and asphalt jumps.”
The expansion introduces six distinct biomes within Sierra Nueva:
- Pueblo Artza — the central town hub
- Abandoned Quarry — industrial dirt courses
- Sand Dunes — open desert terrain
- Desert Gorge — narrow canyon roads
- Green Hills — alpine asphalt twists
- Palm Forest — a fully smashable tropical zone
A key landmark is Cráteres Secos, a remote village nestled inside a dry volcanic crater. Compared to Hot Wheels, Sierra Nueva trades fantasy track ribbons for grounded, realistic rally terrain — making it a complementary rather than competing experience. Players interested in how Playground Games approached biome design for the sequel can read about Forza Horizon 6 biomes for comparison.
Three Rally Teams & Championships
Rally Adventure restructures the campaign around three rally teams, each with a distinct racing discipline. This DLC features “the largest number of racing events of any Horizon expansion.”
| Team | Leader | Discipline |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Raptors | Alex | Dirt / Off-road |
| Grit Reapers | Ramiro | Night Rally |
| Apex Predators | Alejandra | Asphalt Rally |
Each team offers two new event types:
- Horizon Rally — timed point-to-point stages with co-driver pace notes
- Horizon Race — traditional multi-car competitive races
Progression in each team consists of eight races plus PR Stunts and a final Ambassador Race. The expansion adds a new HUD with a mini leaderboard and pace-note icons, plus a Horizon Rally Helicopter with a dynamic spotlight during night events.
Note: While popular real-world rally stages like Pikes Peak inspired Sierra Nueva’s mountain courses, the expansion does not contain an officially branded “Pikes Peak” championship. (unconfirmed)
All 10 New Cars in Rally Adventure
The expansion adds 10 new off-road vehicles, ranging from a Colin McRae tribute Focus to extreme trophy trucks. See the full Forza Horizon 5 car list for every vehicle in the base game garage.
| # | Year | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022 | Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum |
| 2 | 1973 | Hoonigan Volkswagen Baja Beetle Class 5/1600 ‘Scumbug’ |
| 3 | 2001 | Ford #4 Ford Focus RS (Colin McRae) |
| 4 | 2022 | Alumicraft #6165 Trick Truck |
| 5 | 2021 | Polaris RZR Pro XP Factory Racing Limited Edition |
| 6 | 2020 | Jimco #179 Hammerhead Class 1 |
| 7 | 2019 | Jimco #240 Fastball Racing Spec Trophy Truck |
| 8 | 2019 | Casey Currie Motorsports #4402 Ultra 4 ‘Trophy Jeep’ |
| 9 | 2021 | RJ Anderson #37 Polaris RZR Pro 4 Truck |
| 10 | 2021 | Alumicraft #122 Class 1 Buggy |
The DLC also introduces new rally-specific upgrade parts, including an anti-lag system with flame effects and fire-cracker audio, plus a launch control assist. The roster leans heavily into North American off-road motorsport culture — Baja, Ultra 4, and trophy trucks — rather than traditional European rally machinery, which drew some criticism from players expecting more WRC-style cars.
Rally Adventure vs. Hot Wheels: A Comparison
Both FH5 paid expansions launched at the same price but offer very different experiences.
| Hot Wheels (Jul 2022) | Rally Adventure (Mar 2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (USD) | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| New Location | Sky-high Hot Wheels Park | Sierra Nueva, Mexico |
| New Cars | 10 | 10 |
| Focus | Fantasy track racing | Realistic rally / off-road |
| Event Volume | Standard | Largest of any Horizon expansion |
Critical Reception
Reviews for Rally Adventure were positive but more muted than the Hot Wheels expansion. Pure Xbox gave it 8/10, calling it “the best rally experience you can have in Forza Horizon 5” and “a love letter to the actual motorsport.”
Key points from reviewers:
- Praised: realistic rally feel, co-driver pace notes, asphalt/dirt variety in Sierra Nueva, the Focus RS tribute car
- Criticised: relatively few landmarks compared to the base map, co-driver callouts that sometimes arrive late, helicopter dust effects that obscure the road, and the lack of more traditional licensed rally cars
Pure Xbox summed up that the expansion “might not be what everyone was necessarily wanting from the second and likely final expansion.” Aggregate scores on Metacritic and OpenCritic place it in the high-70s to low-80s range. (unconfirmed)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure cost?
$19.99 USD as a standalone purchase. It is also included in the FH5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle, Premium Edition and Expansions Bundle.
When did Rally Adventure release?
March 29, 2023, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Windows & Steam) and Cloud Gaming (Beta).
Do I need the base game to play Rally Adventure?
Yes. Rally Adventure is an expansion, not a standalone title, and requires Forza Horizon 5.
How many new cars are in Rally Adventure?
10 new off-road vehicles, including the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, the 1973 Hoonigan VW Baja Beetle ‘Scumbug’ and the 2001 Ford Focus RS in Colin McRae livery.
What is the new map called?
Sierra Nueva, a Mexican highland region with six biomes spanning sand dunes, desert gorges, green hills and a smashable palm forest, plus 38 miles of new roads.
How many rally teams are there?
Three: the Horizon Raptors (dirt), the Grit Reapers (night rally) and the Apex Predators (asphalt). Each offers Horizon Rally timed stages and Horizon Races.
Is Rally Adventure on Xbox Game Pass?
The base FH5 game is on Game Pass, but Rally Adventure is a paid expansion and must be purchased separately or via the Premium Add-Ons Bundle.
Sources
- Forza.net — Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure Available March 29
- Xbox Wire — Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure Available March 29
- Xbox Wire — Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure is Now Available
- Forza.net — Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure Available March 29
- Pure Xbox — Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure Review (Xbox Series X|S)
- Steam — Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure on Steam