Forza Horizon 6 Best Starter Car — Which First Car Should You Pick?

Forza Horizon 6 Best Starter Car

One of the first decisions you'll make in Forza Horizon 6 is choosing your starter car. While the choice isn't permanent — you'll earn or buy new cars within your first hour — the right pick can make your first few hours smoother and more fun.

Here's every starter car option ranked.

How the Starter Choice Works

After the prologue sequence (approximately 30 minutes), the game presents you with three starter cars to choose from. Each belongs to a different class and driving style. There is no "wrong" choice, but some give you a significant early-game advantage depending on your preferred playstyle.

Starter Car Rankings

Detailed Breakdown

1. Toyota GR86 — Best All-Rounder (Recommended)

The GR86 is the safest and smartest choice. Its lightweight RWD platform offers:

• Excellent balance for touge battles and mountain roads
• Strong upgrade path — responds well to forced induction
• Competitive in B and A class lobbies
• Great drift platform for early skill score farming

Best for: New players, all-rounders, players who want one car to do everything in the first few hours.

2. Mazda MX-5 (2022) — Best Handling / Drift Starter

The Miata is always the answer in real life, and it holds true in FH6:

• Lightest car of all starters at ~1,050 kg
• Sharpest turn-in of any starter
• Excellent for learning manual shifting and no-assist driving
• Strong drift score multiplier for early skill point farming

Best for: Drift enthusiasts, manual/no-assist drivers, players who prioritize handling over power.

3. Subaru BRZ — Best Dirt / All-Weather Starter

The BRZ shares the GR86's platform but with subtle differences:

• Boxer engine gives excellent stability on loose surfaces
• Slightly better for early cross-country events
• Strong visual customization options

Best for: Players who want to dive into dirt racing immediately.

4. Honda Civic Type R (2023) — Best Speed Starter

The CTR is the front-wheel-drive king:

• Highest base power of any starter (315 HP)
• Best straight-line speed
• Excellent for early speed trap and speed zone PR stunts
• FWD understeer takes some getting used to

Best for: Street racing fans, players who want to chase leaderboard times immediately.

5. Nissan 370Z — Decent But Dated

The 370Z is the weakest starter option:

• Good V6 engine note
• Decent acceleration
• Heavier than the GR86/BRZ twins
• Handling feels dated compared to modern competitors

Best for: Nissan fans who plan to swap cars quickly.

What to Do After Picking Your Starter

No matter which car you choose, follow this plan for the first hour:

1. Do the intro地平线 events (3-4 races) to earn your first 30k-50k credits
2. Visit the Autoshow — browse the "Under 50k" filter for your next upgrade
3. Check your starter's upgrade path — A class builds are generally the sweet spot for early-game performance
4. Save for the Toyota Supra GR (A 800) or Nissan GT-R (A 800) as your first major purchase
5. Don't over-invest — your starter car will be replaced within 2-3 hours of play

Should You Sell Your Starter?

No. The resale value is minimal (10-15k credits), and you'll want it later for:

• Specific class-restricted events
• Nostalgia and collection completion
• Lower-class online lobbies (B class racing is some of the most fun in FH6)

FAQ

Can I get all starter cars? Yes — starter cars are common in the Autoshow and wheelspins. You'll likely own all five within your first 10-15 hours.

Is the GR86 actually the best? For 90% of players, yes. The GR86 is the most versatile and has the strongest upgrade path. The MX-5 is better if you prioritize drifting.

Does the starter choice affect achievements? No. There are no achievement dependencies on your starter car choice.