I’ll be honest—when I first booted up Forza Horizon 5 again in 2026, I thought I’d stick to the highway. Then I saw a dirt trail snaking up a volcanic ridge, and everything changed. Mexico in this game is enormous, and the real fun begins when you leave the asphalt behind. Over the past weeks I have tested dozens of off-road builds, crashed more times than I’d like to admit, and finally narrowed down a list of eight machines that deserve your garage space.
What follows is my personal ranking, from heavy trucks to luxury rally machines. I didn’t just look at top speed; I paid attention to offroad score, handling, and how each vehicle made me feel when the tires broke loose.
8. 2015 Mercedes-Benz #24 Tankpool24 Racing Truck — The Torque Monster
I started with the biggest thing I could find. The Tankpool24 Racing Truck is ridiculous in the best way. It produces 1,079 horsepower and 3,676 ft-lb of torque, which sounds like a mistake until you floor it on a gravel road.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (702) | RWD | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
It’s not the nimblest machine, but when you just want to bully a hill climb, nothing feels quite like it. I used it mostly for photo mode and intimidation.
7. 2019 Lamborghini Urus — The Practical Super SUV
Next, I needed something that could handle school-run energy and dirt-road chaos. The Urus surprised me. It has AWD and a respectable 6.1 offroad score, which means I could zip from the highway to the jungle without changing vehicles.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (767) | AWD | 7.1 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 6.1 |
It’s the kind of car that checks too many boxes, and I mean that as a compliment.
6. 2021 Sierra Cars RX3 — The Tiny All-Terrain Rocket
If the Urus felt practical, the RX3 felt illegal. This little all-terrain vehicle made the Baja Dunes feel like fresh pavement, exactly as the spec sheet promised. I threw it off cliffs, spun it through cacti, and it just kept going.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (737) | RWD | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 7.7 |
It’s arguably the best stunt vehicle I’ve driven in the game. The launch rating of 7.1 means it jumps off the line like a startled rabbit.
5. 2016 Ariel Nomad — The Dune Dominator
For pure buggy madness, the Ariel Nomad became my weapon of choice. It has an offroad score of 8.1, which made it the highest-performing buggy I could find. I spent one entire evening just launching it off the sand dunes near the coast.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (711) | RWD | 5.2 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 7.2 | 4.2 | 8.1 |
Handling is a little loose at 4.7, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Hard landings? It eats them for breakfast.
4. 1986 Hoonigan Ford RS200 Evolution — The Rally Rocket
Some cars break physics. The Hoonigan RS200 Evolution doesn’t just break physics; it mocks it. I remember lining up for a dirt sprint and watching the acceleration bar flash 9.5. It’s an S2 class monster with AWD, and it made every other rally car in my garage feel outdated.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 (904) | AWD | 7.6 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 8.3 |
Hoonigan’s take on the Ford RS200 Evolution is ridiculous, and I loved every second of it.
3. 2017 RJ Anderson Rockstar Energy Pro 2 Truck — The Cross-Country King
If the Hoonigan was too twitchy, the RJ Anderson Pro 2 Truck was the opposite. It has a near-perfect offroad score of 9.9, and in cross-country races it felt planted and stable. With 805 horsepower and 638 ft-lb of torque, it’s a beast.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (776) | RWD | 5.6 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 9.9 |
It’s not the fastest in a straight line, but when the terrain gets rough, this truck is the one I trust.
2. M12S Warthog CST by AMG Transport Dynamics — The Halo Fantasy
I’ll admit I’m a Halo fan, so when I unlocked the Warthog CST, I cheered. It’s a fictional vehicle designed for alien battlefields, and in Forza Horizon 5 it has perfect 10 launch and 10 offroad scores.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (719) | AWD | 4.2 | 4.1 | 8.6 | 10 | 6.0 | 10 |
It doesn’t exist in the real world, but in Mexico it tears up the dirt with 852 ft-lb of torque and 720 horsepower. Driving it feels like the best kind of video game crossover.
1. 2014 Rally Fighter — The Luxury Off-Road Crown
At the top of my list is the 2014 Rally Fighter. It’s not the fastest or the most extreme, but it has a perfect 10 offroad score and an elegance that most rally cars lack. The interior doesn’t feel like a stripped-out race car, and the design turns heads even in the jungle.
| Class | Drivetrain | Speed | Handling | Acceleration | Launch | Braking | Offroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (716) | RWD | 6.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 10 |
It’s the kind of car that makes you look cool without trying too hard. When I think of the ideal blend of class and capability, this is the machine I picture.
Final thoughts
If you’re still stuck on pavement in Forza Horizon 5 in 2026, you’re missing half the game. These eight vehicles cover every off-road need: trucks, SUVs, buggies, rally cars, and even a Halo icon. My advice? Start with the RX3 if you want cheap thrills, or save up for the Rally Fighter if you want to finish the journey in style.