NFS Heat Car Tier List

Fans of the Need For Speed (NFS) racing game franchise have more than 20 games to choose between, dating back to 1994. Despite arriving more than five years ago, NFS Heat is still many fans' favorite, so if you’re looking for the perfect car to race in, check out my tier list below.

Tier List of the Best Cars in Need for Speed Heat

NFS Heat is the number-one pick for many gamers who love an open-world environment to race in (alongside NFS Unbound), where the police are as much of a threat as your fellow speedsters. Whether you’re racing in the sanctioned daytime events or the illicit nighttime street races, you’ll need a car that balances speed, acceleration, and maneuverability.

Note that with all tier lists, this is a matter of opinion and your experience of these cars may vary. The important thing is to try as many cars as possible to find the one that matches your driving style, and then upgrade it to the max. The ratings below reflect fully pimped-out versions of each car.

Best S-Tier Cars in NFS Heat

When you consider all the options and upgrades, these are the best cars available in the game. They boast an unrivaled mix of speed, power, and performance that will see you through the entire game. 

Ferrari F40 '87

It may have a price tag of $547k, but with a Base Performance Rating (BPR) of 266 it is well worth the asking price. It was the fastest production car in the world when it arrived on the scene in 1987 and you can pick it up in NFS Heat once you’ve hit Rep level 24. As with many of the best cars in the game, while its stats aren't too showy, a dedicated racer will find a setup that will leave other cards in your dust. 

McLaren F1 '93

You’ll be able to pick up the McLaren F1 ‘9s from Port Murphy once you reach Rep level 30 for the fantastic price tag of free.  Yup, one of the absolute top cars won’t cost you an in-game dime. However, it is only available and fully customizable after you complete the Black Market paid DLC, so it's going to cost you some actual dimes. What you’ll get is a monster with a 326 BPR that is arguably the best car in the game uncustomized. 

Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 '73

While it has a BPR of just 188 and will only set you back $86k, many still consider the Porsche 911 Carera RSR to be the best car in the game. Better still you can pick it up at Rep level 16, making it the first S-tier car you’ll gain access to. While its base speed, power, and acceleration are nothing to write home about, it is one of the most customizable cars in NFS Heat, allowing a good driver to set it up exactly as they please for any given situation. 

Best A-Tier Cars in NFS Heat

The cars you’ll find in the A tier for NFS Heat are either a short drop in overall stats from those in the S-tier, or they’re perfect in a particular part of the game while still being solid performers elsewhere. 

Koenigsegg Regera '16

The Regera comes closest to pushing into the S-tier range out of all the A-tier cars, thanks to having outrageous acceleration. This Swedish hybrid sports car also maxes out on the speed and power categories, boasting a BPR of 400+, but as with any powerful beast, you’ll need to have top driving skills to tame it. You’ll also need to tame the $1.2m price tag. It will not become available to you until you reach Rep level 50.

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R '02

Some cars you’ll warm to and play throughout the world, while you’ll reach for others in specific moments. The Mazda Rx-7 is the perfect example of this, having a relatively low 144 BPR being in every good driver’s garage for any time you need perfect drift. Even better, it will only set you back $60k and will become available to you very early in the game (Rep level 4). 

Polestar 1 '20

The NFS Heat cover star is more than just a pretty face, boasting a BPR of 247 and a relatively affordable price tag of $162k. You’ll be able to pick it up once you reach Rep level 22 and are unlikely to be disappointed, especially once you can upgrade it. Plus, who doesn’t want to drive around in the Hero edition (with its 328 BPR) that only becomes unlocked once you’ve beaten the game?

Best B-Tier Cars in NFS Heat

You may find your favorite car in the B-tier as there are such fine margins in NFS Heat in terms of performance. You’ll find arguments for every car in this tier to be on a higher one, but more generally, they’re considered to be just shy of the podium. 

Aston Martin Vulcan '16

• Price: $1.467m
• BPR: 314
• Availability: Rep level 40
• Highlight: Great acceleration and power

Ferrari LaFerrari '13

• Price: $1.104m
• BPR: 360
• Availability: Rep level 40
• Highlight: High power, speed, acceleration, and solid customization

SRT Viper GTS '14

• Price: $121.5k
• BPR: 283
• Availability: Rep level 28
• Highlight: High top speed and good for drift

Best C-Tier Cars in NFS Heat

These NFS Heat C-tier cars are still great options, but won’t suit everyone. If you have cash to spare, give them a try. You may just find your dream drive. 

BMW X6 M '16

• Price: $107.5k
• BPR: 188
• Availability: Rep level 16 
• Highlight: Highly customizable and great off-roader

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 '19

• Price: $142.5k
• BPR: 315
• Availability: Rep level 32
• Highlight: Excellent value for high performance

McLaren P1 '14

• Price: $776.5k
• BPR: 346
• Availability: Rep level 40
• Highlight: Great top speed for price and well-balanced

For more on the Need For Speed franchise here at Pro Game Guides, check out our list of the Best Need for Speed Games, Ranked!