Where most racing games prefer to focus on the concrete as its road, Dirt 5 chooses the unpredictability of off-road rallycross racing with a focus on rally car racing. The game, after releasing after some delays, obviously offers a variety of different cars to try and drive around across varying categories.

From modern rally cars to classic ones, the game has an abundance of licensed cars for one to take down the competition. Things like a car's performance, handling, and how a balance of the two make some cars better than others. What helps create the best car for wrecking shop in the Dirt 5?

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Updated February 7, 2022, by Joseph Metz Jr.: Since Dirt 5 first released, new content, more specifically new cars, have shaken up the rankings when it comes to the best. Plus there are some easily overlooked vehicles that are still great cars that haven't gotten the appreciation that others have seen.

This list mainly discusses the best cars in the game as a whole, rather than for each individual class. There is a list of Dirt 5's best cars for each class available now so check that out if you need to. For the best overall cars in this rally racing game, which now includes some new additions, look no further than below.

15 Jimco Unlimited Class 1

The Unlimited Class 1 races across a bridge in China

The unlimited class of cars are an awkward bunch of cars to drive. This has to do with the cars feeling like a bit of a hassle to control due to some rather lackluster handling. The car with the best handling out of the bunch is the Jimco Unlimited Class I.

The car has a performance ranked with an A while its handling is ranked B. The two are not skewed too much in one direction, which is the issue with other cars in the unlimited category, which helps the car feel like the best of the bunch.

14 Ariel Nomad

The Ariel Nomad drifts through mud in a bamboo forest

They say if it ain't broke, don't fix it and that is certainly the case with the base version of the Ariel Nomad. The car belongs to the super lites category and is the first car available to the player in that category.

Despite its B performance rating, it has a good amount of speed when actually driving the car and handles extremely well with an A-ranked handling rating. If money is tight, and you can't afford a new car, stick with this to get through the rough patch.

13 Volkswagen Race Touareg 3

The Race Touareg 3 drives in a sunny canyon

The cross-raid class makes for some of the heaviest hitters in Dirt 5 as it boasts some higher car weights than the other classes. Despite this, it's still a solid class to race with and the Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 is a good indication of that.

The Touareg feels surprisingly good to drive, despite its B grades in both performance and handling. It feels especially good when you pull ahead in a race and surprise everyone with a place at the top of the podium.

12 Ford Fiesta RS MK II

The Ford Fiesta approaches the finish line in an Ice Breaker event, a race held on ice.

Ford is a brand that has multiple cars in Dirt 5. The best out of the Ford family in the game though would have to be this one from the modern rally car set.

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The car boasts an S rating for performance with a B in handling. Despite this though, it is arguably the best car in the category and one that is not that expensive to purchase either. The car handles smoothly on any terrain and should be the car of choice for modern rally races.

11 Citroën C3 R5

Dirt 5 Citroen C3 R5 on race track with cars behind it

If you don't find the Fiesta to your liking, a great alternative to that would be the Citroën C3 R5. This French modern rally car gives the Fiesta a run for its money as the best car of its class in Dirt 5 with its balanced stats of A grades in both performance and handling.

Plus a number of the different CPUs you race against use it to try to edge you out of the competition. Why not do the same to them and show them you're the better driver and have fun while doing it.

10 Porsche 959 Prodrive Rally Raid

The Porsche 959 sits in the garage, waiting to be driven

Porsche is a brand known the world over and has even found itself as one of the cars in Cyberpunk 2077. The first of many throwback cars to appear on this list is the Prodrive Rally Raid from the '80s rally category, a category that has some strong cars to boast. This Porsche is arguably the best of the bunch.

It has the same ratings as the Ford Fiesta but has that old-school exotic flair to it that will make you stand out. Plus the car is fast and easy to handle which is essential to winning races.

9 Lancia Stratos

The Lancia Stratos drives along the gravel under some sparklers

Another car from a pretty stacked category is the Lancia Stratos from the classic rally category. The car is relatively cheap to buy and should be purchased right away if possible.

The Stratos has a B in handling but an S in performance, which will enable you to perform some solid drifts. This car is good in gymkhana events since drifts are an easy way to get points and for completing sponsor challenges.

8 Peugeot 208 WRX

Dirt 5 Peugeot 208 WRX drifting on a dirt track

On the surface, the ultra-cross discipline seems the same as the modern rally one. But you'll notice quickly when driving them that they have noticeably much more power. Thankfully, the game gives you the Peugeot 208 WRX as it is a great car to introduce you to this category.

It has a respectable power rating of 560 bhp and its other stats, like its B performance and A handling, are nothing to scoff at either. You can even use this as your go to for the ultra-cross class as the WRX can easily keep up with the best of them.

7 Aston Martin DBX

The Aston Martin DBX drives on a dirt desert road

A car that has no business belonging in the pre-runners class of cars, solely because of how great it is when compared to its alternatives. This has to do with the fact that is has some overpowered stats with its S performance and A in handling rating.

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The other cars in the pre-runners category don't hold a candle to the DBX since they may come close, but can't get the cigar the DBX got to first. With a balance like speed and handling in a category that lacks it, this Aston Martin will wipe the floor against the competition.

6 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI leaves a fellow racer in the dust

An instantly recognizable car not just in the Dirt series, the Evo is part of the nostalgic-filled '90s rally category featuring some iconic rally cars. Cars that do come close to dethroning the Evo as the best car in its category.

The car has the best handling stat in its class with an S handling with a solid A for its performance rating. It can get the job done in a battle of recovering from tight turns and can easily recover from getting off-course.

5 Subaru Impreza S4

Rear shot of a Subaru on the Kalabaka Town stage

Say you favor another retro rally car from the '90s, namely the Subaru Impreza S4, that car is in the game and like the Lancer, it makes for one of the best cars in Dirt 5.

The performance and handling rating of the Impreza are flipped, so it favors more speed over handling. While it may not move like a bullet, this gives this classic Subaru the best performance in the '90s rally group, making it a great choice for just about any racing situation.

4 Laffite G-Tec X-Road

The Laffite sits in a garage

Now here's a car that's not quite as recognizable but will be once you actually drive it. Don't let the C handling rating fool you, this car handles great and is easily the car to use for cross-raid races.

It is also the car used by Dirt 5's main antagonist, Bruno Durand, who is the cocky undefeated champion you have to take down. With hype like that it's best to fight fire with fire against not only him but the competition as well.

3 Lotus Exige R-GT Rally

The Lotus Exige R-GT Rally drifts on the icy Roosevelt River in NYC

The GT rally category is filled with cars not normally associated with rallycross racing, turned into rallycross machines. One of the best though in that category would have to be the Lotus Exige.

With an A rating in both performance and handling, it provides the perfect balance of having good speed and smooth handling that other cars in this category lack a bit. It can be a bit expensive to purchase, but it is definitely worth the money.

2 Duke Coupe

The Duke Coupe speeds through some mud on a sunny day

For a car even more surprising than a Lotus to be good at rally racing, look no further than the Duke Coupe. This vehicle, that was added as part of Dirt 5's Uproar pack, looks like a car from the 1930s decided to try its hands at off-road racing.

The Duke Coupe is one of the faster cars in the GT rally group as it has a solid S ranking in performance. Also boasting an A in its handling stat, this vintage looking car makes a strong case for being the go-to when it comes to its respective category.

1 Subaru WRX STI RX Supercar

The Subaru WRX STI RX Supercar drives into the parking lot of Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa

Arguably the best car in the game hailing from the ultra cross-category is this Subaru. The car is fast with an A grade in performance but has an S in handling to balance it out, so the car does not take too much control out of the driver.

It is no surprise that your character's mentor, AJ, uses this car as his go-to. It was the car that made him so famous in the game for winning constantly and so can you with this beast as well.

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