Forza Horizon 6 Starter Cars: Which One to Pick First

Your first real choice in Forza Horizon 6 comes from Mei, who hands you the keys to one of three cars before you drive into the Horizon Festival. The pick feels weighty, but the stakes are low. You keep all three cars no matter which one you grab, and the selection only decides what you drive during the short opening run to the festival.

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Quick answer: If you have no specific event type in mind, start with the 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205. It has the best top speed, the strongest handling of the three, and performs adequately across road and off-road events. All three cars are added to your garage regardless of your pick.

The three starter cars Mei offers before the festival.

How the starter car choice works

After you create your character, you head outside to meet Mei and Jordy. Mei gives you your Collection Journal, then lets you select one of three cars to drive toward Tokyo City. The car you pick is simply the one you control during that opening sequence. Once you arrive, the other two unlock for free use whenever you want.

There is one detail worth knowing. These starter cars are not identical to the stock versions sold in the in-game dealership. Each one has been pre-tuned for its intended race type, which makes them stronger than their catalog counterparts. Hold onto them rather than selling them off early.

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Note: Only C class cars are allowed in events until you join the Festival and earn your Yellow Wristband. All three starters sit at C class with a Performance Index of 500, so none of them locks you out of early events.

Forza Horizon 6 starter car stats compared

All three sit at C class, rated exactly 500, so there is no raw tier advantage. The split comes down to drivetrain and what each car specializes in.

Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205: best all-rounder

The Celica is the safest first pick. It leads on speed and handling, runs all-wheel drive, and carries a solid 6.5 off-road rating, so it stays composed on both tarmac and dirt. A rally icon of the 1990s, it slots neatly into sprint races, circuits, and rally events without frustrating new players.

It falls short only slightly on braking, and tight, technical corners will lean on your own skill. For flat-out racing and general progression, it handles most situations comfortably.

Nissan Silvia K's: best for drifting and street racing

The Silvia is the only rear-wheel drive starter, and that single trait shapes everything about it. It posts the weakest acceleration, launch, and off-road numbers, but it has the highest braking and is the second fastest of the group. The RWD layout makes it the easiest to slide around tight mountain roads.

If you plan to chase Skill Points in Drift Zones and run street racing circuits where slide angle and momentum matter more than off-road grip, the Silvia is the one to start in.

GMC Jimmy: best for off-road and stunts

By the numbers, the Jimmy wins more categories than either rival. It has the strongest acceleration, launch, and off-road rating, backed by a 334 hp engine and 507 N-m of torque, and it ships with rally tires and AWD as standard. That setup makes short work of dirt, uphill terrain, and Trailblazer events that reward reaching the finish quickly.

The catch is weight and handling. At roughly 1,456 kg, it is the heaviest of the three, and its 3.1 handling is the lowest, which makes Tokyo's tight city streets awkward early on. Pick it if you intend to focus on open off-road events rather than technical circuits.

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Tip: Any off-road weakness in the Celica or Silvia can be patched early by fitting rally tires, so you don't have to commit to the Jimmy just to handle dirt.

Your second car after the Horizon Invitational

Clearing the Prologue and earning enough Horizon Festival Points sends you into your first Wristband Event, the Horizon Invitational, which you tackle in a borrowed 2020 BMW M2 Competition. Finishing it makes you part of the Festival and hands you three more cars from the organizers. This pick is separate from your Prologue choice, and it follows the same pattern of suiting different styles.

Toyota GR86: the well-rounded follow-up

The GR86 plays the same role the Celica did. It works well across almost every early race without much setup, so it is the natural next step if you liked the Celica's balance and want something reliable for mixed events.

Ram 1500 TRX: the off-road specialist

The Ram 1500 TRX is built for dirt and mud, where it handles loose surfaces better than the other two. It is the obvious choice if off-road events are your focus, especially if you skipped the Jimmy in the Prologue.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR TM Edition: the high-skill pick

The Evo rewards smooth, precise driving, particularly through corners where timing matters. It is more technical than the GR86, but it feels exceptional once you settle into it.

None of these picks is a wrong one, since every car you are offered ends up in your garage either way. If you want the least friction, take the Celica in the Prologue and the GR86 after the Invitational, and you'll have a steady foundation for the early wristband events. From there, swap freely between the rest and find the one that fits how you actually like to drive across Japan.