“To get to the top, you gotta take risks” is the current tagline for EA’s latest racer in its long-running franchise, Need For Speed. This time around, the newest iteration in the series, Need For Speed Unbound, takes you through the streets of Lakeshore, asking you to outrun opponents, outrun the cops, and bet on yourself in the high-stakes game of illegal street racing.
If you have already read my review of Need For Speed Unbound, then you know full well how climbing behind the perfect machine at the right time elevates your game to a whole new level.
They say having the right tool for the job is necessary, and it’s no different in NFS Unbound. There is no worse feeling than sitting behind the wheel of your racing machine, only to realize you pulled out a claw hammer to tighten a screw. So, what is the right tool or car for the right situation? That’s a great question, and the answer can vary wildly depending on the race scenario in-game and the type of driver you are in NFS Unbound.
In NFS Unbound, you will find yourself in situations that require you to race differently depending on the situation. This is where understanding your driving style and the vehicles in your arsenal become an integral part of the game and your success. So, knowing the importance of strapping into the right car, let’s take a look at not only the type of cars that will suit your abilities the best, but also when is the best time to use them.
Need For Speed Unbound: Best Cars For Each Class
Fastest
Boasting a top speed of 261 miles per hour, maxed-out traction, and handling better than most cars in the game, the Bugatti Sport is as good as you can do.
A car that offers 80 percent grip and an acceleration point of 2.3 seconds from 0-60, the stats and specs leave very little to the imagination. This machine is built for speed and speed alone, and can corner and navigate the track as if it were on rails. The only drawback? The price point of $3.6 million makes it the most expensive car in the game and one that isn’t easily accessible.
Still, if you want to see this car in your garage, start saving and grinding early. All that time and effort will be worth it as you slide behind the leather-strapped wheel in a car that combines luxury and speed.
Best Handling
The Ferrari FXX-K Evo (2018) is a dream come true for those looking for a street-legal racing machine. The FXX-K Evo offers some of the best handling in the game, along with a top speed of 209 miles per hour, and will get you off the line at an acceleration point of 0-60 in 2.6 seconds.
The Evo is an excellent choice when trying to outrun the police, but it’s better suited for long runs with the occasional tight turn or change of direction as this machine excels at both. Although the Evo offers some of the best handling and the top speed in the game, there is a single caveat: the need to keep it on the road. Once this speed demon hits anything other than pavement, all of the above is negated.
Fastest Off The Line
It would be easy and correct sliding the Bugatti Sport into this spot as the car with the best acceleration point off the line, but I will suggest an alternative at a much cheaper price point.
The McLaren P1 GTR (2015) may not boast the top speed the Bugatti does, but the acceleration point of 0-60, coming in at 2.4 seconds, is only a 10th of a second less than the above-mentioned Sport. Why is that important? Because the McLaren P1 costs $1.6 million less than the Sport and provides darn near the same type of acceleration.
Traction control with the McLaren is as reasonable as the Sport, and the handling is in the same ballpark. The one area where the Sport excels and the McLaren struggles is top-end speed.
The Sport offers a top speed of 261 mph, and the McLaren GTR has a relatively reduced experience with 225 mph. Still, if money is an issue and acceleration is what you’re looking for, the McLaren P1 GTR will offer everything the Sport can do at a much lower price.
Best Drifting
With a title named Need For Speed, it makes sense that speed is the king of the streets, but there are times when the ability to corner and drift will take precedence over speed. Specific challenges, missions, and races will call upon you to find skill behind the wheel and ask you to navigate some of the tightest and trickiest turns in Lakeshore Proper.
When that time comes, it’s best to turn to the Dodge SRT Viper (2014). Offering a 40 percent drift ratio, a top speed of 206, and a handling ability that is near maxed out. The Dodger SRT can shoot you off the line with an acceleration point of 0-60 in 3.3 seconds. With incredible handling, blazing speed, and the ability to shoot off the line, the Viper SRT is an easy choice when speed isn’t the only factor.
Best Combination
As much as I tried my best not to mention any car twice, the Bugatti Sport is a car that deserves it. As I mentioned above, the car delivers an insane amount of speed, handling, and traction, and there is rarely a scenario found in NFS Unbound where the Sport isn’t the best option.
Whether blazing down a long stretch of highway in Lakeshore, taking a tight corner or U-turn downtown, or racing the interstate surrounding Lakeshore, the Bugatti Sport can handle anything you ask and keeps coming back for more.
Bottom Line
In Need for Speed Unbound, the name of the game is just that, speed. That said, there are times, whether it be in story mode or online, that you will need to change up your approach with the type of vehicle you’re using to accommodate the type of run that you’re about to endure.
I mentioned it in the beginning, having the right car for the correct type of race isn’t nice to have in NFS Unbound, it’s what you need to have if you want to score the best rewards and the best position on the podium. Keep in mind, all the cars listed above are suggested in the stock base model. Things can drastically change once you enter the world of customization and upgrades.
As always with any game, it is imperative that you jump behind the wheel of every car mentioned — and a few others — to see what suits you and your driving style best.
