The Need For Speed franchise is perhaps the most popular racing game franchise. For over twenty years, Electronic Arts have released Need For Speed, taking players on rides across countries, through crowded city streets, and even local circuit racetracks.
The most recent installment into the franchise is Need For Speed Heat; players can get behind the will of their favorite vehicles and take on the game's content in a number of ways while also being able to fully customize their ride inside and out. There are three main types of events for players to engage in Track, Drag, and Drift. Picking the right car for the situation is vital for success, and not all tuners are created equal. Specifically, in drift events, choosing the right car can make or break a race depending on how the vehicle takes turns and grips the road.
Updated By C.M Edwards on October 27th, 2022: The Need for Speed franchise continues to dominate the video game racing genre with innovative releases that improve upon the previous iteration. Electronic Arts has recently announced the newest addition to the franchise with Need For Speed Unbound, an announcement that is accompanied by a laundry list of details about the game's car list, customization options, and the first look at gameplay in its huge open world.
Additionally, Need for Speed Heat, the previous installment in the series, was released as a PlayStation Plus free game; players can jump into the game's world and get their fingers ready for the future release of Unbound. There are several classes of cars that specialize in the different race modes; here are some new editions to this list of the NFS Heat best drift cars.
10 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
When the new model for the Camaro was released, racing fans had their minds blown. A Well known classic among all forms of racetracks, the Camaro has always had a prominent reputation on the street. The new model met all expectations and quickly became a favorite for muscle car fans and Tuner fans alike.
The Chevrolet Camaro is a beast on the road, able to reach speeds upwards of one hundred and sixty miles per hour with stock parts alone; When modified correctly, the Camaro can boast a girthy eleven hundred horsepower. When geared for Drift events in Need For Speed Heat, the Camaro excels at fishtailing around corners; in the right hands, a Camaro can be one of the best Drift cars in Need for Speed Heat, hands down.
9 Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RC-7 is a tuner fan's dream; it is a Japanese two-door sedan with a twin-turbo engine that hits speeds upwards of about one hundred and fifty miles per hour without modification. The RX-7 is a classic among racing fans in both professional and street-level communities because of its handling and drifting capabilities.
However, the Mazda RX-7 gained much of its popularity from the Initial D racing manga and anime series which made it a fixture in the drifting community. Players who equip a Pro Drift Differential and some Elite Drift tires on this machine will slide around corners with no effort at all.
8 Ford Mustang GT
Another muscle car classic, the Mustang has been leaving the competition in the dust since its original debut in 1964 by For Motor Company. In Need For Speed Heat, the Mustang GT is a combination of torque and burnt rubber that take the lead down any straightaway.
However, the Mustang can also be a devilish contender in Drift events; it doesn't take the highest grade of parts to unlock the potential of the Mustang, but if outfitted with a strong build geared toward tire slide and acceleration, the Mustang is sure to turn some heads while it turns some corners.
7 Subaru Brz
The Subaru Brz is a main-stay in the Need For Speed world as well as the street racing community; the Brz is celebrated for its handling and high-speed capabilities. The Brz was a joint venture by the Japanese companies Toyota and Subaru and was released with a wide variety of interest thanks to its sleek look and various optional builds.
The Subaru Brz is loosely based on the 2000GT, and because of that, the vehicle quickly hit the streets as a racing contender. With the right build, the Subaru Brz can put its peers to shame with the way it bends around corners, reaching a complete sideways drift and clean glides across all types of terrain.
6 Nissan Silvia S15 Aero Spec-R
The Nissan Silvia is perhaps one of the most prominent vehicles in the drifting community and one of the most popular cars in the Need for Speed Heat game. The car is gifted with a rear-wheel drive paired with a stock turbocharged inline engine that pushes towards one hundred and sixty at top speed.
In Need For Speed Heat, the Silvia has superb handling and excels at many different tracks. However, Drifting is where the Silvia shines as it hovers across wet streets and kisses the guard rails of downhill twists and turns.
5 Nissan 350z
Nissan is a staple name when it comes to the most popular and widely used vehicles both on and off the track; Nissan is especially well known on the Drift Tracks from Los Angelus to Tokyo. The 350z has one of the sleekest frames on the market and has a very low chassis for a compact vehicle.
The 350z is able to reach base speeds of over one hundred and fifty miles per hour and has excellent control when taking corners and weaving through traffic in Need for Speed Heat. When fitted out with the S class parts focused on Drift, the 350z can slide across lanes with ease. The 350z also has some of the most unique customization options in the game, making it a win, win for both performance and visual appeal.
4 Nissan Skyline GT-R
The Nissan Skyline has always been a powerful machine and a fan favorite among racing enthusiasts; perhaps the majority of its popularity sprung from the Fast and Furious movie franchise. The Skyline is an above-average vehicle on drifting tracks with a back end that slides outward easily but maintains a steady acceleration allowing it to maintain speed.
Players may want to apply the Sport Drift Differential to maximize sideways distance and to allow maximum performance and feel when taking on corners. The Nissan Skyline is a beast on any street and maintains dominance in the drift category within Need for Speed Heat.
3 Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5 is somewhat overlooked in Need for Speed Heat, despite being a top contender in drift events. In addition to its real-world performance, the Mazda MX-5 is a great pick when utilizing the right build, achieving minimal sixty thousand point runs depending on the track.
Players won't have any problem clearing events but should keep in mind that because of the vehicle's size, the back end may not slide out as much as desired. However, this doesn't impact the vehicle's ability too much. While the Mazda MX-5 is an overall versatile car that competes adequately in multiple types of races, it overtakes the competition in Drifting.
2 McLaren 600LT
The McLaren 600LT is the only exotic supercar on the list and stands equal amongst other drift monsters in Need For Speed Heat. The 600LT is a speed demon straight out of the garage that doesn't take much to get going and is even capable of winning races straight from stock modifications.
Being another iteration of the Sport series of McLarens, the 600LT is also a member of the “Longtail” models, which also features a top-mounted exhaust system. The 600LT was developed for optimal performance and did not disappoint as it excels in various sections but stands out in both drag and drift races.
1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mistubishi Lancer class of vehicles stands out and is a prominent fixture in the drifting and rally racing community. The Lancer Evolution stands among the top with excellent track and off-road capabilities; however, the Lancer Evolution also stands out in the drift category with superior handling and above-average acceleration.
On top of its mechanical capabilities, the Lancer Evolution is also a visually appealing vehicle with a sleek and compact design that attracts many fans and professionals. In Need for Speed Heat, the proper modifications and visual customizations will create a speed demon that will clear the pack and leave competitors in the dust.
Need For Speed Heat is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.