Need for Speed Unbound cars: tiers, ratings, prices and unlock conditions

The Need for Speed Unbound car roster is not just a long list of models, but a whole system: every car has a performance rating, its own tier and its own unlock conditions in the single-player campaign and in online mode. Below is a breakdown of this mechanic and a complete reference of stock cars by brand, so you understand exactly what you're buying with in-game money and how to get to the car you want.

Rating 100–400 and five tiers

The performance of a car is expressed as a number from 100 to 400, and this number divides the entire roster into five classes:

• B — 100–159;
• A — 160–209;
• A+ — 210–269;
• S — 270–329;
• S+ — 330 and above (the label "400+" is sometimes used).

Tier and rating are not set in stone: they are raised by higher-quality parts and engine swaps. That is why the same model can appear in different classes depending on the build.

How cars get into the garage

Stock cars are bought with money in the Buy and Sell section of the My Rides menu in the garage. But first the model must be unlocked, and the requirements differ for the two modes:

• Story (single-player campaign): access to purchase opens up as you progress — for example, after beating the next qualifier or from Sunday of the first week.
• Lakeshore Online (multiplayer): the conditions are tied to online activity — finish a certain number of playlists of a specific tier, place first or second, accumulate drift or draft seconds, perform takedowns, and so on.
• A small portion of the vehicles is awarded for completing activities and collectible items — this progress is shared between single-player and online.

Special acquisition methods stand apart: Lockdown mode contracts, the weekly Rap Sheet, story deliveries for Rydell, Speed Pass drops and paid DLC.

Garage limit — 250 cars

The limit of a single save is cumulative: in the single-player campaign and in Lakeshore Online together you can hold no more than 250 cars. So when building a collection, it's worth planning what to get rid of rather than dragging everything along.

Starter cars

At the start, the player is offered a choice of one of three cars (in the story prologue):

• Dodge Charger R/T (1969) — A+251;
• Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary (1988) — A+251;
• Nissan Silvia K's (1998) — A+251.

From Sunday of the first week in Story, its own set of inexpensive options for purchase opens up: Ford Crown Victoria (2008), Ford Mustang (1965), Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1969), Honda Civic Type R (2000), Mazda MX-5 (1996), Mazda MX-5 (2015), Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (1999), Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (1971), Pontiac Firebird (1977), Subaru BRZ Premium (2014) and Volkswagen Beetle (1963).

In Lakeshore Online, a different set of starter cars is offered:

• Mercedes-AMG G 63 (2017) — B133;
• Nissan Skyline GT-R V·Spec (1993) — B134;
• Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport (2016) — B134.

DLC and Speed Pass

After release, the game was supported with season "volumes" (Volume 1–9). Some cars did not arrive in the base release, but with paid and free packs:

• Speed Pass — the season progression; individual cars unlock upon reaching a specific level (for example, Honda Integra Type R (1998) — at level 5, Subaru Impreza WRX STI (1999) — at level 34, BMW M3 GTR (2005) "30th Anniversary" — at level 75 in Vol.9).
• Catch-Up Pack — the Vol.3/Vol.4/Vol.5/Vol.6/Vol.7/Vol.8 packs, which add new models among other things.
• Customs Pack and Premium Speed Pass bring exclusive builds.
• Some models are tied to themed packs: for example, Audi RS 6 Avant (2020) — to the Audi RS 6 Avant '20 Set, Ford Mustang Dark Horse (2024) — to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse '24 Set.
• Some cars are tied to the Palace Edition.

Stock cars by brand

Below are the base (stock) cars with their starting rating and price. The DLC label means the car cannot be bought without the corresponding pack; "price not listed" means there is no data in the source or the car is awarded in a special way.

Acura
* Acura NSX (2017) — S272, $161,500
* Acura RSX-S (2004) — B110, $34,000

Alfa Romeo
* Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (2016) — A+248, $124,000

Aston Martin
* Aston Martin DB5 (1964) — B113, $92,000
* Aston Martin DB11 (2017) — A+262, $155,500
* Aston Martin DB11 Volante (2019) — A+235, $168,000
* Aston Martin Vulcan (2016) — S+362, $1,467,000

Audi
* Audi R8 Coupé V10 performance quattro (2019) — S306, $181,000 — DLC: Vol.6 Dynamic Catch-Up Pack
* Audi RS 6 Avant (2020) — A+248, $135,000 — DLC: Audi RS 6 Avant '20 Set
* Audi S5 Sportback (2017) — A191, $70,500 — DLC: Vol.6 Dynamic Catch-Up Pack

BMW
* BMW i8 Coupe (2018) — A+213, $133,000
* BMW i8 Roadster (2018) — A201, $138,500
* BMW M1 (1981) — B156, $216,500
* BMW M2 Competition (2019) — A+229, $104,000
* BMW M2 Coupé (2023) — A+269, $63,495
* BMW M3 Competition Touring (2023) — A+240, $121,000
* BMW M3 Coupé (2010) — A199, $84,000
* BMW M3 Convertible (2010) — A181, $84,000
* BMW M3 E46 (2006) — A193, $70,000
* BMW M3 Evolution II (1988) — B124, $53,000
* BMW M4 Coupé (2018) — A+241, $116,000
* BMW M4 Convertible (2018) — A209, $112,500
* BMW M4 GTS (2016) — A+264, $133,500
* BMW M5 (2018) — S270, $149,500
* BMW S 1000 RR (2019) — S+345 — Lockdown and select playlists only, price not listed
* BMW X6 M (2016) — A+223, $113,000
* BMW Z4 M40i (2019) — A189, $108,500

Bugatti
* Bugatti Chiron Sport (2019) — S+400+, $3,665,000

Buick
* Buick Grand National GNX (1987) — B150, $39,000

Chevrolet
* Chevrolet Bel Air (1955) — B100, $22,500
* Chevrolet C10 Sidestep Pickup (1965) — B100, $10,000
* Chevrolet Camaro SS (1967) — B103, $29,000
* Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (2014) — A+228, $112,000
* Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 (2017) — B107, $37,000
* Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (2017) — A+251, $125,500
* Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (2020) — A+261, $141 500
* Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible (2020) — A+257, $136 000
* Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2013) — S277, $156 500
* Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2019) — S329, $204 000

DMC
* DMC DeLorean (1981) — B108, $45 000

Dodge
* Dodge Challenger SRT8 (2014) — A206, $91 000
* Dodge Charger R/T (1969) — B136, $41 500
* Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat (2019) — S282, $145 500

Ferrari
* Ferrari 458 Italia (2009) — S309, $208 000
* Ferrari 458 Spider (2011) — S298, $219 500
* Ferrari 488 GTB (2015) — S329, $231 500
* Ferrari 488 Pista (2019) — S+356, $283 000
* Ferrari F40 (1987) — S291, $547 000
* Ferrari FXX-K Evo (2018) — S+391, $2 179 500
* Ferrari LaFerrari (2016) — S+382, $1 104 500
* Ferrari Testarossa Coupé (1984) — A192, $235 000

Ford
* Ford Crown Victoria (2008) — B108, $30 000
* Ford F150 Raptor (2017) — B112, $54 000
* Ford Focus RS (2016) — A177, $56 500
* Ford GT (2017) — S+331, $342 500
* Ford Mustang (1965) — B101, $23 500
* Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1969) — B109, $31 000
* Ford Mustang Dark Horse (2024) — A+211, $100 500 — DLC: Ford Mustang Dark Horse '24 Set
* Ford Mustang Foxbody (1990) — B118, $32 500
* Ford Mustang GT (2015) — A+213, $91 000
* Ford Mustang GT Convertible (2019) — A+222, $90 000

Honda
* Honda Civic Type R (2000) — B118, $42 500
* Honda Civic Type-R (2015) — A168, $56 500
* Honda Integra Type R (1998) — B131, $45 000 — DLC: Vol.9 Premium Speed Pass
* Honda NSX R (1992) — B154, $96 500
* Honda S2000 (2009) — B124, $47 500

Infiniti
* Infiniti Q60S (2017) — A189, $71 500

Jaguar
* Jaguar F-Type R Convertible (2019) — A+253, $126 000
* Jaguar F-Type R Coupe (2016) — A+265, $137 000

Koenigsegg
* Koenigsegg Regera (2016) — S+400+, $1 500 000

Lamborghini
* Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV Roadster (2015) — S+338, $322 000
* Lamborghini Aventador S (2016) — S+345, $346 000
* Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster (2017) — S+339, $322 000
* Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Coupé (2018) — S+352, $384 000
* Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster (2019) — S+348, $382 500
* Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary (1988) — A+224, $216 500
* Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (2021) — S+359, $283 000
* Lamborghini Diablo SV (1996) — S276, $255 000
* Lamborghini Huracán Performante (2017) — S319, $232 000
* Lamborghini Huracán Performante Spyder (2018) — S306, $251 000
* Lamborghini Huracán RWD (2015) — S294, $189 000
* Lamborghini Huracán RWD Spyder (2016) — S282, $220 000
* Lamborghini Murciélago SV (2009) — S305, $335 000
* Lamborghini Urus (2017) — A+252, $168 000

Land Rover
* Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab Pickup (2015) — B100, $51 500
* Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR (2015) — A194, $107 000

Lotus
* Lotus Emira (2021) — A+221, $106 000
* Lotus Evija (2023) — S+400+, $2 600 000 — DLC: Vol.8 Dynamic Catch-Up Pack and Premium Speed Pass
* Lotus Exige S (2006) — A164, $74 000

Mazda
* Mazda MX-5 (1996) — B105, $31 000
* Mazda MX-5 (2015) — B117, $31 500
* Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (2002) — B155, $59 500
* Mazda RX-8 Spirit R (2011) — B121, $59 500

McLaren
* McLaren 570S Coupe (2015) — S311, $197 500
* McLaren 570S Spider (2018) — S307, $196 000
* McLaren 600LT (2018) — S325, $226 500
* McLaren F1 (1994) — S+332, $1 100 000
* McLaren P1 (2013) — S+377, $776 500
* McLaren P1 GTR (2015) — S+400+, $2 120 500

Mercedes-AMG / Mercedes-Benz / Mercedes-Maybach
* Mercedes-AMG A 45 (2016) — A192, $60 500
* Mercedes-AMG C 63 Cabriolet (2018) — A+220, $105 000
* Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe (2018) — A+230, $110 500
* Mercedes-AMG G 63 (2017) — B133, $95 000
* Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (2020) — S325, $246 500
* Mercedes-AMG GT R (2017) — S298, $177 500
* Mercedes-AMG GT S Coupe (2019) — A+268, $151 500
* Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster (2019) — A+264, $149 000
* Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 (1988) — B115, $53 000
* Mercedes-Maybach S 680 (2021) — A207, $230 000

Mercury
* Mercury Cougar (1967) — B102, $33 500

Mini
* Mini John Cooper Works Countryman (2017) — B121, $40 500

Mitsubishi
* Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (1999) — B123, $35 000
* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (2007) — A208, $92 000
* Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008) — B143, $48 000

Nissan
* Nissan 180SX Type X (1996) — B132, $43 500
* Nissan 350Z (2008) — B145, $55 000
* Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition (2019) — A176, $53 500
* Nissan 370Z Nismo (2015) — A179, $62 000
* Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (1971) — B106, $28 000
* Nissan GT-R Nismo (2017) — S286, $170 500
* Nissan GT-R Premium (2017) — S272, $148 500
* Nissan Silvia K's (1998) — B116, $45 000
* Nissan Silvia Spec-R Aero (2002) — B135, $45 000
* Nissan Skyline GT-R KPGC10 (1971) — B103, $27 000
* Nissan Skyline GT-R V·Spec (1993) — B134, $72 000
* Nissan Skyline GT-R V·Spec (1999) — B139, $73 000
* Nissan Z Prototype (2020) — A+215, $101 500

Pagani
* Pagani Huayra BC (2017) — S+358, $1 574 000

Plymouth
* Plymouth Barracuda (1970) — B110, $29 000

Polestar
* Polestar 1 (2020) — A+239, $162 000

Pontiac
* Pontiac Firebird (1977) — B101, $27 500

Porsche
* Porsche 718 Cayman GTS (2018) — A+210, $99 000
* Porsche 718 Spyder (2019) — A+232, $124 000
* Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2018) — A+240, $144 500
* Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet (2018) — A+232, $155 500
* Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 (1973) — A204, $96 000
* Porsche 911 Carrera S (1997) — B156, $94 000
* Porsche 911 GT2 RS (2018) — S+343, $251 000
* Porsche 911 GT3 RS (2019) — S284, $180 000
* Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS (2018) — A+257, $145 500
* Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Exclusive (2019) — S305, $192 000
* Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series (2018) — S316, $195 000
* Porsche 918 Spyder (2015) — S+365, $591 500
* Porsche 959 S (1987) — S282, $525 000 — DLC: Vol.8 Dynamic Catch-Up Pack and Premium Speed Pass
* Porsche Cayman GT4 (2015) — A+229, $118 000
* Porsche Panamera Turbo (2017) — A+259, $137 500
* Porsche Taycan Turbo S (2022) — A+237, $250 000

SRT
* SRT Viper GTS (2014) — S305, $170 500

Subaru
* Subaru BRZ Premium (2014) — B118, $36,500
* Subaru Impreza WRX STI (1999) — B154, $55,000 — DLC: Vol.9 Premium Speed Pass
* Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2006) — B140, $52,000
* Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2010) — B144, $50,500

Volkswagen
* Volkswagen Beetle (1963) — B100, $10,000
* Volkswagen Golf GTI (1976) — B101, $27,000
* Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport (2016) — B134, $51,500

Volvo
* Volvo 242 DL (1975) — B100, $24,000
* Volvo Amazon P130 (1970) — B100, $19,000

Pre-tuned cars (Custom)

Besides stock models, the game has a separate Custom class — these are pre-tuned versions and special editions of familiar cars. You don't get them for money from the dealership, but as a reward: for winning story meetups, Rydell deliveries, Lockdown contracts, weekly Rap Sheet draws, Speed Pass drops or buying a DLC pack. Formally these are the same models, but with a different rating and tuning — for example, the starter Dodge Charger R/T (1969) in the Custom version comes as S+383.

Police cars

In Hot Pursuit multiplayer races, the police side has access to Pursuit Vehicles — you can't drive them in free roam; some are unlocked by ranks in Cop Career, some through packs:

• Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 (2017) — Cop Edition;
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2013) — "NFS Legend" (Cross' Custom RPD);
• Ford Crown Victoria (2008) — Cop Edition;
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR (2018) — Cop Edition;
• Nissan Skyline GT-R V·Spec (1999) — Cop Edition;
• Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2018) — Cop Edition;
• Porsche 959 S (1987) — Cop Edition, SCPD Edition and Speedhunters Police Dept. Edition.

And in Lakeshore itself, the police drive their own fleet, including aircraft:

• Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Undercover Cruiser (2014);
• Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Interceptor (2017);
• Dodge Charger SRT8 Police Cruiser (2013);
• Ford Police Interceptor Utility (2011);
• Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SWAT Truck (2017);
• Helicopter (2013).

Traffic

For the background flow of cars in the city, simple but recognizable models are used: BMW 128i (2009), BMW 328ci (1999), Chevrolet Express (2003), Dodge Caliber SXT Sport (2007), Ford Crown Victoria (2008), Ford Explorer Limited (2011), Ford F-150 (2009), Garbage Truck (2017), GMC TopKick C5500 (2003), GMC Yukon Denali (2015), Infiniti G35 (2004) and Nissan Leaf (2019).

Small details worth knowing

• In the purchase menu, the model years of two Lamborghini Huracán are mixed up: the LP 580-2 (2018) is labeled "RWD (2015)", and the LP 580-2 Spyder (2018) — as "RWD Spyder (2016)".
• The DMC DeLorean (1981) is first mentioned only in a story conversation, and arrived as a playable car in Lakeshore Online already in the third volume.

Which car do you consider the best value for money and tier in Unbound? Share your build in the comments and follow the updates on nfs.place!

👉 Sources: Need for Speed Wiki — Cars, Need for Speed Wiki — Need for Speed: Unbound