It was early spring in 1994 when EA first introduced to the gaming world one of the most iconic racing franchises, Need for Speed. Today, the Need for Speed franchise spans over twenty games and even one film adaptation that did moderately well at the box office. But, one core feature that keeps gamers returning to the franchise is the ability to fine-tune and customize their vehicle. And with every new NFS game released, players have even more freedom in designing their favorite cars.

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But, Need for Speed has become more than a simple race game since the most recent games include Off-road, Drag, Drift, and even "Runner" (running away from the police) type races. Without any doubt, the most challenging races to complete are the off-road ones, especially in Need for Speed: Payback. Over forty Off-road vehicles are available for players to use in NFS: Payback, making it a lot more challenging to know which one is best suited for off-road races.

Updated May 31, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Need for Speed: Payback may not be the best title in the series, but players still appreciated what this game tried to achieve. Featuring a high-stakes story mode and three protagonists who drove in cars that encompassed different styles of gameplay, Payback's insistence on coercing players to have six cars in their garage for each type of race could be slightly annoying to deal with.

However, this was a small price to pay for the title's tight and engaging gameplay. Players who want to become kings of off-road racing will be glad to know that there are several cars that players can use to make things easier for themselves.

9 Ford Mustang 1965

How To Obtain: Find All Derelict Parts For This Vehicle

• Stock LV: 101
• Cost: 38,950

There are many derelict vehicles present in NFS: Payback that are worth finding, with players having to use vague visual clues to find these parts in the game world. It gives players another excuse to rev their engines and explore the title's open landscape, with one of the derelict vehicles being a powerful 1965 Ford Mustang.

Hearing this car's engine purr after making an effort to find this vehicle's parts makes for a great time, and it's even more fitting that this vehicle is nigh-perfect for off-road racing. Zooming through the game's sandy and grassy tracks and leaving their opponents behind makes for a great time that players can't get enough of, and understandably so.

8 BMW M3 Evolution 2 E30

How To Obtain: Complete The Mission "Same Crew, New Wheels" In Chapter 1: "Ignition"

• Stock LV: 121
• Cost: 77,950

The BMW M3 Evolution II E30 made its debut in the Need for Speed franchise in Need for Speed (2015) and since then has appeared in two other NFS games (Need for Speed: Payback and Need for Speed: Heat). And while this BMW M3 was made for Drift races in Need for Speed: Heat, it took a different role in NFS Payback since it excelled in Runner, Drift, and Off-road races.

But, players will want to use the BMW M3 Evolution II E30 as an Off-road car since it has excellent Landing (4.4) and Airtime (3.8). On top of that, players unlock this vehicle early on in the game after completing the Same Crew, New Wheels mission in Chapter 1: "Ignition." Fans who want to make the most out of this Off-road speed demon will want to use the Americana Performance Cards.

7 Ford Mustang Boss 302

How To Obtain: Complete The Mission "Same Crew, New Wheels" In Chapter 1: "Ignition"

• Stock LV: 109
• Cost: 78,350

Players who want to unlock a reliable off-road vehicle as soon as possible will be glad to hear that the Ford Mustang Boss 302 can be obtained in the first chapter itself. This reduces a lot of the headaches most players would experience from trying to obtain this vehicle otherwise.

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The engine purrs like a beast and the car feels smooth to drive. Of course, players will have to invest a lot in upgrades to stand a chance against racers in tougher courses, but this is a small price to pay for a car that can be obtained cheaply compared to some of the other vehicles in the game.

6 Dodge Charger 1969

How To Obtain: Complete Chapter 2: "Desert Winds"

• Stock LV: 129
• Cost: 105,300

This Muscle car fan favorite first made it into the NFS spotlight in a spin-off called Motor City Online in 2001, which essentially was Need for Speed but in an online setting. In Need for Speed: Carbon, the 1969 Dodge Charger took the role of a Police car wrecker due to its muscle car aspect, but in later games, it was more of a Drag-type car. Fortunately, the 1969 Dodge Charger in Need for Speed: Payback is a decent Off-road car.

Its Top Speed is quite impressive for an Off-road car, reaching up to 143 without any Performance Cards. Because of that, this American muscle car can also participate in SpeedX races, but players should make sure they have the best Performance Cards (which function like Ultimate Parts from the Need for Speed: Heat) before attempting these races.

5 BMW X6 M

How To Obtain: Complete One Mission In Chapter 4: "Open Skies"

• Stock LV: 205
• Cost: 117,350

It's funny how a luxury SUV that people can splurge on in real life to drive their family around can somehow be customized to the extent that it becomes one of the best off-road vehicles in the game. This is precisely what makes this car so magical to drive around in, with players loving the idea of using this vehicle to zoom past their opponents in competitive off-road races.

It's unlocked in Chapter 4, with players purchasing this vehicle for a pretty penny that is made worthwhile with its performance. A few upgrades are all it takes for this vehicle to become one of the best cars players can use to obliterate their opponents in any off-road race.

4 Volkswagen Beetle

How To Obtain: Find All Derelict Parts For This Vehicle

• Stock LV: 100
• Cost: 30,300

Long-time NFS fans will likely remember driving a Volkswagen Beetle in Need for Speed 2 after inputting the cheat code "bug" into the chat box. But, the Volkswagen Beetle would become a mainstay in the NFS series appearing in four other games, including Need for Speed: Payback. And while its initial stats may seem like nothing special, the fact that it's a Derelict makes it top-tier.

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And that's because Derelicts can reach higher stats than regular cars, meaning players will be able to reach 399 with relative ease. However, obtaining Derelicts is no easy task and involves locating five Derelicts parts of the car the player wants. These parts are scattered around the map but can be located through various Clues.

3 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8

How To Obtain: Complete Any Mission In Chapter 4: "Open Skies"

• Stock LV: 193
• Cost: 160,950

When people think of Off-road cars, they usually picture a Land Rover Defender 110 or a Ford F-150 Raptor, and while these Off-road cars may be decent, they're nothing compared to the Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 (which is also amazing in Need for Speed: Heat). For starters, this speedster can reach the Top Speed of 174 while Off-road, which is already remarkable. On top of that, players can use the Outlaw Performance Cars to boost their Speed and Nitrous rating even further.

But, players will need to save up quite a bit for this Off-road monster since it costs $160,950 to purchase, aside from completing Chapter 4. So, the fastest way to earn cash fast in NFS Payback is by completing SpeedX races, as they usually have short racetracks that can be finished in less than four minutes.

2 Chevrolet Bel Air

How To Obtain: Complete The Mission "Jess: Runner" Missions in Chapter 3: "City Lights"

• Stock LV: 121
• Cost: 77,950

Perhaps one of the few cars from the 1950s, the Chevrolet Bel Air makes its second appearance in the NFS franchise (the first time was in Motor City) as an Off-road powerhouse. This old-timey car has one of the highest Airtime (4.6) and Landing (4.5) stats in Need for Speed: Payback, making it the top pick for players looking to tackle the end-game content. But, as with the Volkswagen Beetle, players must locate all five Derelict Parts if they want to ride this beauty.

Players can find the Chassis near Silver Rock, the Engine, Wheels, Tires, and Drivetrain near Silver Canyon, Body Parts A at Mount Providence, and the Accessories in Liberty Desert. And once completed, players can purchase it for $44,450 from the Off-road dealership.

1 Porsche Panamera Turbo

How To Obtain: Complete 2 Missions In Chapter 4: "Open Skies"

• Stock LV: 230
• Cost: 144,900

Undoubtedly, the best Off-road car to use in Need for Speed: Payback is the Porsche Panamera Turbo, even though it's far from being a proper "off-road" vehicle. Not only does the Porsche Panamera Turbo have one of the highest Top Speed in the game (190), but it also has 5.1 Airtime and 4.2 Landing, which is leagues ahead of other Off-road cars.

The best part is that players can maximize all of their stats by using 3x Outlaw Performance Cards (boosts Speed and Nitrous) and 3x Americana Performance Cards (boosts Nitrous and Air ratings). Players can obtain this car early in their playthrough after completing two questlines in Chapter 4: "Open Skies."