Not one winner
Best car in NFS Underground 2 by race type
Drag, drift and circuit get different answers. I will not collapse them.
By mode
Drag: the Skyline GT-R article calls that car especially strong in drag, with the fastest upgraded 0-60 in this set at 2.46 seconds. Drift: the RX-7 article is the one that says ideal for drift. The Eclipse GSX and the 240SX are the other drift names, for AWD grip and for a light starter.
Circuit and sprint: the 350Z and the Skyline are the names those articles support. The Supra article trades handling for top speed. Starters: Civic has the quickest stage-1 0-60, the 240SX the highest starter top speed, the Corolla the handling note and the lowest stock power. These different strengths do not produce a universal starter winner; the shortlist is an editorial comparison of the model articles.
A recommendation for the race you need
| Need | Candidate | Why it is on the shortlist | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter acceleration | Honda Civic Si | North American starter; published acceleration comparison | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
| Starter top speed / rear-wheel drive | Nissan 240SX | Starter with a different tradeoff from Civic and Corolla | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
| Technical starter handling | Toyota Corolla GT-S | Handling recommendation differs from the acceleration winner | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
| Drag shortlist | Nissan Skyline GT-R | Model article highlights upgraded acceleration | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
| Drift shortlist | Mazda RX-7 | Model article discusses drift suitability | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
| Circuit / sprint shortlist | Nissan 350Z | Late-career alternative to the Skyline | 1 publisher: NFS Fandom |
Video
A public ranking video. I treat it as one opinion.
FAQ
What should I buy first?
On NTSC, the Civic if you want acceleration. The 240SX if you want a drift starter.
Is the Skyline the best at everything?
No. Handling is the weakness its own article names.
Portuguese version?
Yes. The Portuguese best-car page asks the same question.
Sources
- NFS Fandom: car roster — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Underground 2 car list — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Mazda RX-7 (FD3S) — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Nissan 350Z (Z33) — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Honda Civic Si (EM1) — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Nissan 240SX SE (S13) — checked 2026-11-03
- NFS Fandom: Toyota Corolla GT-S (AE86) — checked 2026-11-03