What is the fastest car in GTA 5? The answer depends on which version you play and how you measure speed. A car’s top speed on a long straight is different from its lap time around a track, and on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC Enhanced, the Hao’s Special Works (HSW) upgrade turns a few cars into the fastest vehicles in the game. This guide gives clear answers for story mode, GTA Online, and HSW-capable versions.
Fastest car in GTA 5 story mode
Story mode only includes the cars from the original 2013-2015 releases plus a few later additions. In story mode, the Pegassi Zentorno, Truffade Adder and Grotti Turismo R are the fastest supercars you can buy from Legendary Motorsport or find on the street. The Adder has a high top speed on straights, while the Zentorno accelerates faster and handles better, which is why many players call it the best all-round fast car in story mode. You can also spawn cars with cheats; see GTA 5 vehicle cheats.
Fastest cars in GTA Online (without HSW)
GTA Online has hundreds more cars. Based on community speed tests (top speed measured on a long straight, fully upgraded), the fastest regular cars include:
- Ocelot Pariah (sports): long known as the fastest car by top speed in GTA Online, at around 136 mph fully upgraded.
- Grotti Itali RSX (sports): very high top speed and excellent handling.
- Benefactor Krieger (super): one of the fastest supercars with strong acceleration.
- Overflod Entity MT (super): fast and stable.
- Pegassi Tezeract, Ocelot Penetrator and Grotti Furia: other top supercars.
Special vehicles with rocket boosts, such as the Scramjet, Oppressor and Vigilante, are faster in bursts but are not normal cars and are banned from most races.
Fastest cars with Hao’s Special Works (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Enhanced)
The HSW upgrade, available at the LS Car Meet on current-gen versions, boosts certain cars far beyond anything else. Cars such as the Pfister Astron Custom, Grotti Itali GTO Stinger TT, Coil Cyclone II and the Hakuchou Drag motorcycle reach speeds well over 150 mph with HSW. The HSW upgrade is not available on PS4, Xbox One or PC Legacy, which is one reason racers moved to current-gen versions.
Top speed vs lap time
Top speed tells you how fast a car goes on a straight; lap time tells you how fast it gets around a real track with corners. Some of the fastest-by-top-speed cars, like the Pariah, are not the best racers because of handling. Community tester Broughy1322 is the reference most players use for lap times and top speeds in GTA Online, and he updates his data with every DLC.
How car speed works in GTA 5
Speed in GTA 5 is not as simple as the stats bar in the shop. The bar shows an approximate value, but the real top speed depends on the vehicle’s handling data, its upgrades and the road surface. Some cars reach their best speed only on long straights, while others accelerate so quickly that they are faster on short city streets. That is why fans test cars on a fixed track and record lap times, as well as measuring top speed on the highway. When you choose a car, think about where you will drive it: races with many corners reward acceleration and grip, while long straight sprints reward top speed.
Upgrades that make a car faster
- Engine: the biggest improvement to acceleration.
- Transmission: quicker gear changes and better acceleration.
- Turbo: faster acceleration from low speed.
- Spoiler: on many cars, improves traction in corners, which helps lap times.
- Tires: custom tires do not add speed, but bulletproof tires keep you rolling in combat.
Upgrades are available at Los Santos Customs in story mode and GTA Online, and at your own workshop in some businesses. In GTA Online on current consoles and PC Enhanced, Hao’s Special Works vehicles add a separate set of high-performance upgrades that make them the fastest cars in the game.
Where to buy fast cars
In story mode, you buy supercars from the Legendary Motorsport website on the in-game phone or computer, and some cars appear on the streets. In GTA Online, Legendary Motorsport, Southern San Andreas Super Autos and Benny’s sell vehicles, and new cars arrive with most updates. The Lucky Wheel at the Diamond Casino and the weekly prize ride at the LS Car Meet can give you a free car, so check them each week.
Story mode vs online
Story mode has a smaller selection of cars than GTA Online, because many vehicles were only added for online updates. The fastest story-mode supercars are still very quick, but the very fastest vehicles in the game overall are online-only. If you mainly play story mode, focus on the supercars available on Legendary Motorsport and upgrade them fully. If you race online, the Hao’s Special Works cars dominate, so it is worth saving for one.
Fastest cars by class
GTA 5 groups vehicles into classes, and races usually restrict you to one class. That means the fastest car overall is not always the most useful one. Super cars are the fastest class, followed by Sports cars, then Sports Classics, Muscle, Sedans and so on. If you race online, it pays to own the strongest car in each class you enjoy. Sports class races are especially popular, so a top Sports car is often a better buy than a second Super car. Motorcycles deserve a mention too: the fastest bikes rival supercars on straight roads, although they are harder to control and you can be thrown off in a crash.
Tips for driving faster
- Use first-person or close third-person camera for better judgment of corners.
- Brake before corners, not during them, and accelerate out of the apex.
- Use the handbrake sparingly; it is useful for tight hairpins but slows you on normal corners.
- Learn shortcuts on common race routes and through the city.
- On console, turn off controller vibration if it distracts you, and adjust steering sensitivity in the settings.
- In story mode, use Franklin’s special ability to slow time through tricky sections.
Do HSW cars work on PS4 or Xbox One?
No. Hao’s Special Works upgrades are only available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and GTA V Enhanced on PC. Players who moved from older consoles keep their cars, and can then visit Hao at the LS Car Meet to upgrade eligible vehicles. If you are still on an older console, see our GTA 5 versions and release facts for how to move to the current edition.
Fastest cars FAQ
What is the fastest car in GTA 5?
Online, the top Hao’s Special Works supercars are the fastest; in story mode, the best fully upgraded supercars from Legendary Motorsport lead the way. See the lists at the top of this page.
Does a full upgrade change top speed?
Upgrades mainly improve acceleration and handling, which is why lap times improve more than top speed.
Are electric cars fast in GTA 5?
Some electric cars accelerate extremely quickly thanks to instant torque, which makes them strong on short city tracks, but most have lower top speeds than the best combustion supercars. The Pegassi Toreador and similar special vehicles are fun but rarely top the speed charts.
Which car should a beginner buy first?
A well-rounded Sports car that is easy to handle is a better first buy than an expensive supercar, because it is useful in more races and cheaper to upgrade. Save for a Hao’s Special Works car later if you get into racing.