GTA V Vehicles Overview

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GTA 5 has been with us for nearly a decade, and any new additions to the famous and much loved Grand Theft Auto series seem a long way off. When writing this article, whispers about GTA 6 have just started to make their way out of Rockstars headquarters. 

However, even if that means a new game is in development, the sheer size and scale that Rockstar tend to require of their games today mean that any new GTA experience is a long way off yet. 

With this in mind, we will have to continue getting our GTA fix from the fifth entry in the series for some time yet. This fix I’m talking about, for me anyway, is the rampant need to drive very fast vehicles through the streets of downtown Los Santos while being chased by the LSPD and possibly the FIB, maybe the army, if I’m feeling a little bit frisky. 

I am pretty confident that when you guys think about whacking on Grand Theft Auto 5, this is the sort of thing you think about getting up to; however, there is a caveat. These games have been in production for so long, and GTA 5 has such a wide array of vehicles on offer to the player; so how I hear you ask, can we possibly sort through these GTA vehicles to find the best one for the job? 

Well, don’t worry any longer; in this article, we will take a very detailed look at the best this game offers in terms of player-controllable GTA V vehicles. This includes your traditional four-wheeled gas guzzlers, boats, motorbikes, helicopters, and planes.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best collection of vehicles ever designed for a video game to date.

Bottom Line Up Front

Grand Theft Auto has always been known for its extensive array of vehicles that players can use to their own mischievous end. As the series has continued, this array of vehicles has only increased, generating a list of vehicles so long that no man could hardly remember them all. To solve this, the best of each category of vehicle has been collected below.

Cars

Sports Cars

9F

9F

The Obey 9F is a two-door sports car based on the uber-popular Audi R8 Coupe. This means that the car is low-slung and perfect for achieving high speeds and taking on corners. 

This car spawns with two paint options, one applying to the main body and the other to the rear bottom panels.

Banshee

Banshee

This car is reminiscent of a Dodge Viper in design, featuring that famous small cab and an extremely long hood to accommodate the massive engine inside.

This car often spawns in a two-tone design. The primary color handles the main body, while the second is applied to a racing stripe running up the middle of the car. This car is also featured in previous GTA games, but it is the fastest it has ever been in GTA 5.

Buffalo

Buffalo

Designed to look like a Chevrolet Camero, this car could easily fit in the muscle car section of this list; however, its magnificent performance easily makes it a sports car. 

These cars all spawn in one block color; however, you probably won’t need to wait for one to spawn as this car is Franklin’s daily driver. 

Comet

Comet

Probably one of the more recognizable cars in the GTA series. This motor is based on the Porsche 996. Therefore, it is slightly more compact than the typical Porsche 911 that everyone is familiar with.

These cars have excellent high speed, but their real party piece is their cornering, able to go into a turn at massive speeds without any issues. 

Fusilade

Fusilade

If you like the look of this car in-game, you should maybe consider getting a Chrysler Crossfire. This car is designed in a fastback coupe model, allowing for greater aerodynamics. 

These cars are very light, making them very nimble and easy to guide around corners. Designed by Schyster in the GTA universe with a 3-liter V6 engine. 

Rapid GT

Rapid GT

This car is an identical copy of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage of James Bond fame. So, as you would expect from any 007 car, this vehicle has a very high top speed and can deal with most corners excellently. 

These cars can spawn with either a hard or soft top, meaning you can put down your roof at leisure in some of them. 

Sultan

Sultan

You know it’s a good car when it’s been in every GTA game since moving into the 3D universe. The Sultan, a four-door sports saloon, can spawn in two different colors, one takes up the entire body of the car, and another deals with the side skirts and the bottom of the back bumper.

Muscle

Buccaneer

Buccaneer

The Buccaneer found in GTA 5 is slightly different from previous representations because it looks like something you might want to drive or park in your garage. Styled after the Buick Riviera from the early 1960s, this first-generation Buccaneer is certainly in better condition than the second-gen versions found in GTA 4.

This classically shaped muscle car comes on ‘Dukes’ rims and a two-tone paint design. 

Dominator

Dominator

A first for the GTA series, the Dominator is designed to look like a fifth-gen Ford Mustang. Therefore, it is not only beautiful, but it is also full of power and street line potential. However, I wouldn’t be taking corners too quickly in this beast. 

As this car is a muscle car, you won’t have to worry too much about most collisions, as the strength of this vehicle is above average.

Gauntlet

Gauntlet

Another famous muscle car was copied for the Gauntlet. Styled like a Challenger RT, this car also borrows some chrome elements from the Dominator. 

The car is powered by a single-cam, turbocharged V8 engine that is perfect for straight-line speed but not much else. 

Sabre Turbo

Sabre Turbo

Otherwise known as the Sabre GT, this classic GTA car reclaims its turbo pedigree in GTA. the main feature of this car is the secondary paint-colored racing stripe that runs beautifully from the trunk to the lip of the hood. 

As you would expect from an 80s muscle car of this size, the Sabre is incredibly heavy and thus doesn’t produce as much acceleration as one would hope. 

Picador

Picador

A slightly different look to this car allows it to stand out from the rest. Designed in homage to the Holden HJ, this muscle car is the only one in the game to double up as a pickup truck, making it perfect for all your illegal transporting needs. 

Supercar

Adder

Adder

The adder is basically a 1:1 representation of the first Bugatti Veyron to ever hit the market. As you would expect, this car was, at a time, the fastest car in the game before Rockstart started firing mental behemoths into the online version of the game.

The car also benefits from the Bugatti’s exposed rear engine panel, allowing the player to see the attention to detail put into their version of the car’s engine. 

Bullet

Bullet

Moving back to America, this car is designed to look like a first-generation Ford GT. One can only assume this is because the new Ford GT was yet to be announced. 

You can find these cars with both racing stripes up the middle and along the bottom of the side panels. This Bullet is the third fastest car in the game but also has incredible handling.

Cheetah

Cheetah 

You get the feeling that this car should have been included in GTA 4 or swapped out for this game. This is because it is styled like an old Ferrari Enzo. A great looking and driving car at the time but a dinosaur by the time GTA 5 was released, never mind now. 

However, this car, with its incredibly sharp nose and overly designed back end, is the fourth fastest car in the game, coming with handling that pales in comparison to the other supercars already on this list. 

Infernus

Infernus

Thankfully, for everyone who spent hours driving about Liberty City in GTA 4 to find one of these, the Infernus is back.

Designed to look like an old Lamborghini Murcielago, this car is another dinosaur that was old even when it was included in GTA 4; however, I have nostalgia for this car, and its fire-spitting five-port exhaust system is unrivaled. 

Voltic

Voltic

First introduced in GTA 5, the Voltic is designed to look like a Tesla Roadster with shades of a Lotus Elise thrown in there. Because of this Lotus shape, the car is very lightweight and fun to drive. This, coupled with a fantastically powerful engine, ensures that the Voltic is very quick indeed. 

Zentorno

Zentorno

While not available upon the game’s launch, the Zentorno was added to GTA 5 as part of a free DLC update post-2015. The car resembles a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento and quickly became the fastest car in the game for a while. 

These cars spawn with one paint for the general body and another for the exhaust trims, vents, and front and rear bumpers. 

Sports Classics

JB 700

JB 700

The JB 700, or the James Bond 007 car, is designed in memory of the Aston Martin DB5 that famously starred in Goldfinger and Skyfall films. 

This classic car can also come equipped with none functioning James Bond-style tech such as headlight miniguns. Also, the mission Deep inside displays that the car can have caltrop dispensers, a retractable bulletproof shield, and many more mods fitted, even if the game doesn’t allow you to do all these things when you finally get to own one.

Monroe

Monroe

Designed to look like the Lamborghini Miura, an old poster car that many a young petrol head back in the day undoubtedly had up in their bedroom. 

While this car is very quick, it is still beaten by the more modern supercars in the game, although it does match the speed of both the Z-type and the JB 700.

Z-Type

Z-Type

This truly classic car has been a part of the GTA franchise since GTA 2. Then it was implemented into the game as a replica of a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic. Since then, it has always been one of the game’s quickest and most unusual cars. 

Unlike the modern cars in GTA 5, this car features an insane amount of wood and leather in the interior, displaying the height of luxury for the time it was produced. 

Sedans

Fugitive

Fugitive

The third-gen Holden Caprice’s styling makes this sedan look relatively sporty for its top speed. However, these cars have long been used as police cruisers, capable of maintaining decent speeds once given enough time to climb up to them.

This car handles more like a muscle car than a sedan, though, able to drive well in straight lines but terrible around corners. 

Romero Hearse

Romero Hearse 

As you may have guessed, this vehicle is indeed designed to transport coffins. This vehicle no longer has the cross detailing that it did in GTA 4. However, it may spawn with either no coffin, a coffin with wreaths, or just a coffin by itself. 

Super Diamond

Super Diamond

This Rolls Royce Phantom-like car is the epitome of luxury, able to ooze money from over a mile away. The top speed is decent, but nothing crazy. However, this car’s real beauty is its ability to sustain damage, most likely because of its enormous weight. 

This car spawns with many primary colors on a set of medium-profile tires and six-spoke alloys unique to the Super Diamond.

Surge

Surge

While this car might be similar to the Tesla Model X, it was actually inspired by the Chevrolet Volt, an electric hybrid car. The car only has one primary color, while the entire roof is one panoramic panel. 

This car is powered by an electric motor, giving it an excellent top speed for such a big car. Because of the batteries powering the electric motor, this car has a very good and low center of balance, aiding with handling. 

SUVs

Baller

Baller

Inspired by the L322 Range Rover, this car is one of luxury, and the interior shows just how high class the drivers of this 4×4 really are. 

Due to this car’s focus on luxury and possible off-roading, the vehicle is very heavy, thus leading to a slow and sluggish application of the V8 engine. This car also comes in a second generation that is slightly quicker and more refined in its design. 

BeeJay XL

BeeJay XL

Finally, another Japanese-inspired car, the BeeJay XL, is designed to mimic the Toyota FJ Cruiser. This car looks very prepared to take on the wilderness of the greater Los Santos area at speed, having a hood vent and everything, ready to drink in more air when needed. 

This car can also be fitted with other typical 4×4 mods such as fog lights, winches, a roof rack, and side steps. 

Dubsta

Dubsta

Another SUV comes in two different generations. Both generations are a copy of a Mercedes G-Wagon; however, the second-gen is definitely better polished and full of finer touches, such as a matte-painted front bumper.

These cars have a V12 engine and are permanently set to four-wheel drive. This vehicle is also prone to failings due to its high center of gravity and overly narrow body. 

Patriot

Patriot

Another car that was previously featured in GTA 4. This car was inspired by the mid-2000s Hummer H2 and is, therefore, great in size and fuel consumption. 

The iconic Hummer front grill is still present and sits behind the strong metal front bumper. This car also features a huge set of multispoke rims that dwarf other standard rims, even on SUVs. 

Compacts

Blista

Blista

While having been featured in previous GTA games, this version of the Blista is completely redesigned, featuring a 3-door hatchback design. While the car is small, it is still perfectly sporty and ready for quick, sharp turns around the track. 

This car’s speed is the exact same as the Buffalo, making it a sleeper car that will surprise anyone with its top speed. 

Prarie

Prarie

One of the most blatant copies of an IRL car, the Prarie is an exact depiction of the Hyundai Coupe found across Europe, otherwise known as the Tiburon. 

This car features a lightweight design and a very beefy V6 engine that can propel the car to shockingly high top speeds considering that it is a very old car indeed by today’s standards. 

Panto

Panto

This microcar is the perfect city car, designed in the style of a Smart Fortwo with little touches of the Volkswagen Up! This car can be found with a randomly selected color on the main body, while the secondary color is applied to the bumpers, skirts, roofs, and mirror shells. 

Although this car is light, it is also powered by a very weak engine, ensuring that any decent speeds cannot be achieved. 

Coupes

Exemplar

Exemplar

From the front, you can see the Exemplar as a copy of the Ferrari California; however, the rest of the body is more akin to the Aston Martin Rapide. 

This car sits on a set of Supernova SUV wheels as standard and only spawns in one primary color. This car operates in rear-wheel drive and corners/handles the best out of all the cars in this list compared to its overall speed. 

F620

F620

Inspired by the Jaguar XK, this car features a wide oval front grill with a Masserati-like front emblem cut out. While this car could never be described as incredibly quick, the inline-four engine does provide enough speed to evade most police cars in the Los Santos area. 

Zion

Zion

You can think of this car as GTA’s version of a BMW 6 series. Therefore, this car is perfect for anyone looking to balance luxury with decent top speed and handling. 

In essence, this car is very similar to the Sentinels, although the carbon fiber elements of the car set it apart greatly. 

Off-Road Vehicles

Blazer

Blazer

This Blazer was styled after the Yamaha YFZ450. The ATVs perfectly molded body ensures that it is perfect for both the sand dunes and the streets of downtown Los Santos. Not many vehicles can go where this one can, the four wheels giving the player stability while the light body ensures even the steepest of boggy hills are no challenge.

Bodhi

Bodhi

This rusted old pick-up truck is probably recognizable as Trevor’s personal vehicle from the base game. However, you may also recognize it for its similar styling to the old, now discontinued, Land Rover Defender. 

Due to this car’s size and high ride height, it has lackluster handling, but the engine ensures decent acceleration and an unexpectedly high top speed. 

Dune Buggy

Dune Buggy 

This beach hopper that can also be taken on the road can be found in two variations, spawning at random across Los Santos, either with the body panels or without. The two have the same top speed, showing that the paneless version is merely for show, gaining no benefits to the driver. 

This car is extremely lightweight and simply made, ensuring the driver has everything they need for some high-intensity off-roading and nothing more to save weight. 

Hot Rod Blazer

Hot Rod Blazer

This Nagasaki hot rod quad bike is probably one of the most unique-looking vehicles in the base game, featuring a supercharger popping out of the presumably fake hood and flames running up the side. 

All these additional parts don’t actually contribute anything to the vehicle’s top speed, but they do add some much-needed extra cool points for when you’re riding up Mount Chiliad. 

Liberator

Liberator

The most iconic 4×4 in the entire game has to be the Liberator. Complete with American flag livery and humungous wheels, this monster truck will crush any normal-sized car in a matter of seconds while expressing the driver’s love for America and freedom. 

This vehicle was not part of the base game at launch; however, we did get it as part of a free update. It is manufactured by Vapid and can currently run the player a hefty sum of $556,511. 

Vans

Burrito

Burrito

This van has appeared frequently throughout the GTA franchise, crossing over from the original games into the 3D universe. Designed to look like a Chevrolet Van third gen, this van is your typical short wheelbase light transport van, perfect for small loads or tradespeople.

Camper

Camper

If you have ever thought of taking a trip across America in a luxury but slightly older RV, this van is how you imagine it to be, complete with a bunk slung over the driver’s cabin.

Clown Van

Clown Van

This van is essentially a Speedo vehicle with the very funny ‘Fidler the Clown’ livery spread all over it. This vehicle is unique and has a red nose on the front grill and several circus horns on the roof.

This van sits on a set of rims unique to itself and the police transport vans; however, it also has whitewall tires.

Surfer

Surfer

This symbol of 60s Americana is perfect for any GTA player who loves going to the beach and terrorizing the sunbathers there. This vintage camper van is styled to look like a Volkswagon T1 and earns many cool points for anyone driving it. 

Utility and Industrial

Caddy

Caddy

Considering that Los Santos has so many golf courses, it would be silly not to have the classic golf caddy in the game. Whether road legal or not, this vehicle can be taken throughout the land, as long as you don’t mind waiting ten years to get anywhere with that small engine.

Ripley

Ripley

Featuring the Fly US livery and the classic massive driver’s cabin, the Ripley is an airport vehicle that appears in GTA 5 and 4.

This vehicle can be found at LSIA, where it will only spawn in white with a yellow lower body. 

Tow Truck

Tow Truck

Unlike previous games where this vehicle features, the towing section of the vehicle is now fully functional in GTA 5, capable of clipping onto any car and towing it away with ease, all at the player’s control. 

This truck usually spawns with a beat-up and rusted body and a two-tone paint design, sitting on a set of hot rod alloys. 

Dozer

Dozer

This bulldozer is perfect for anyone wanting to move some cars out of the way or build a skyscraper. Regardless, you can find this vehicle on most building sites in GTA 5, sporting the typical yellow paint of most industrial vehicles of this type. 

Rubble

Named after Barney from the Flinstones (it isn’t), this vehicle is based on the Peterbilt 359 dump truck and is essentially a Phantom with a dump trunk trailer welded to the rear. 

These vehicles will always spawn in a rusty or faded paint scheme with either a full or empty dump trailer.

Service and Commercial

Bus

Bus

The best things about these vehicles are hijacking one and hearing the passengers scream as you ram your way through vehicles. Because of their huge size, these buses can sustain a lot of damage and plow their way through almost anything.

Taxi

Taxi

The Taxi in GTA 5 is based on a Crown Victoria, produced between 1998 and 2011. The player can either drive one of these themselves or get into the Downtown Cab Co. vehicles and pay a small fee to be transported anywhere across the map.

Packer

Packer

This truck appeared in GTA 4 as well; however, the game’s design has been completely changed. Designed to look like an Internation 4700 series Mack truck, these brutes look like your typical long-haul truck, complete with a driver’s sleeping cab. 

Pounder

Pounder

This large box truck appears as your typical heavy goods transport vehicle throughout the game, complete with a randomized livery for several companies throughout the GTA 5 universe. 

Emergency and Army

Lifeguard

Lifeguard

This unique variant of the Granger 4×4 features yellow paint, a lifeguard livery one would expect, and a surfboard tucked between the roof bars in case you get bored of saving lives and want to catch some gnarly waves. 

Police Riot

Police Riot

This riot vehicle is essentially the same as any armored truck you find in the game, except it is a little sturdier and likely to have some heavily armed SWAT guys lurking inside. 

These trucks are very hard to destroy as the wheels are also reinforced and bulletproof; however, this is nothing a little C4 can’t fix. 

Rhino Tank

Rhino Tank

Thankfully, the tank has been reintroduced for GTA 5. This vehicle allows the player to fire huge missiles out of the 360-degree gun while being virtually impervious to all reproach. 

Trailers

Army Trailer

Army Trailer

These trailers spawn in many variations, carrying either no cargo or several different items. Regardless, they all come with the customary army camouflage paint job. I question this because you’re not exactly going to miss one of these massive trailers, are you? 

Boat Trailer

Boat Trailer

Designed to look like every single small boat trailer you have ever seen, this unique trailer is perfect for transporting your expensive money pit from port to port. 

Generic Trailer

Generic Trailer

These trailers can spawn carrying various things, resulting in them each bringing their own class of vehicle; however, they all share the same trailer underbody, regardless of what is sitting atop them.

These trailers are designed for and used by the citizens of Los Santos for various reasons and can easily be found outside the city limits of Los Santos. 

Motorcycles

Akuma

Akuma

This sports bike, originally featured in TBoGT, returns to GTA 5 basically without any changes. This means that the Akuma is probably the best-looking bike in the game. 

Designed to look like the Buell XB12S, this streetfighter-style motorcycle is the fastest accelerating vehicle in the entire game. This, coupled with tremendous cornering speeds and great handling, makes the Akuma a real gem.

Bati 801

Bati 801

Should you be a big bike fan, you probably already know that this one is modded after the Ducati 848 and 1089; however, it also features details from the Ducati Desmosedici RR. 

Essentially, this bike is the exact same vehicle as the NRG 900, but it has been slightly tweaked to appear more upmarket and classy for the older sports bike enthusiast. Regardless, this bike still has tremendous acceleration and top speed figures. 

Faggio

Faggio

It appears that Rockstar still finds this joke funny as the Faggio once again appears in GTA 5. This Vespa replica spawns in two colors, one for the main body and another for the cloth seat cover. 

In GTA 5, the performance of the Faggio has been lowered significantly, making it one of the slowest vehicles in the game, a real shame for those who loved to pop wheelies on it in GTA 4.

Nemesis

Nemesis

If you are looking for a bike with the same profile and ride position as the Sanchez dirt bike but with the performance of a proper sport bike, the Nemesis is for you. This bike is unique and designed to look like the Ducati Hypermotard and Monster series.

This bike is powered by a V-twin engine, powering it to around the same speed as a PCJ-600. 

Cycles

BMX

BMX

I don’t really think I need to describe a BMX in too much detail. Appearing slightly smaller than it did in GTA San Andrea, this bicycle is capable of low speeds but the occasional bunny hop should your character want to pull off some stunts. 

Tri-Cycles Race Bike

Tri-Cycles Race Bike

Borrowing its design from the Whippet Race Bike, this vehicle is the quickest bicycle in the game due to its light frame and aerodynamic design.

This bike only spawns in blue livery with blue and black spoke end covers and a main white body. 

Boats

Marquis

This sailboat remains from GTA 4 and is virtually unchanged. Based on the Adjutor Yachts, this massive boat is very hard and slow to maneuver but definitely perfect for any GTA supervillain.

Submersible

This small, two-seater submarine features heavily throughout the GTA 5 main campaign and several GTA Online missions based on the PC-12 Perry and the Clelia. The submarine itself is rectangular in shape, with a domed front window and enforced rails running along the exterior.

Helicopters and Planes

Atomic Blimp

Atomic Blimp

This blimp is identical to the Goodyear GZ-20 blimp, even featuring the same Atomic branding across the main body.

As you would expect, this vehicle is very slow and easily destroyed; however, the player can easily land on it with a helicopter. 

Luxor

Luxor

The typical private jet is small but sleek, designed for low-altitude flight with minimal added weight. This plane usually spawns in black with signature yellow stripes and regalia. 

P-996 LAZER

P-996 LAZER

This military-owned fighter jet is the base game’s fastest and most deadly item. Not only will you rule the skies with its massive firepower, but you will also have great fun stealing one from the military base. 

This vehicle features both miniguns and missile launchers but only spawns in a metallic grey. 

Buzzard Attack Chopper

Buzzard Attack Chopper

Like the base helicopter, the Buzzard Attack version is quick, lightweight, and very nimble, allowing the player to maneuver and fire the attached miniguns quickly. 

However, due to its small size and reduced weight, it is very easy to destroy or damage by enemy fire or by clipping buildings. 

Cargobob

Cargobob 

This dual rotor helicopter is only issued to military and lifeboat personnel, capable of landing on and picking up vehicles at will with the player-controlled winch system. 

This helicopter normally spawns in military camouflage; however, you can find it in red and white. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How many vehicles are there in GTA 5?

Answer: GTA 5 has, by far, the largest collection of unique, drivable vehicles in any game ever. Totaling 348 separate vehicles, the player really is spoiled for choice.

Question: Is there a Bugatti in GTA 5?

Answer: Yes, a car designed to look like a Bugatti Veyron can be found driving through Los Santos. The Truffade Adder was the fastest car in the game upon release.

Question: Is the Vigilante bulletproof?

Answer: While sustained fire at the vehicle will eventually damage it enough to make it blow up, the windows and tires are both bullet resistant, meaning that the player will not have to worry about bullets popping their tires or being shot through their windows.

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have a comprehensive overview of the best cars and vehicles in the base game of GTA 5. Of course, the developers have since gone wild with their car designs in the online mode of this game. If you like to view that list, why not check it out on this here? 

Either way, I hope you enjoyed your time here and that this article has helped you somehow. See you soon, good luck!

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