10 Best Rocket League Cars

Human Made

Penned by Kody Wirth

Kody is our expert Destiny 2 and shooter genre writer. He lives in Oregon.

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Rocket League represents one of those rare cases where a developer takes a concept that sounds awesome on paper and executes it well in practice. Supercharged cars playing soccer, hockey, and basketball could have been easy to mess up. But over the last five years, the team at Psyonix has grown their competitive little indie game that could into one of the go-to alternative eSports titles. Here, we’re going to take a look at the best Rocket League cars to set you up for more wins.

The game recently switched over to a free-to-play model and added some updates to the overall gameplay and default cars. With all of these changes, you may be asking, “What is the best car to use in Rocket League?” Well, that’s a simple but also complicated question. But we did the heavy lifting and rounded up the top 10 cars you should be using in Rocket League right now.

10 Best Cars to Use in Rocket League

The mechanics and meta have drastically changed over the last five years. Knowing which is the best car to use in Rocket League used to be a simple performance comparison between each model.

Now, the system has changed, and specific models don’t perform as uniquely as they once did. That said, we can still give you an idea of which options are best to try out.

10. Marauder

The best Octane alternative in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Complete Matches | Body Type: Octane

At number 10 on our list of the best cars to use in Rocket League is the Marauder.

The Marauder is one of those rigs that originally got locked behind DLC and forgotten, which is unfortunate — the car is strangely useful. On the surface, it looks like a variant of the Merc, but in reality, it’s a bulky version of the Octane hitbox.

This makes it just as useful on offense while also making it more of a threat defensively. Sure, you lose out on some speed and control, but you’re also able to throw your weight around a bit more.

9. Merc

The car with the biggest hitbox in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Complete Matches or Trade-In | Body Type: Merc

If you’re playing defense and want a car that brings the bulk, the Merc is the best option. This body type brings the biggest hitbox with it, making it ideal for protecting your goal or taking out opponents. It’s also surprisingly useful in the air, even with the bigger size.

8. Aftershock

The car with the best handling in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Complete Matches | Body Type: Dominus

Aftershock is the right choice if you solely want speed. The applicable boost and standard acceleration make it perfect for screaming up and down the field. These do make the controls feel somewhat heavy, so be ready to compensate early on those turns.

Additionally, it has a tiny hitbox, meaning you’ll need to work on your timing. It’s not built for beginners and is meant purely for offensive play.

7. Mantis

The best ground-level car in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Nitro Blueprint | Body Type: Plank

The Mantis serves as the best alternative to the Batmobile that you can currently find in-game. Its flat design, powerful boost, and tight controls make it a major threat when on the ground. However, the lack of height does make it less useful in the air, unless you’re queuing up a pass or shot attempt.

It serves as a great offensive option that encourages you to improve your ability to flip and sideswipe. Just be ready for plenty of balls to go sailing right past you as you get used to the lesser hitbox.

6. Takumi

The best car to use in hoops Rocket League

How to Unlock: Complete Matches | Body Type: Octane

The Takumi is an interesting variation that takes cues from the Dominus and Hybrid models while retaining the Octane hitbox. This unique blend makes for a well-balanced machine that favors breaking outside of a tight hitbox, meaning you’ll need to adjust to how it performs.

Thanks to the transition to a higher roof and shorter length, the Takumi is perfect for the hoops mode or if you play mid in standard. It’s built to elevate your play and makes mid-air travel distance and control a breeze. In many ways, it serves as a natural challenge to take on once you’ve mastered the Octane.

5. Endo

The best hybrid car in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Starter Kit | Body Type: Hybrid

Not only does the Endo look slick, it also backs up its design with unique performance. The Hybrid body type truly is a best-of-both-worlds scenario, combining the ground dominance of the Dominus with the refined controls of the Octane. It has incredibly tight controls, a taller hitbox than the aforementioned models, and enough speed to make it a versatile player.

Unfortunately, it does have to be purchased on its own, and the adjustment can be difficult if you favored another type of car up to this point. The learning curve is steep, but if you need a change of pace, it may be worth checking out.

4. Breakout

The best starting car to use in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Complete Matches or Trade-In | Body Type: Breakout

Breakout looks like a pure muscle car. It’s boxy, angular, and dynamic, which precisely reflects the way it plays. These features make it a natural all-around alternative to the Octane, but with a focus on front-of-the-line goal shots and gliding.

The flat top and longer design mean this car was built to navigate the air. And while it’s a bit shorter, the hitbox hugs the roof, meaning you won’t be mistiming shots as often. You’ll see plenty of pro players shuffle this model into the mix, but it’s generally meant to help beginners get a handle on the game.

3. Batmobile

The best DLC car in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Dawn of Justice DLC Pack | Body Type: Plank

What’s cooler than playing soccer with cars? How about doing it while driving the Batmobile? Kicking off one of their first branded partnerships, the team at Psyonix brought Batman’s legendary four-wheeler to life to celebrate the release of Batman Vs. Superman, and (unlike the movie) it became an obvious go-to option.

The flat shape and slim design make it perfect for dribbling or going on the attack. It’s incredibly fast, has a crazy sharp turning radius, and is one of the easiest cars to control mid-air. Now, this model is not built for beginners and takes time to get used to. It’s also not currently acquirable mid-game unless you already bought the DLC, so you might not have this option unless Psyonix does a re-release down the road.

Still, it’s a fantastic option for those who have it, and one of the best cars to use in Rocket League overall.

2. Dominus

The most popular car in Rocket League

How to Unlock: Automatically Available | Body Type: Dominus

The Octane may be one of the most used vehicles in casual and professional play, but the Dominus is still the most popular. It’s not quite as versatile, but it packs a punch on offense thanks to the increased speed and acceleration. 

Throw in the fact that it has one of the largest overall surface areas in the game, and you have yourself a real powerhouse for massive clearing kicks or when taking down opponents. Just keep in mind that this rig is a bit more difficult to control and can be especially frustrating to accurately navigate in mid-air.

1. Octane 

The best car in Rocket League overall

How to Unlock: Automatically Available | Body Type: Octane

The Octane is the most well-rounded car available, and our top pick amongst all the best cars to use in Rocket League. While a jack-of-all-trades build can be harmful in other games, it actually gives you an edge in Rocket League. Most pros simply agree that Octane’s controls just feel right.

The ability to adapt on the fly is necessary if you’re playing the forward or mid role for your team. You need to be versatile enough to switch between offensive and defensive play at a moment’s notice, and the Octane fits that need perfectly.

There’s a good reason why most eSports professionals stick with a variation of this car. The hitbox falls closely in line with what you see on screen, the driving and turn controls feel smooth, and the car itself packs enough speed and power to make you a threat. The only major drawback is the shorter length, which can cause you to lose an edge in head-to-head skirmishes.

How to Choose the Best Cars to Use in Rocket League

The process for identifying the best cars to use in Rocket League was streamlined with the free-to-play update. However, it’s worth noting that many of the body types function similarly, and the overall effectiveness depends on your play style and team role. All that said, these are the factors you’ll need to consider when choosing a car.

1. Know Your Hitboxes

The hitboxes in Rocket League are invisible lines that determine the size and edges of the vehicle. Basically, this determines how and where a specific car will impact the ball, walls, or other players. You’ll want to find cars with hitboxes that fit the car’s actual design or have longer, wider, or taller hitbox areas that can assist the way you play.

Currently, Psyonix has every car grouped into one of six hitbox variants:

• Breakout: Breakout
• Dominus: Aftershock, Delorean, Dominus
• Hybrid: Endo, Venom
• Octane: Fennec, Gizmo, Octane, Vulcan
• Plank: Batmobile, Mantis, Paladin
• Merc: Merc

Now, each car functions differently within its hitbox class due to the visual style of the vehicle. For example, Octane has the tallest and second widest hitbox, making it perfect for offensive play. The Dominus is bulkier, making it perfect for defense, and the Plank serves as a high-speed offensive variant. The best thing you can do is determine how you plan to play, choose a class with a hitbox that fits and give a few models a test run to find the right one.

2. Understand Car Stats

Do different cars in Rocket League have different speeds? No, but each car is split into a preset. The presets have different turn speeds and hitboxes but other stats like speed, acceleration, and air roll speed stay the same. Because turn speed varies, turning while boosting will also vary from car to car.

3. Unlock the Cars You Want

Now, one unfortunate drawback is that not all of the best cars to use for Rocket League are available from the start. You only have three to four options to begin with, and the rest will unlock either through gameplay, season passes, starter packs, or exclusive DLC.

If you plan on playing with a specific car, be sure you know what you need to do to unlock it or find an alternative in the meantime.

4. Wheels, Toppers, and Paint Jobs

The actual value of wheels and toppers has been up for debate since Rocket League first launched. Some claim that specific wheels create greater acceleration or grip, while others find no difference at all. And toppers may have some influence over the hitbox, but more than likely, it’s just for show like the paint jobs.

It may be worth researching specific tires, but we’d recommend just sticking to options you like and focusing more on the car body type.

Further Reading

We hope you’ve figured out which is the best car to use in Rocket League to pursue your eSports dreams. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our email list to stay in the know. If you know of others hoping to elevate their Rocket League game, feel free to share this article on your favorite social platform.

Happy gaming!

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