Before we start you must know, in NFS payback as long you have cars level higher than recommended level you can beat anything. So you can choose every cars you like and do grinding later. But if you hate to do grinding like me, this guide is for you.

And important thing you know in NFS payback you can't do performance swap to other cars. So if you buy car you need level it again.

and little note, some cars in NFS payback not fit with some class (even if you can buy it and build in that class).

In the game Tyler given choice by Rav to pick one of three cars.

1. BUICK GNX (LV | 131)
2. VOLKSWAGEN Golf GTI (LV | 131)
3. HONDA S2000 (LV | 126)

Best choice in here is BUICK GNX. This car have high level & good in straight road.
Use this car i can beat first league very easy using only reward upgrades since the race mostly in straight road. Bad things for this cars is difficult to use it when you speed in corners.
Other choice, HONDA S2000 also good because have good acceleration for push start, but this cars have bad speed also low level, so you maybe need do little grinding or buy something for Tune-Up-Shop to catch the level.

I recommend BUICK GNX because you can beat entire race league only using this cars. in my playthrough i only have difficult when fight 1% percent boss (supernova), and that because in lore she cheating during last corner before finish. this can very easy solved when you beat her recommended level.

Note :
If you have Need for Speed (2015) and NFS Payback in same origin account, Tyler will receive Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34) Eddie's" edition free directly when you first time arrive to Rav garage. it have cars performance LV 319. Basically if you have this, just use this than starter cars, its quick, its fast, and you dont need spend many money to upgrade it to MAXOUT.

After finish test drive using Tyler first cars, we go to Mac who buy new cars. You given two choice

1. LAND ROVER Defender 110 (LV | 136)
2. SUBARU Impreza WRX STI (LV | 139)

Best choice in here LAND ROVER Defender 110.
SUBARU Impreza WRX STI maybe have better level and speed, but bad things in this car stock tires they use not for off-road build. you even can feel the struggle after you buy it and drive test with jess to airport.
So you need buy tires first who cost money and time since you need do unlock things for customization. Meanwhile using LAND ROVER Defender 110 you already set using this cars for race,

In my playthrough i only need rewards cards to beat first off-road league, no need grinding and waste more time. Bad things with this cars is heavy and have low speed, so maybe you will using nitrous often to make it fast, but this can be solved later using recommended level.

I almost can beat entire off-road race using this cars. I only have difficult when in mission Outlaw Rush when Tyler do off-road and enemy cheating based lore and make the race to 2 section.
I recommend you make super builds using this cars from derelicts

1. Chevrolet Bel Air 1955 (Off-road)
2. Chevrolet C10 Sidestep Pickup 1965 (Off-road)
3. Volkswagen Beetle 1963 (Off-road)

Which one you pick from those 3 not really affect to game (Well i prefer Chevrolet Bel Air 1955, since its for achievement too).

for more guide about derelict you can see my other guide about derelict.

After beat First 2 League, you need buy new car for Drift Build.

You dont want waste much money just for one car in this class, so here the best cars you will use for all drift in story.

MAZDA RX-7 Spirit R (LV | 156) - $84,350

You don't even need upgrade the cars to make you win every drift races. During Drift races, you dont need speed, you need good brakes for drift and good tires. And the stock MAZDA RX-7 Spirit R have all of it.

You don't need buy cars for this race. Just use derelict from this cars :

1. Ford Mustang 1965 (Drag)
2. Nissan Fairlady 240ZG 1971 (Drag)

Both is best choice for this class, but i more recommended Ford Mustang 1965 for stable speed, since Nissan Fairlady 240ZG 1971 too light and sometimes not stable if other car (NPC or Enemy) hit you when doing drag, but good thing from Nissan Fairlady 240ZG 1971 its easy to wheelie bet using car.

I recommend you to buy catch-up pack from Tune-Up-Shop to quickly upgrade this cars to super builds.

You just need keep upgrade Jess default cars (Audi S5 Sportback (B9).
Her default car already good, little slow but as long you above recommended level nothing to worry about it.

BUT, if you want new car for it i recommend you to pick BMW M4 GTS (LV | 247) = $105,750.
This car perfectly fit with runner mission. Its tough and fast, can fill every disadvantages you got from jess default car.

This guide based my experience when play the game.

This guide created based from game NOT based from Real Life, no offense to any brand car in here.

A bit extra here :
My friend tell me its better to make derelict mustang as starter drift car because Mac lore, and make Tyler using derelict fairlady as starter drag car. By doing this you will save money to avoid buying new car. But honestly in my opinion using mustang as starter drift car only make you hard to win, except you want to grind speed card and tires first. fairlady as drag cars still acceptable, but you maybe found difficult time when drag the enemy car crash to you, and sometimes you will got event who need you to do sprint using drag race, and honestly using fairlady in drag superbuilds outside race kinda awful, since drag build will make your car have hard time to turn corners, thats why i prefer using mustang as drag starter. But in the choice still up to you. i just give you guide based my experience when play this game.