Sleeper car ownership comes with a unique list of driving pleasures. The main being that lashings of awe-inspiring performance get hidden from prying eyes. Think of sleepers as no show, but plenty-of-go. Most motor manufacturing countries have birthed a sleeper – from the more modern Audi S6 V10 to the classic Mercedes-Benz 500E. With many having attempted to hide impressive abilities beneath a humble car body. But it is the Japanese companies that have proven themselves to be top-tier players. Consistently dishing out lust-worthy machines.
The JDM scene hides may be a tasty nugget. Cars that may have a boring exterior but get powered by a ferocious heart. Capable of leaving supposed superior cars wondering what the hell happened. These sleepers explode forward, leaving the competition reeling. Subtly unloading their capabilities onto the street.
Built to last, Japanese sleeper cars bring a different slant to the genre. Often blending quirky gadgets or desirable engines with uncompromising daily practicality. So for gearheads that love everything JDM. Here are 10 Japanese sleeper cars that are surprisingly cheap to own and maintain.
10 Lexus GS450h (From $5,500)
Every bit of a sophisticated executive, the Lexus GS450h is an opulent vehicle stuffed full of wood and leather, boasting a high-end stereo system, and offering a comfortable method of travel. It is also a hybrid vehicle, so being frugal is also on the list of GS450h plus points.
At a sedate cruise, the Lexus GS450h can return 35 mpg. Which is impressive from a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid making 340 hp. But this is a sleeper car. So drop it into sport mode, and mash the pedal. The GS450h will leap forward to hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. So it's no slouch.
9 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B (From $4,500)
Not all the best Subarus rely on a turbocharger. The Legacy R gets a very tasty 3.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine. A lump that generates 241 hp. The power is fed to all four wheels in a beautifully linear motion. Sure-footed handling and plenty of urge make for great fun.
The Legacy 3.0R Spec B will run to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. The B in the name designates Bilstein suspension, meaning that the Legacy 3.0 R can devour corners with ease. It's more refined than an Impreza, so a Legacy is for Subaru fans who have grown up but not by too much.
8 Mitsubishi Galant VR4 (From $9,000)
The Galant VR4 is an awkward-looking sedan. Mildly sporting, it hardly screams performance. Yet under the hood hides a 2.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. The most powerful versions have 280 hp. The VR4 is blessed with AWD, so getting to 60 mph only takes 5.9 seconds.
An undercover rally car for the road. The Galant VR4 is a seriously fast sedan. On the move, it knits corners together with aplomb. It's a truly hard-charging sleeper that draws little attention. Settle into the Recaro seats and enjoy as the bombproof mechanicals back up the experience.
7 Toyota Chaser TRD (From $18,000)
To quote its full name, the Toyota Chaser Tourer TRD Sports is an impressive car. Sportier looking than most sleepers, the Chaser TRD still doesn't draw much attention until it gets going. Its 2.5-liter turbocharged engine delivers 276 hp. All of this goes to the rear wheels.
Cracking the 60 mph mark takes 5.5 seconds. Extracting more power from the engine is easy, so building a sleeper with 300+hp can be on the cards. Capable and very practical, the Chaser TRD can undertake family duties, destroy a racetrack, and cruise with the best of them.
6 Toyota Aristo V300 Vertex Edition (From $15,000)
The Toyota Aristo V300 Vertex Edition is as close to an MKIV Toyota Supra Turbo sedan as a gearhead can get. The iconic Toyota 2JZGTE engine lurks under the hood. A well-respected 3.0-liter twin-turbo unit. Factory rated at 276 hp. Many believe it to make 320 hp.
The Aristo V300 Vertex is Japan's answer to the BMW M5 E39. A sporting sedan that rips up the road. Getting to 60 mph from a standstill takes 5.5 seconds. Uncorking more power from the engine is child's play. It's a 500-hp supercar killer in waiting. The ultimate JDM sleeper.
5 Honda Accord Type-R (From $6,500)
One of the world's very best handling front-wheel-drive sedans. The Honda Accord Type-R could easily be mistaken for a poorly modified old grocery-getter. Its 2.2-liter engine throws out 217 hp. It redlines at 7200 rpm. Plus scampers to 60 mph in a respectable 6.9 seconds.
There is so much control on offer from the chassis that a driver is genuinely spoiled. Turn-in is crisp. Engine pick-up is instantaneous. An Accord Type-R is one of the most rewarding cars to extract speed from. It just begs for more and delivers every time. A real masterpiece.
4 Mazda 6 MPS (From $8,000)
Massively underrated as a performance sedan, the Mazda 6 MPS didn't sell in the numbers that it deserved. Simply because it didn't look the part. Its dreadfully boring styling holds back what is simply a dream to drive. Potent, grippy, and bucket loads of fun... but it's aesthetically dead.
The lack of outlandish add-ons makes the Mazda 6 MPS a superb sleeper. Nothing gives away any clues about its 2.3-liter turbocharged engine that makes 256 hp and drives all four wheels. Or that it can get to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. It's subdued but with a big bite.
3 Nissan Skyline R34 Sedan (From $10,000)
All the greatness of a Skyline coupe in a family-friendly shell. That's one of what makes the R34 sedan a great sleeper. Plus the fact that it has stayed out of the limelight. The coupe version is an icon. The sedan isn't, but it easily could be when considering the package on offer.
Opt for a Skyline 25GT-X Turbo and a driver gets a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive. This gives 276 hp and fantastic handling. It'll hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Bolt-on upgrades are easily found. So, pulling extra power from the engine is a gearhead must.
2 Lexus IS-F (From $21,000)
It was as good as the BMW M3 E90, but no one bought into the idea of a rapid, mid-sized Lexus, especially one that looked no different from every other car in the range. Yet the Lexus IS-F is a superb car – fast, comfortable, and extremely playful.
A mighty 5.0-liter V8 puts out 423 hp, allowing this executive sedan to blitz the 0-60 mph run in 4.6 seconds. Lighting up the rear tires, it's a handful in the wet. And only true gearheads would know. At first glance, the IS-F can be mistaken for a diesel... until the throttle gets buried.
1 Suzuki Kizashi Turbo (From $12,000)
In its basic form, the Suzuki Kizashi showed some promise. It's a four-wheel drive car with a 2.4-liter engine, but it only made 176 hp and took a lethargic 7.8 seconds to crawl to 60 mph. Suzuki was aware of the performance shortfalls, so a suitable remedy got deployed.
Depending on which part of the world they were in, those seeking more from their Kizashi could have a discreet word in a dealer's ear. And for $7,000 a turbo package could be retrofitted, giving the Suzuki Kizashi 290 hp. This shaves 2 seconds off the 0-60 mph sprint time.
Sources: AutoTrader, Parker's