Different people have their definitions when it comes to cars that are fast, and cars that seem to be fast but are just slow. For those of us with daily drivers, there's a general understanding that a 14-second quarter mile time is pretty much a respectable one, but also grin-inducing. Drag racers who are dedicated and have missiles built with purpose will find anything more than 11 seconds so boring. Then there are those bench racers who have time to trash talk anybody who isn't driving a Supra that clocks 8 seconds. Well, for purposes of our article, we'll focus on the daily driver segment.

When it comes to classifying a car or anything with an engine as a fast one, there's an issue of context that comes into play. Today, it isn't so hard to find a fairly inexpensive, factory stock performance car that can sprint the 13 second quarter mile. If we go back in time, about ten years back, you may find that such performance was somewhat more exclusive. However fast your car is, unless you have a fuel dragster that's 8000 base horsepower top, you'll eventually have to match up with a much faster car. And for that matter, your ego may be destroyed by something you just aren't fond of in particular. This brings us to our list of 20 cars that many people overlook, but that are actually pretty fast. Its not just about sleepers, but most gear heads will be familiar with most of the cars on this list.

These are cars that, for various reasons, hardly get the much respect they deserve despite having some legit performance credibility.

20 Dodge Neon SRT-4

It will definitely surprise you to hear that Dodge Neon quickly became an epitome of local throw-away cars. The 2003 model was fitted with 2.4-liter engine and its speed was impressive. Car and Driver says the engine was first offered in 215-hp but the power later rose to 230-hp for the 2004 and 2005 models.

The car can rip to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, to 100 in 13.8, completes a quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds at 102 mph and continues to push until it reaches 153 mph.

The turbochargers fitted in the vehicle generate and also boost heat, so keeping the intake air cool becomes a challenge. To solve the issue the SRT-4 gets fresh air through an intake at the left-front fender well. the car also have a lot of intake inter-cooling that takes place owing to an eight-row Valeo air-to-air unit that quicken the pace between the front frame wheels.

19 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Chevrolet Cobalt SS has been aloof when it comes to taking Chevy Cavalier’s nature of being an underwhelming compact car. This occurred at a time when GM's sales were declining and almost led to its demise. It was at this juncture that someone endowed the Cobalt with a supercharger that was later turned to turbo in 2008. The engine gave out 260-hp that was sent to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. This car can sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. With such great performance, the Cobalt’s competitors such as Mustang, Charger and WRX got a scare and had to rethink their survival techniques in the industry. Despite this, the car might be considered a lemon to some people, though it was pretty fast and enjoyable to drive.

18 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT

Despite its heavy weight, the PT Cruiser GT boasts of being one of the fastest front-wheel performance car in the early-mid 2000s. For such performance, the GT was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the same engine that was used in the Dodge Neon RT-4. One of the biggest improvements that was done on the engine low-inertia HMC turbocharger that was integrated into the exhaust manifold and got the catalyst to work faster, hastening the turbo spool-up for speed freaks.

Chrysler introduced an awkward hatchback that would be mocked for years to come.

Compared to the SRT-4, the PT Cruiser GT was much slower - a quality that might have been caused by its additional mass.

17 Ford Taurus SHO

When Taurus first came into the market it won the hearts of many but as years passed by, it was quickly regarded as a boring rental car queen. It was only a few people who knew about its performance edition - the SHO. In the 90s, the SHO that was fitted with a five-speed manual was among the fastest cars and could rip the 14.5 quarter-mile in a bone stock. The 2018 version of SHO is powered by an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 that produces 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque paired to 6-speed automatic that delivers powered to all four wheels. The reduced size of each turbocharger provides a diminishing internal inertia that allows the engine to prevent turbo lag that was present in the earlier generations. The gear box provides wide options for gears to enable quick acceleration.

16 Audi RS6

The Audi RS6s have over the years been shunned by many people with the fear of low speed and these include the models from 2008-2010. The Audi RS6 is  living proof of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. When you walk along a parking lot and see an Audi wagon, you will definitely have no idea that the car bears a 570-hp V10 engine under its hood, notes Autoevolution. If you thought the engine had no power then you are wrong, in fact, the engine was originally designed for the Lamborghini Gallardo.

The RS6 sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and continues until it reaches its maximum speed of 155 mph.

This car was actually designed for drivers who wanted more; performance, dynamics, adrenaline and exclusivity. The high performance car was fitted with new grille, revised front bumper redeveloped rear bumper, twin chrome tailpipes and larger air intake.

15 Lotus Carlton

From the 1990s Lotus Carlton has always looked boring. This is a perfectly average sedan that was designed by General Motors in Europe. The car was later redesigned that saw the standard Vauxhall straight six being tore apart and was restyled with much more amazing performance qualities and fixed a 3.6-liter twin-turbo straight-six engine. The engine produced 377-hp and 419 lb ft of torque. The 1655 kg kerb weight also boosted the performance of the car. That pushed the car to a top speed of 180-mph making it the fastest sedan in the car at that time. This car has also become the favourite getaway car among enthusiasts who were looking for outrun cops. 284 of the right-hand drive Lotus Carltons were built.

14 Mercedes 500E

This odd ball Mercedes was a purely hand built V8-powered performance version of W124 E-Class sedan, according to Honest John. The Mercedes 500 E was assembled by Porsche in an idle 959 factory. When you take a look at this car you will realize that almost every feature looked like those of the 90s, from its boxy appearance to its primitive four-speed automatic transmission. Under the hood of this car is a 326-horsepower 5.0-liter water-cooled V-8. This car was surprisingly super fast, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds with a 14.1 seconds time for the quarter mile. Same as many other German cars, it had a maximum speed of 155 mph which was eventually de-restricted and therefore was more than 170 mph. Despite its exceptional performance, this car came only as left hand drive.

13 Omni GLHS

Basically Dodge Omni is a very light car, though it is still an inexpensive hatchback lacking historical relevance. The GHL, according to Road and Track, upped its game and got the initials from Carroll Shelby Goes Like Hell (GHL). To remain relevant to its name, the car was fitted with a 177-hp turbocharged four cylinder which was adequate considering its year of production.

The car could sprint from 0 to 60 mph 6.7 seconds.

The car’s handling was amazing and not much in the mechanical part was readily apparent on skidpad whereby the car gave 0.88g lateral acceleration and it could slither through the cones at 62.5 mph. When driving you would be able to notice that this car is not only fast but also well balanced.

12 Mazda Speed 6

Mazda Speed6 was considered as one of the more subtle but fast sport sedans that were produced almost two decades ago. This car would easily be confused for a German machine or a Subaru Impreza considering the features it came with, according to Car and Driver. It came with 274 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque, all-wheel drive and 3500 pounds. Mazda Speed6 is a warmed-up mid-size sedan that was seen as the hottest four-door the company has ever produced. The claim is that their objective while producing this car was to come up with something broader than just a hard-edged performance. The car is powered by a revised Mazda MRZ 2.3=liter DOHC 16-valve four. The car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in approximate time of 6.2-seconds.

11 Ford SVT Contour

If your heart has ever ached for a Mustang Cobra but you need two more doors, then Ford Special Vehicle Team is your definite choice. Thi wasn’t a car that a passer-by who never had the knowledge of the car wished to look twice. This car was treated with some of the best cosmetics which included teardrop-shaped wraparound headlamps, flashy chrome and a large grille opening. One of the strong points of the Contour's beauty was under its bonnet which had 2.5-liter/170-horsepower DOHC Duratec V-6 fitted in a powerful 195-horse premium fuel slurper. The Contour's straight-line sprint sees zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds with quarter mile passing in 15.7 seconds at 88.7 mph.

10 Volvo 850 T-5R and 850 R

It is only a few enthusiasts who knows the beauty in Volvo- making some of the quickest station wagons. In 1995, the subtle Swedes took things a notch higher after they had made some inquiries with Porsche and produced a 300-hp 850 T-5T car. After they saw its success, Volvo decided to produce the 850 R that was largely inspired by T-5R 1996 and 1997 models before it went a new generation of sleeper wagons.

The T-5R was available in only two paint jobs: yellow and black, and came either as a sedan or a wagon.

Despite their significant similarities, T-5R came with some goodies over the standard 850 Turbo such as its aggressive front end, sued trimmed seats and more 18-hp

9 Mercury Marauder

Mercury produced its first Marauder in the 1960s which was the performance version of the Galaxie, according to Automobilemag. The 2003 and 2004 versions were Marauder's third iteration that was inspired by its sibling, the Crown Victoria, and it immediately became one of the all-time sleeper cars. This car was fitted with Mustang Mach 1’s 300-hp alongside other mechanical features taken from a police interceptor package that could lead to creation sleek packages that produced exceptional performance. The roush performance was also made easy with the availability of a new intake manifold and the dual exhaust system. For greater grunt, the car was fixed with a four-speed automatic and its rear axle was lowered for faster takeoffs. The car would sprint to 60 mph in seven seconds and a quarter mile time of 15.6 seconds at 94 mph which wasn’t that intimidating.

8 Ford Fiesta ST

This car may not be many people’s choice when it comes to choosing speed cars. It is only the intelligent who will know the potential of the Ford Fiesta ST. The $21,195 rated American car doesn’t disappoint in delivery. The car bears compact proportion works that allows for better handling. Under its hood is a 1.6-liter turbocharged Ecoboost four cylinder engine that produces a respectable 197-horsepower and 202 pound-feet of torque. The power produced by the engine is quite much for a car having 1,179 kg weight. The engine is paired to a six-speed manual transmission that comes to the aid of the driver to make most of the power produced. This car claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds.

7 Honda Civic SI

If you are the type that judge the performance of a car based on its price, then Honda Civic Si is here to prove you wrong. These cars are relatively cheap but deliver an excellent performance. The car comes with a price tag of $24,100 and still offers some goodies to its users. Civic Si is available as a coupe and is powered by the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is used in standard Civic.

The turbocharged engine produces 205-hp and 192 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that transmits power to the front wheels.

The car also features a stiffer suspension with adaptive dampers together with a limited-slip differential. The current generation of Civics are very good compact cars that delivers amazing performance.

6 Mini Cooper S

Nowadays, Mini-Coopers that are coming into the market are not actually mini but still a solid small car. This cars bares powerful John Cooper Work’s version together with plethora of different body styles though at time we assume that Cooper S in the original Hardtop 2 door form comes with combination of value and performance. Under the hood of this car is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 189-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission but also available  is the six-speed automatic option. Despite is increase in size, this car is still fun to drive and remarkably agile too. This car can race to 60 mph in under seven seconds, and feels like a handling a super-responsive go-kart.

5 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda Miata has become a quintessential small sports since it was launched over two decades ago. The present generation of Miatas that exist can be considered as one of the best since it blends Mazda’s attractive design language with a peppy engine taken from the automaker’s Skyactiv line. It is fitted with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 155-hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, which unfortunately doesn’t push the car to a crazy speed. The good thing about this car is that what it lacks in outright pace, it compensates with character. What makes the engine responsive is the fact that it was naturally aspirated and not turbocharged. The power from the engine is transferred to the rear wheel through a six-speed manual transmission. Also available is the automatic gearbox. What brings this car to life in corners is the fact that it has relatively low curb weight and equal front/rear distribution.

4 Volkswagen Golf GTI

GTI is the first generation of modern hot hatchbacks that were created by Volkswagen. Golf has become one of the most refined compact cars while the GTI version utilizes most of the solid foundation. This car is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 220-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The power produced by the engine is transmitted to the front wheels either through the six-speed manual or DSG gearboxes. The car also features a dual-clutch transmission that is above conventional automatics when it comes to responsiveness. This $26,415 car also comes with high-quality interior trims and refined qualities of Volkswagen's platform that adds to its superb performance on pavement.

3 COPO Camaro

The 1969 COPO Camaro was one quiet car, as only a few knew about it. When it came into the market it had no badges nor unique identifiers. In fact, one needed a Camaro expert to help you identify it. These vehicles came up before the powers that be started restricting Detroit’s freedom to produce ragged-edge, more powerful muscle cars with regards to policy. The car was fitted with a fire-breathing V8 that originally was made for the Can-Am Chaparral. The engine used cylinder heads that were similar to the aluminum head L88 engine, Supercars notes. The car had wet-sump lubrication K66 transistorized ignition system and room for a mechanical fuel pump. The engine was fed by a single Holley 4-barrel making it the most powerful engine GM provided for the public and produced around 500-hp.

2 Toyota Camry

Like the showroom-fresh Ford Focus ST, V-6 powered, the Toyota Camry can surprisingly sprint from zero to 60 mph in about six seconds. The Camry can give an outstanding performance that can beat WRX. Either way this doesn’t mean Camry is the world's best sport sedan nor is it a drag racing hero. But the Camry is one of the cars to consider for its speed. Away from its performance, US News notes that you would also wish to consider buying Camry because of its other features. All the Camry trims come standard with several safety features which include pre-collision warning system, lane departure warning with steering assist and adaptive cruise control.

1 Honda Civic

When you mention Honda Civic among one of the fastest car on the planet, be sure to get serious laughs and disrespect from people. Yes those guys might be just right when we generalize Civic but the R versions have some good speed. Even the V8 powered Si versions is also a surprise to many with its electric speed in the streets of Chicago. Civic is a demonstration of automotive excellence that combines fun with efficiency and practicality. Car and Driver notes that this car comes with precise steering, a solid chassis and properly fitted suspension that allow for a compliant ride and sweet handling. The Civic versions that are fitted with either 158-hp 2.0-liter four or 174-hp turbo 1.5-liter four and mated to a six-speed manual or CVT included in the sedan coupes. However, the turbo comes standard on hatchback while 180-hp Sport trim is optional and the 10Best Winner is available for the 2018. The one with 180-hp sprints from 0-60 in seven seconds and has a top speed of 131 mph.

Sources: roadandtrack.com, caranddriver.com, automobilemag.com, motortrend.com, autoevolution.com