There are different types of gearheads in the world. Some love to be bold and flashy, flaunting the fruits of their labor by driving performance cars with low-slung sporty bodies, crazy paint jobs, hood scoops, overzealous rear wings, and other cool features that indicate that they are fast.the quickest sports cars without breaking a sweat. We did some research and dug up ten of the best sleeper cars available today.
Other gearheads, however, prefer to fly under the radar. They love the feeling of driving an insanely fast car but don't want it to attract attention. Thankfully, the sleeper cars category exists just for this rare breed of gearheads. Sleeper cars have unassuming designs that blend in with everyday cars in traffic, but once the road opens up, they can blast past some of10 Cadillac CTS-V
In the early 2000s, Cadillac introduced the CTS - a four-door executive car meant to compete with top European compact luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 4-Series. While the CTS looked the part, it didn't have enough power to compete, so Cadillac went back to the drawing board and developed the CTS-V.
The CTS-V looked the same as the base CTS but had a Corvette-sourced V8 under the hood with a lot more power. The latest CTS-V comes with a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine developing 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful sedans ever made.
9 Ford Taurus SHO
The legendary first-generation Ford Taurus SHO is widely considered to be one of the best classic sleepers you can find. However, the 2019 Taurus SHO is more of a sleeper than the original. From the outside, the 2019 SHO looks like a large, heavy, four-door sedan built for slow, comfortable cruising. âââââââ
However, a peep under the hood reveals a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 with 365 hp on tap, proving that even giant 4,000-lb cars could be fast. âââââââ
8 2017 Chevy SS
In 2013, Chevrolet unveiled the SS sedan during Speedweeks in Florida, making it its first rear-wheel-drive V8-powered sedan since the 1990s Impala SS. The SS was basically a rebadged Holden Commodore, which means it had the same boring design. âââââââ
However, things were a lot more interesting under the hood. Powered by a 415-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the Corvette C6, the SS needed only 4.8 seconds to get to 60 mph. âââââââ
7 Mercury Marauder
Ford's Mercury brand was going through a tough period at the turn of the century. So to save itself, the brand decided to revive the Marauder nameplate in 2003 after a 33-year hiatus. Developed to be Ford's answer to the '90s Chevy Impala SS, the 2003 Marauder was a performance-oriented version of the Ford Grand Marquis sedan.
The Marauder kept the Grand Marquis' design but had an upgraded chassis, suspension, and powertrain. In addition, it had a 4.6-liter modular DOHC V8 engine generating 302 hp, making it a joy to drive. âââââââ
6 Ford Flex EcoBoost
The Ford Flex EcoBoost is a confusing vehicle. From a looks perspective, it's a boxy SUV-wagon combo that looks like just another boring vehicle making the morning commute. However, what many don't realize is how formidable it is. âââââââ
The Flex EcoBoost is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 generating a mind-blowing 365 hp. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in around 6 seconds, making it the perfect choice for parents who want to get their kids to soccer practice faster than other parents. âââââââ
5 Volkswagen Golf R
Most gearheads think that the GTI is the most powerful Golf. They're wrong, as the little-known Golf R takes that crown. The Golf R was introduced in 2009 to replace the R32, and it quickly became one of the fastest hot hatches of the day. âââââââ
The latest Golf R comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder pumping out 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Other upgrades include a lowered height, stiffer suspension, 19-inch wheels, quad exhaust tips, and several R badges.
4 Toyota Camry TRD
The Toyota Camry has been one of the best-selling sedans in the US for years. People who buy the Camry are typically family guys looking for an affordable, reliable sedan to ferry their kids around in. However, the Toyota Racing Development division thought it was a good idea to inject some power into the Camry in 2020, resulting in the Camry TRD. âââââââ
The Camry TRD looks almost identical to the base Camry, with the only giveaways being a discrete rear wing and badges. However, it packs a TRD-tuned 3.5-liter V6 cranking out 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, making it fast. âââââââ
3 2006 Mazdaspeed 6
After the huge success of the first-generation Mazda 6, the Japanese marque decided to build a high-performance version of the car in 2006, resulting in the Mazdaspeed 6. While the design remained the same, the Mazdaspeed 6 had several upgrades that made it the most fun-to-drive Japanese sedan of its day. âââââââ
Upgrades included a tightened suspension, larger wheels and tires, stronger brakes, and, best of all, a 2.3-liter direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. âââââââ
2 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Full-size SUVs aren't usually fast, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is not like any other SUV you've ever seen. At around $100,000, the Trackhawk is super expensive, but many gearheads argue that it's worth every penny considering what buyers get. âââââââ
For one, the Trackhawk is a large, practical, and comfortable SUV that can handle on- and off-road errands. However, the best thing about it is its engine. With a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 blurting out 707 horses, the Trackhawk only needs 3.5 seconds to teleport to 60 mph, which is quicker than some sports cars. âââââââ
1 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
When Chevrolet introduced the Cobalt in the early 2000s, many gearheads were disappointed - it had a bland design and a weak powerplant. So to please its fans, Chevy developed the more hardcore Cobalt SS in 2005. âââââââ
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The Cobalt SS looked just like the Cobalt but had a much better engine - a 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder producing 205 hp initially and 260 hp after the 2008 upgrade.