Over the past three decades or so, cars have seen a massively significant increase in not only power and performance, but also in luxury and affordability. Performance figures which were once the stuff of fantasy, or reserved for those elite tycoons with endless millions, can now be found in cars that almost anybody can afford. In fact, the market is bustling with them.
This concept goes even further, in fact, because not only has this kind of performance and power suddenly become readily available in virtually any sports car, it's also become available in other models of cars, too. Family cars, sedans, SUVs, even pickup trucks. The power figures and performance numbers of modern-day SUVs are truly an incredible feat on the part of automotive manufacturers.
With this golden age of horsepower and performance, there are a vast number of options available for the discerning buyer who wants to find a big SUV with a lot of power. One of the best things about an SUV is that virtually no one will ever guess that your engine packs a sports car's punch. Not even the police. More sleeper SUVs than ever are hiding in plain sight, incognito, bristling with raw power unbeknownst to the rest of the world.
Indeed, the sleeper is one of the best kinds of vehicles, because who would want all that power with enforcement constantly breathing down your neck? A sleeper SUV could be just the solution. Let's take a look at 25 sleeper SUVs that cops can't catch.
25 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
The Grand Cherokee SRT is one extraordinary SUV, and while it may be a bit more well known than some of these other sportier models of SUVs, badging is always removable if you're looking for a truly incognito SUV, and the fact of the matter is that in the real world little details like a small "SRT" label can be hard to spot by many.
All that aside, just how powerful this Jeep is often overlooked. Which is a shame, considering that this SUV has some serious prowess, with a 474 horsepower V8 and a "sports-car-rivaling grip," according to Car and Driver.
24 GMC Typhoon
The GMC Typhoon is most assuredly one of the more unique SUV sleepers on our list, but that doesn't make it any less an incredible little car. Based off of the GMC Jimmy, the Typhoon is surprisingly different, but to the untrained eye, it may look identical.
Paired with a 90 degree 4.3 Liter turbocharged V6, this SUV is a sleeper, and a deep one at that. Since it's slightly older, too, if not its existence than its prowess has been all but forgotten. That makes this a great sleeper SUV, especially if you love fast acceleration, as this machine has an incredible 360 ft/lbs of torque, almost 100 more than its total horsepower.
23 Dodge Durango SRT
The Dodge Durango SRT is similar to our last entry in that it doesn't look the part of a powerful beast of a car. Not even when it's on the track, like in the picture above, does it look fast. It still looks out of place here, even though we know that this is one of the best sleepers money can buy.
The SRT is a family-friendly SUV with one catch: a V8 engine that cranks out 475 horsepower. That's enough power to rocket you into space, family in tow. Speaking of towing, the SRT has the highest capacity in its class, able to tow over 8,000 pounds.
22 Lingenfelter Suburban
More of a one-off than anything, this is the Lingenfelter Suburban, and I couldn't help but add it to the list, as it is by very definition one of the greatest sleepers in existence. Created by Mark III Industries in 1993, there's a number of reasons why this super tuned Suburban is so special.
Truck Trend tells about its specs: "the engine produced a stout 550 horsepower with a staggering 705lb-ft of torque." Lingenfelter was responsible for the horsepower upgrade, whereas Mark III Industries improved upon the handling. If you were to own this kind of Suburban with that kind of power, you'd never be spotted by the cops, and they couldn't catch you even if they did spot you.
21 Mercedes Benz G Class
While the G-Class Mercedes is known as one of the most expensive SUVs ever built, and perhaps by many known for its power and capability, to most, it just looks like an SUV, and the unassuming, rugged looks of this SUV make it do anything but stand out in a crowd.
But the performance of this incredible machine does stand out, with a 6 Liter V12 Biturbo engine, yes that's a real engine that you can buy, with 621 horsepower. Truly this is one of the most unassumingly powerful cars ever made. It'll cost you, though, with the average price coming in at around $150,000.
20 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged
Range Rovers are often thought of as luxury statements, fancy cars that rich people and celebrities drive to prove that their status in life. Yet, what many forget, is that these SUVs are actually quite adept off the road. What even fewer know is that the Range Rover comes in a supercharged version.
With the supercharged version, an incredible sleeper SUV is ushered into the picture. One that features a 5 Liter V8 monster under the hood. And, as the name obviously infers, it's supercharged. That means this sleeper SUV is fed an incredible diet of 575 horses, meaning no cop can catch you, even if they tried.
19 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Turbo
The Subaru Forester is perhaps one of the more unexpected crossovers to end up on our list of sleepers, yet here it is, and with good reason. For some fanatics, the Forester 2.5 XT Turbo is a bit of a holy grail. That's because when wrapped up in a beautiful, family-friendly body, encased in all kinds of practicality, it essentially becomes a WRX STI.
Yes, tucked away behind a perfect sleeper outfit is an incredibly awesome rally car heart. The 227 turbocharged flat-four engine is one of the best, and the chance to get one in an unassuming frame is too hard to pass up.
18 Audi SQ5
Many European SUVs these days tend to hold a significant amount of power underneath their hoods, but in a big, family-friendly shell, they often slip under the radar. This is especially the case with the Audi SQ5, a luxurious but rather unassuming looking SUV from the German Auto Maker.
The "S" designation indicates that this car is a bit faster than average, and faster than their normal Q5. More than a bit, actually, with a performance-tuned suspension and 354 horsepower coming from a turbocharged 3.0 Liter V6 engine. Talk about a fast SUV that no cops will see coming!
17 BMW X5M
The BMW X5 is in its own right a great family SUV with a lot of power and great handling, amongst many other incredible features. But, when you add the little "M" onto the end of the name, things start to change, for the faster.
The X5M is a great sleeper SUV because while looking innocently family oriented, it does, in fact, pack a hefty punch, with a Titan 4.4 Liter V8 monster underneath the hood generating an insane 567 horsepower. While these SUVs may be known for being faster than the average one, no one will expect an SUV to have this kind of raw power.
16 Chevy Trailblazer SS
This is most assuredly one of the more unassuming SUVs on our list. The average Trailblazer is a few steps behind even the average SUV, and that tends to be the impression it gives the general public, including most officers. That is the perfect makings for an awesome sleeper. But it needs the power to make it a sleeper.
When you add those two beautiful little S's into the picture, things start happening underneath the hood. Big things. Fast and powerful things, making this SUV a game changer. The Trailblazer SS features a huge 6 Liter V8 that makes for almost 400 horsepower. This thing is a serious beast, in one of the most unassuming bodies.
15 Ford Edge ST
While the styling of Dodge has always had a certain mean edge to it, that can't be said for the Ford Edge, as it looks about as plain as an SUV can come. The main difference, though, is that the Ford Edge comes in an ST model version.
With the ST designation, most won't know exactly what comes with that, but that's what makes this such a good sleeper SUV. It features enhanced suspension, and a 2.7 Liter V6 that's good for 335 horsepower. While not as insanely beastly as the last couple of entries, that's still a fantastic amount of power for one of our most unassuming SUVs.
14 Ford Explorer Sport
The Explorer Sport, even in model name, doesn't really garner much in the way of head turning. It just sounds like a more touring ready family SUV, versus what it actually proves to be, once you take a look at the performance figures of this SUV sleeper.
Cops watch out, because this Explorer Sport packs a serious wallop, with 365 horsepower from a hefty US-made V6 engine. With wide styling, big body, and unassuming trim, the Explorer Sport may not be the most powerful option, but it may be one of the most incognito.
13 Ford Flex Titanium Edition
The Ford Flex is probably one of the last cars to cross cops' radars when they're imagining what kind of cars are known to be fast. That can be used to its fullest advantage when you own one of these Flexes, but the Titanium Edition.
The Titanium Edition of the Ford Flex is really quite a special car, and I imagine that it will grow in value due to its incredible uniqueness. Collectability aside, this remarkable SUV puts out horsepower with a twin-turbocharged 3.5 Liter V6 engine, 355 horsepower to be exact.
12 GMC Yukon Denali 4WD
The Yukon Denali inspires regality, luxury, and a certain amount of sterile businessman-like conduct to everyone who drives or rides in it. From far away, it looks like just the same thing, an unassuming yet classy SUV.
Of course, these kinds of things change with Denali 4WD version, turning this SUV into a sleeper that won't even show up on cops' radars. This SUV packs a ton of power underneath its refined front end, thanks to a phenomenal 6.2 Liter V8 that pushes out 420 horsepower. Talk about an SUV that will get up and go.
11 Infiniti FX50 S AWD
Most people see an alternative luxury SUV option when they see Infiniti. It is, for whatever reason, one of those car brands that you just don't always pay much attention to, and on the road, they really just don't stand out very much. This can be used to great advantage, though, especially if you opt to buy the upgraded version of one of their SUVs.
No one will ever notice that the car you have is a sleeper until they're inside of it, pressed back against their seat with bonkers acceleration. The FX50 S AWD is a truly quick SUV, with a 5 Liter V8 pumping out 390 horsepower.
10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
This is the insane cousin of the Cherokee SRT. Where the SRT has power, agility, and handling like a sports car, the Trackhawk takes things to the next level, with 7o7 horsepower available, along with a legendary sports package. It'll go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.
Even pictured on two wheels blazing around a race track, the Jeep looks ridiculously tame in styling and size, as it really is just an SUV at the end of the day, but that works to the advantage of the driver, as it proves to be one of the more insane, but just as valid, sleeper SUVs on this list.
9 Mercedes ML63 AMG
If you're looking for some incredible Mercedes Benz engineering and craftsmanship, but want something a little more practical, then the ML63 AMG is just the perfect sleeper for you. Of course, the AMG badging may give away to some that your car is faster than average, but as to how much faster, that's a secret you can keep. Besides, most people would never even notice, especially whilst driving on the roads.
The ML63 AMG has a 5.5 liter turbocharged 8 cylinder engine, according to Car and Driver, and it pushes out a phenomenal 518 horsepower. That makes this SUV particularly quick, yet still not particularly notably looking.
8 Nissan Juke Nismo RS
Finding a Nissan Juke in this list might surprise a lot of readers. Yet, that's the whole point of this article, to showcase sleeper SUVs that no one expects to be insanely fast.
And that's just what this Nismo RS is, the sportier version of the standard Juke. Not many take a second glance at a Juke, save to remark on how ugly it is. But, the Nismo RS features several sporty upgrades, increasing the overall horsepower to a respectable 215 horsepower. That makes this rather small SUV really quick.
7 Mercedes R63 AMG
In my mind, this is the ultimate sleeper on this list, due to the fact that almost nobody even knows that the model type exists. Mercedes didn't do much advertising for this minivan supercar, which only bolsters its ability to be one of the best sleepers.
The R63 AMG is technically a crossover, but its layout and design make it a virtual minivan of sorts. Except, of course, for the fact that it has over 500 horsepower, from a beautiful hand-built 6.2 Liter V8. It reaches 60 miles per hour in just 4.3 seconds. Talk about an incredible sleeper SUV.
6 Saturn Vue V6
Another incredible contender in our list of the best sleeper SUVs is this, surprisingly. The last car you imagine would even be capable of being fast is the Saturn Vue. And while that is most assuredly true, there is a fairly rare V6 version that changes things a little bit.
If you're looking for some serious incognito capabilities, versus straight up raw power, the Vue V6 is a great option, because it's the kind of car that everyone takes for granted. But with a V6, it all of a sudden has some serious performance capabilities inside a shell that everyone either loves to hate or ignores completely.