These sleeper cars are among the most entertaining vehicles on the market, thanks to their sporty powertrains and unᴀssuming exterior designs.
The Ford Mustang has been an iconic muscle car since its launch in the 1960s. Ford introduces an all-new 7th generation Mustang with a new interior, revised chᴀssis hardware, and two improved powertrains. The Mustang still has some familiar styling cues, making it an impressive muscle car like its predecessors.
While the 2024 Ford Mustang will be an impressive muscle car for many, there are those who would rather drive these badᴀss sleepers. These sleeper cars are among the most entertaining vehicles on the market, thanks to their sporty powertrains and unᴀssuming exterior designs.
10.2019 Ford Taurus SHO – $28,295.
The Ford Taurus is a great family sedan with a quiet, composed, and comfortable ride on paved terrain. However, unlike its rivals, the Taurus has strong acceleration and тιԍнт handling, making it an impressive sporty sedan. Despite being an impressive driver’s car, the Taurus offers a spacious interior with enough space for five pᴀssengers. While Ford stopped production of the Taurus in 2019, it still remains one of the best sleeper sedans.
As standard, Ford offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 288 ponies and a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the SHO received twin turbochargers, helping increase the output to 365 hp. As a result, the Taurus SHO could easily outperform some sports cars, including the base EcoBoost Mustang.
9.2020 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 – $33,381
The Q50 is a premium compact sedan with impressive luxury and an affordable price tag. It’s the brand’s entry-class sedan, and it boasts a comfortable cabin, good enough for daily commutes. In addition, the Infiniti Q50 also packs some impressive muscle under the hood, making it a great compeтιтor to the Mercedes-Benz C Class and BMW 3 Series. It also gets a long list of amenities as standard.
The Q50 Red Sport 400 sits at the top of the lineup, offering enthusiasts a brawny engine. For the 2020 model year, the Red Sport 400 had a 400 hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 350 lb-ft of torque. As standard, the Red Sport 400 had a 7-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. Infiniti offers all-wheel drive as an option for enthusiasts who want improved grip.
8.2023 Chrysler 300 – $34,295
The 2023 Chrysler 300 is a fun-to-drive performance car that adds American flavor to today’s lineup of full-size cars. Unlike most of its rivals, the Chrysler 300 has a rear-wheel-drive layout and an optional V8 motor. Chrysler also offers optional all-wheel drive, giving the 300 more secure handling in all weather conditions. The Chrysler 300 competes with the all-new Toyota Crown that features a hybrid powertrain as standard.
As standard, the Chrysler 300 gets a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 292 hp. However, Chrysler also offers a sprightly 5.7-liter V8-powered engine with 363 hp. Enthusiasts yearning for more power can go all out with the Chrysler 300C model, which features a ferocious 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine with 485 hp. The latter powertrain makes it one of the most powerful 300 models ever built.
7.2017 Chevrolet SS – $41,995
The Chevrolet SS was a big sedan with big power. Despite having an old-school approach, the sedan had a well-balanced chᴀssis and a host of modern features as standard. It also had a discreet exterior design, making it the perfect sleeper sedan. 2017 was the final year for the SS despite having steady sales. While Chevrolet didn’t change anything for the final year, the SS managed to leave a lasting impression.
Under its hood sat an old school push rod 6.2-liter V8 engine with 415 ponies. As standard, the SS had a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, Chevrolet also offered an optional 6-speed manual transmission, letting enthusiasts play the sweet music of the potent V8. The Chevrolet SS was a well-rounded sedan with responsive handling and neck-snapping acceleration.
6.2023 Volkswagen Golf R – $44,740
Volkswagen reintroduced the Golf R trim in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. The revised model features updated styling, a new stiffer chᴀssis, and a punchy turbocharged engine that makes it the most powerful Golf R. Like its predecessors, the Golf R has an all-wheel-drive system, and buyers can get it with a manual gearbox. All these aspects help make the Golf R one of the most exciting Volkswagen vehicles.
The Golf R uses a 315 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s an impressive increase from 288 hp in the predecessor. Volkswagen pairs the engine with either a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. As standard, the Golf R gets 4Motion all-wheel drive with a rear differential for effective torque distribution.
5.2023 BMW M340i – $56,400
Over the years, the 3 Series has been the benchmark for luxury sports sedans. The lineup boasts efficient, high-performance engines, a compact size, and precise handling. All these factors help make the 3 Series a fun-to-drive sedan. While it might not have the interior panache of some of its compeтιтors, it offers the perfect blend of sport and luxury.
For the 2023 model year, BMW gives the 3 Series a tech-heavy makeover with a new, dramatic all-digital dashboard. BMW also offers multiple trims of the 3 Series, including the 330i, 330e, and the M340i, which sits under the high-performance M3. While the base variants use a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the M340i gets a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.
4.2020 Cadillac CT6-V – $62,977
The CT-6 V is a rewarding and exciting luxury sedan with nearly all Cadillac amenities. It also boasts multiple sporty touches – a rarity in most big sedans. The CT-6 V is a versatile and bold sedan with mind-boggling performance potential and the comfort of a limo. Despite having a high starting price, the CT6-V is an impressive sleeper car with a well-balanced ride.
Cadillac only offers one fully loaded trim of the CT6-V. It boasts a twin-turbocharged Blackwing 4.2-liter V8 engine with 550 ponies and 640 lb-ft of torque. The engine helps give the CT6-V rapid acceleration, making it one of the most satisfying sedans on the market. Besides the impressive performance, the CT6-V has a comfortable and spacious interior with Bose Panaray 34 speaker audio system, a 10.2-inch infotainment screen, dual USB ports, heated and cooled seats, and so much more.
3.2023 Volvo V60 Polestar Engineered – $71,645
The Volvo V60 is a rare wagon that caters to the needs of enthusiasts who want something larger than a hatchback, but not an SUV. It’s a practical vehicle with the pᴀssenger and cargo room abilities of a mid-size crossover SUV. However, unlike an SUV, the V60 is easier to handle, making it more fun to drive. The V60 gets a raised ride height and an all-wheel drive system, helping make it a great vehicle for traversing ice, snow, and any increment weather.
As standard, the V60 features a 247 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 258 lb-ft of torque. Volvo also offers more power with the hybridized V60 Polestar Engineered trim. The trim features a 455 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain with 523 lb-ft of torque. All engines pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
2.2023 BMW M550i xDrive – $81,500
The BMW 5 Series offers a balanced lineup with a spacious interior with rear seats that can comfortably accommodate tall pᴀssengers. Like with any BMW, the 5 Series lineup offers a plush ride, thanks to the form-fitting seats and well-tuned suspension. Its infotainment system is also easy to navigate, helping drivers and pᴀssengers get the most out of it. BMW offers the 5 Series lineup with an impressive choice of engines, all of which generate good performance.
The M550i is an executive sedan with an intense powerplant, a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with 523 ponies and 553 lb-ft of torque. The engine pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and it sends power to all four wheels. This results in a neck-breaking 0 to 60 mph sprint of 3.6 seconds. Unlike the base 5 Series sedan, the M550i receives multiple sport-tuned components, including the M Sport differential, adaptive M suspension, and M Sport brakes.
1.2023 Audi S7 – $83,500
The S7 is a high-performance version of the A7 sedan. It’s a mid-size luxury sedan with abundant cargo space and impressive styling. While it’s similar to the A7, it offers more upgrades that help improve the driving experience. Chief among the upgrades is a more potent engine. The S7 also gets larger wheels, giving it sportier handling and a more aggressive stance. Like the A7, the S7 offers livable utility, easily outcompeting rivals like the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
Like any sedan with a stylish, coupe-like roofline, the S7 suffers from limited rear headroom. However, it makes up for this with its impressive performance, fashionable design, and refined handling. Sadly, the S7 no longer uses the potent twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. Instead, it gets a 444 hp twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 with 442 lb-ft of torque. The V6 offers decent performance, managing an impressive 0 to 60-mph sprint of 4.5 seconds.