Skip to main content

Looking for low-key performance? Check out the best sleeper cars ever

During the World Wars, Allied navies equipped seemingly harmless merchant ships with guns and torpedoes to ward off prowling German U-Boats. Called Q-Ships, they were all about the element of surprise. The best sleeper cars are automotive equivalent of Q-Ships.

There’s no rule that says a performance car has to have two doors or the low-slung body of a sports car. Disguised as sensible sedans and wagons, sleepers keep a lower profile. Sleepers are cars for serious performance junkies — without the flash of traditional performance cars, they can’t be used to show off, and they put automotive performance in practical packages. They also provide the satisfaction that no one else has any idea what kind of fury lies under the hood.

Recommended Videos

Audi RS 2 Avant

Audi RS 2 Avant
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This Audi may look like a station wagon, but it’s actually a Porsche in disguise — kind of. It was co-developed by the two German companies and built at Porsche’s Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany; the same plant that built the 959 supercar and, later, the Mercedes-Benz 500E.

More importantly, Porsche also did some work on the RS 2’s engine. It’s the 2.2-liter turbocharged inline-five from the Audi 80 Avant (on which the RS 2 is based) but Zuffenhausen was able to extract 315 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque. That was enough to get the RS 2 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds, and to a top speed of 163 mph, although production cars were electronically limited 155 mph. All of this performance came in the body of a lowly family car.

The RS2 may have seemed like an unlikely performance icon, but it began Audi’s tradition of hardcore RS performance models, a tradition that continues today with cars like the RS 6 Avant and RS 5. Pray you don’t meet up with one at a stoplight.

Alpina B7

2020 Alpina B7 review
Alpina

A BMW 7 Series looks better suited to shuttling executives in comfort than carving corners, but the tuning wizards at Alpina think differently. The company built a hot rod 7 Series from 2007 to 2008, and it has tuned every generation of BMW’s flagship model since. The current Alpina B7 uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 making 608 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, with standard all-wheel drive to ensure all of that power gets to the pavement.

Alpina claims the B7 will do zero to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds, with a supercar-rivaling top speed of 205 mph. We didn’t go quite that fast on our test drive across the German countryside, but can confirm that the B7 is a great way to get from place to place in a hurry.

Buick Grand National

Buick GNX
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Buyers don’t come to Buick showrooms seeking performance, so its cars are the perfect base for sleepers. The company built a surprising amount of sports cars over the past few decades. The most popular — the one enthusiasts keep begging the brand to bring back — is the Grand National, which Buick launched in 1982 to commemorate its success in NASCAR.

The Grand National started out as little more than an option package for the Regal, but it gradually morphed into a true sports sedan with black paint and a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6. Its 200-hp output doesn’t sound like much, but it was a respectable statistic for the era. The original Grand National could beat a Chevrolet Camaro in a quarter-mile race, and it could keep up with a Corvette. Power went up to 235 hp, then 245 hp, and finally 276 hp for the limited-edition GNX introduced in 1987.

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Cadillac CTS remains one of the best-looking wagons ever built by an American company. It’s still a wagon, though, which means it wouldn’t be most people’s first choice for a performance car. That makes it one of the ultimate sleepers on the road today. It used an evolution of the last-generation Corvette ZR1‘s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 tuned to pump out 556 hp and 551 lb-ft. It can also haul plywood, a month’s groceries, or your entire family for a weekend at the lake.

The CTS-V Wagon takes 4.0 seconds flat to reach 60 mph from a stop, and it continues accelerating until the odometer reads 185 mph. Its spirit lives on in the current CTS-V, but sadly, Cadillac no longer makes the wagon version. The remaining CTS-V sedan also faces a downgrade from V8 to turbocharged V6 power, although Cadillac has hinted that a more potent version is in the works.

Ford Taurus SHO

2016 Ford Taurus SHO
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Taurus has been a big success for Ford over the years, as both an import-fighting midsize sedan in the ’80s and a full-size near-luxury car today. However, in normal guise, it’s one of the most boring cars on the road.

There are fewer cases of automotive schizophrenia as severe as the Ford Taurus SHO. SHO, by the way, stands for Super High Output. Each version of the SHO has been a little different. The car launched in 1989 with a Yamaha-designed 3.0-liter V6, a five-speed manual transmission, and a restyled body made of parts taken from the Mercury Sable. The V6 produced 220 hp and 200 lb-ft. It got displacement and torque boosts to 3.2 liters and 215 lb-ft, respectively, with a 1992 facelift. In 1996, The SHO got a 3.4-liter Yamaha V8, with 235 hp and 230 lb-ft. For some reason, not many people were in the market for a V8-engined Taurus, so it didn’t last very long.

Fast forward to 2017. After turning the Taurus into a full-size sedan, Ford introduced a new SHO built around a turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and all-wheel drive. The EcoBoost engine produced a stout 365 hp and 350 lb-ft, although, unlike the original SHO, a six-speed automatic was the only available transmission. However, the Taurus was eliminated in Ford’s recent car purge.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

2018 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Everyone knows what a Hellcat is, and everyone knows it’s got 707 hp. Dodge’s high-output models aren’t great options if you’re looking for a low-key performance car, because people will stop you every five minutes to ask if it’s a Hellcat. What a lot of motorists haven’t realized yet is that Jeep stuffs the exact same supercharged 6.2-liter V8 between the Grand Cherokee’s fenders. It’s called the Trackhawk, and it can embarrass many purpose-designed sports cars with a six-digit price tag.

The visual modifications are largely limited to bigger air dams in the front bumper, larger wheels, and a spoiler right above the rear window. It looks fast — it certainly doesn’t look like an off-roader — but it doesn’t look 707-hp fast. The eight pistons come together to send the grandest of all Grand Cherokees from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, and on to a top speed limited to 180 mph.

Bentley Mulsanne Speed

2017 Bentley Mulsanne
Ronan Glon/Digital Trends
Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

The Bentley Mulsanne’s restrained, stately lines exude British elegance, not all-out performance. Bentley will happily sell you one with good manners, but it can also build you a Mulsanne Speed with a twin-turbocharged V8 that belts out 530 hp and a monstrous 811 lb-ft. The Mulsanne Speed is lively to drive, especially for such a big sedan. It’s seriously quick, too, but it doesn’t look the part. It doesn’t come with a spoiler, rally lights, or scissor doors.

Don’t expect a a track car with a stripped-down cabin like the Alfa Romeo 4C. It’s still a Bentley, so the interior is decked out with a long list of luxury amenities like quilted leather upholstery, real wood trim, soft leather everywhere, and even picnic tables for the rear passengers. You can even order a built-in champagne cooler if you think you’ll have something to celebrate along the way. If you have enough of it, the Mulsanne could turn into a completely different kind of sleeper.

Ford Mustang EcoBoost High Performance Package

Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends

A Ford Mustang will never be as anonymous as a sedan or hatchback, but this one still hides a few surprises. To the uninitiated, a Mustang without a V8 engine is nothing special. It’s the car you get because you can’t afford one of the V8 models. It’s the car you rent on vacation. Not this one.

The High Performance Package for Ford’s 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder Mustang brings upgrades from the Ford Focus RS hot hatchback. The result is 330 hp, which is more than most V8 Mustangs made a decade ago. The package also includes upgraded brakes and suspension, making this Mustang agile as well as quick.

The best, though, is that most people will never know what this car really is. Aside from model-specific 19-inch wheels, subtle hood stripes and badging, the High Performance Package looks like something that just drove off the Hertz lot at an airport. Mustang purists will never know what hit them.

Volkswagen Golf R

Image used with permission by copyright holder

To the uninitiated, the Volkswagen Golf R looks like a regular compact hatchback with big wheels. There are no fins, wings, or rally-inspired stickers to hint at the power that lurks beneath the hood. But, believe us, it’s there. The R uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 305 hp and 295 lb-ft. It channels its power to all four wheels via either a manual or an automatic transmission, and a Haldex-type all-wheel drive system. That’s serious hardware.

The result? A 0 to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds, a top speed limited to 155 mph, and grin-inducing handling turn after turn. But unlike an Audi TT or a Chevrolet Camaro, which also post stellar performance numbers, the Golf R can take you and four friends out for a night on the town, or carry a full load of furniture from Ikea. It’s a hatchback, after all. We’re eager to see if VW can maintain that balance of performance and practicality with a new R based on the new eight-generation Golf.

Volvo V70 R

Volvo V70R
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sweden’s most enduring car company is known for safety and reliability; it’s an entire brand built around reasonableness. Once in a while, though, Volvo’s engineers go a little crazy. Beginning with the 1996 850, Volvo built a series of hot rod station wagons (and a few sedans), bestowing them with the R badge.

Launched in 2003, the V70 R (and S60 R sedan) were the most refined of the breed. A turbocharged inline-five produced 300 hp and 295 lb-ft, and was connected to a performance-tuned Haldex all-wheel drive system. The V70 R also featured Volvo’s “Four-C” (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) adjustable suspension system. One of the first of its kind, it allowed drivers to adjust the firmness of the suspension on the fly, with just a push of a button.

Despite looking like it belonged in an elementary school parking lot, the V70 R was able to do 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds flat and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. They even raced the V60 version, so you know it’s a no-foolin’ sleeper machine.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack. 

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Read more
Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix
zoox recall crash 1739252352 robotaxi side profile in dark mode

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.

Read more