Sleeper cars look understated but deliver exhilarating performance.
Some people like to stand out, while others like their cars to blend in and not shout about the performance. If that’s you, you’ll no doubt appreciate the smug feeling of beating a sports car away from a set of traffic lights in something that looks understated. We’ve brought together the best Q-cars, with petrol, diesel, hybrid and fully electric options that give you immense power without announcing it to the world.
Oh, and if you thought that best sleeper cars referred to something else, you’ll want to read our list of the best cars for camping…
Audi S3
- Fuel type: petrol
- Power: 333hp
- 0-62mph: 4.7 seconds
Only a small tailgate badge and a quartet of exhausts mark out the Audi S3 from a high-spec A3 with half the power – there’s no grille badge anymore. And those exhausts are painted black so you won’t easily see them. But with quattro four-wheel drive and a high-power 2.0-litre turbo engine, the S3 can put the scaries into any sports car – and in any weather.
Shop used Audi S3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Audi S3 review
BMW 5 Series 550e
- Fuel type: plug-in hybrid
- Power: 489hp
- 0-62mph: 4.4 seconds
The 550e is a rare version of the 5 Series – most buyers who want the efficiency of the plug-in hybrid go for the much cheaper 530e. And the 530e is still quite quick. But flip the coin and you could compare the 550e to the M5, which is also a plug-in hybrid. The 550e sports a more restrained look than the bloated M5, and its 0-62mph time is just half a second slower than the full-fat M5 – while offering more electric range.
Shop used BMW 5 Series PHEVs for sale or read our BMW 5 Series review
Volvo XC40 Recharge Dual Motor
- Fuel type: electric
- Power: 408hp
- 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
Finding out the Volvo XC40 has a wild side is a bit like finding out your Geography teacher has a very adult side hustle. The XC40 is cool, calm and sensible, and most versions have fairly pedestrian engines. Not the dual-motor Recharge EV, with explosive acceleration thanks to its instantly available 408hp. This version gets a bigger battery than the cheaper single-motor model, too, so it offers a slightly longer range.
You can also get this powertrain in the Volvo C40 and the Polestar 2.
Shop used electric Volvo XC40 cars for sale or read our Volvo XC40 review
BMW 1 Series M135
- Fuel type: petrol
- Power: 300hp
- 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
You might think the M135 looks sporty, until you realise that the standard 1 Series looks almost identical. So you can slip through your journey like regular traffic, especially if you choose the option to de-badge the tailgate. And then, when the road opens up, you can make the most of the M135’s serious speed and grippy four-wheel-drive system.
Shop used BMW M135 cars for sale or read our BMW 1 Series review
Mercedes E-Class E450d
- Fuel type: diesel
- Power: 385hp
- 0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
Not only is the latest Mercedes E-Class quite a rare car, but it still offers an overpowered diesel engine for smashing down an Autobahn at full speed. The E450d is a real rocking-horse-poo sort of car, and feels gloriously out of step with the plug-in hybrids and EVs that are getting the sales figures. It’ll go fast and it’ll go for hundreds of miles on a tank of fuel – when you’re a bit more chilled it can manage more than 45mpg.
Shop used Mercedes E-Class cars for sale
Volkswagen T-Roc R
- Fuel type: petrol
- Power: 300hp
- 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
The Volkswagen T-Roc R is a particularly boring way to go fast, but that does make it an excellent sleeper. It’s a bit more restrained than the related Golf R, and its SUV ride height will make sports car drivers think you’re in a common-or-garden model. Just make sure you avoid the Lapiz Blue paint – that’s only available on the R so it’ll give the game away.
Shop used Volkswagen T-Roc cars for sale or read our Volkswagen T-Roc review
Volvo S90 T8
- Fuel type: plug-in hybrid
- Power: 390hp
- 0-62mph: 5.1 seconds
Volvo has put its T8 plug-in hybrid engine in a range of cars, such as the S60 and XC90. But we reckon the most surprising application is the S90 – a largely forgotten BMW 5 Series rival. The S90 presents itself as a smooth and sophisticated car, perhaps a car for the keen golfer, but you can have it with an entertaining amount of power. It’s the modern-day equivalent of the 4.4-litre V8 you could get in the old S80.
Shop used Volvo S90 cars for sale
Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX
- Fuel type: electric
- Power: 340hp
- 0-62mph: 6.4 seconds
These stats aren’t the best you’ll find on this list, but remember that you’re going hot hatch speeds in a van. You can even have the GTX in flat white with black wheels so that no one will look twice at it. Volkswagen offers this GTX model across its electric car range, all with pretty understated styling that only stands out to those who know what they’re looking at.
Read our Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
Genesis GV60 Performance
- Fuel type: electric
- Power: 490hp
- 0-62mph: 4.0 seconds
It’s probably been a while since you’ve seen any Genesis – Hyundai’s off-shoot brand hasn’t yet made a strong mark in the UK. But go for this left-field choice and you’ll be able to pick a car that’s faster than pretty much anything on your street. The GV60 Performance is a dual-motor EV with virtual gearshifts – like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – and a boost mode that’s perfect for overtaking. This isn’t even going to be the fastest GV60, but the new GV60 Magma doesn’t have the sleeper credentials seeing as it’s bright orange with a big spoiler.
Shop used Genesis cars for sale or read our Genesis GV60 review
Cupra Formentor VZ
- Fuel type: petrol/plug-in hybrid
- Power: 333/272hp
- 0-62mph: 4.8/7.2 seconds
Cupra’s range of cars do look sporty, but the styling’s pretty much the same whether you get a truly hot version or an entry-level car with middling performance. The Formentor’s been a popular car but most versions you'll see on the road are the cheapest 1.5-litre version, so no one will notice that you’ve bought the 333hp version until you’re way off into the distance. There’s also a fast plug-in hybrid version if you want thrills and lower bills.
Shop used Cupra Formentor cars for sale or read our Cupra Formentor review
