All You Need To Know About Sleeper Cars

The reason for an automobile to be called a sleeper is that it might come off as an economy car due to its unassuming exterior but actually have a decent powertrain under its hood. There is an abundance of sleeper cars on the market that people look for from brands like Cadillac, Ford, Buick, etc. Therefore, let’s see the sleeper cars and their specific characteristics.

What is a Sleeper Car?

An automobile that delivers high performance but looks bland on the outside is referred to as a sleeper car. These cars’ exterior styling is so close to or almost identical to that of an ordinary or economy-class car, hence the name "Sleepers". The British automobile industry has the name ‘Q-ship’ for such types of cars, which is directly derived from the Royal Navy. In the US market, these are popular and have a separate culture for such cars.

What is the history of Sleeper Cars?

In 1955, Chrysler launched its famous C-300, which had a 5.4-liter Firepower V8 powertrain. In 1957, the 300C was also produced on the same lines. These were among the first sleeper vehicles that were available on the market. In 1968, the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 also joined the league.

The most impressive sleeper car of the 20th century was the 1986 Lancia Thema 8.32, which had a Ferrari V8 engine under its hood.

What are the best Sleeper Cars ever made?

5. Chevrolet Cobalt SS

The Chevrolet Cobalt SS is first on the list. The Chevy Cobalt was a robust, beautiful car that was very trustworthy and easy on the pocket to operate. However, the Cobalt SS was not known for its acceleration.

It is easy for nonenthusiasts to mistake the Cobalt SS version for an ordinary automobile because it comes with a similar exterior as its sibling. The Chevrolet Cobalt SS has a starting price of $28,950.

The Chevrolet Cobalt SS reaches 60 mph in around 5.9 seconds. It is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 205 horsepower and 2000 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 140 mph. Chevrolet designed its Cobalt SS with a focus on tuning, making it appear in the Need for Speed video games and gaining a lot of popularity among enthusiasts.

4. Ford Taurus SHO

Next up is the Ford Taurus SHO. Being a common car, the Ford Taurus didn't get much attention from onlookers during its whole production, which lasted around three decades.

The SHO model of the Taurus was generally considered to have an unusual exterior, and when integrated with decent levels of power and torque delivery in an AWD configuration, it made an inexpensive sleeper car.

The Ford Tauras SHO has a 0–60 mph time of 5.2 seconds. It can also do the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds. It is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 133 mph. The Ford Tauras SHO has a starting price of $42,975.

3. Ford Flex Ecoboost

The next one on the list is the Ford Flex Ecoboost. Due to its boxy design, the Ford Flex Ecoboost has strong acceptance as the most ridiculous sleeper of all time.

Some individuals were attracted to the SUV’s exterior, and even fewer people consider it a boring commuting machine rather than a performance vehicle. The price of the Ford Flex Ecoboost is $39,981.

The Ford Flex Ecoboost has a 0–60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. It is powered by a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine that produces 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 154 mph.

2. Chevrolet SS

The next one on the list is the Chevrolet SS. The Chevy SS sedan is discontinued. It had a distinctive exterior and a subpar cabin, which made it eligible for a sleeper car.

The rider who hasn't driven it yet is clueless that it is a real high-performance beast. Some customers even called it a muscle car because of how it drove. The Chevrolet SS has a starting price of $49,000.

The Chevrolet SS comes with a 0–60 mph time of 5 seconds. It is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 engine that produces 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 160 mph.

1. Cadillac CTS-V

The final car on the list is the Cadillac CTS-V. Although the Cadillac CTS-V shares a supercharged V8 powertrain with the regular Cadillac CTS, This makes it almost similar to a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 under the hood.

The integration of an electronic limited-slip differential and an impressive 8-speed automatic transmission helps this sleeper car compete with sports cars without attracting too much attention. The Cadillac CTS-V has a starting price of $85,390.

The Cadillac CTS-V Fastback has a 0–60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. It is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 200 mph.