These 8 ‘Sleeper Cars’ Are a Great Value When Purchased Used

Sleeper cars are the best of both worlds. As J.D. Power explained, “it’s a car that offers considerable performance yet is bereft of indecent bodywork, garish paint, oversized aerodynamic elements, or anything else that might invite unwanted attention.”

In other words, sleeper cars hide their enormous performance capabilities underneath plain-looking bodywork, as Hiconsumption noted.

Here are some sleeper cars that are great value if you purchase them used.

According to Motor1, Buick has a history of building sleepers. This 2018 Buick Regal GS has a 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 310 horsepower and an excellent chassis.

This model has an exterior that isn’t “particularly aggressive,” according to Motor1,  but offers a great performance, with a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V-6 making 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque running to an all-wheel-drive system.

The Ford Fusion was the carmaker’s mid-size sedan throughout the 2000s, noted Motor1.  The 2017 to 2019 model years have a 2.7-liter V-6 making 325 horsepower and 380 pounds of torque.

“Today, they blend into the traffic as just another older vehicle that doesn’t appear to have over 300 hp on tap,” Motor1 noted.

Hotcars deemed this model “perhaps one of the ultimate sleepers and a brilliant understudy to the raucous V10-powered BMW E60 M5, the 550i from the same era chucks out around 362 hp and 351 lb-ft of torque from its 4.8-liter V8.”

It also added that it’s quiet and understated, and “refrains from getting in your face.”

The second-generation Volvo V70 R is a “perfect example of what differentiates a good sleeper from a great one,” according to Hotcars.

“With 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of its brilliant 2.5-liter inline-5 engine, the V70 R may not look like much to the average set of eyes, but real petrol heads know just how quick these things are when drivers cement their foot. This is proven by a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time and a limited top speed of 155 mph,” Hotcars added.

While part of being a sleeper is that a vehicle shouldn’t look fast, this model has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with an electric motor making a total of 494 horsepower and a particularly impressive 630 pound-feet of torque, Motor1 noted.

In addition, this SUV packs a lot of power, and can tow up to 5,600 pounds. Not to mention that according to tests, you can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in about five seconds.

Most people wouldn’t think that a Volvo wagon would have 362 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of tap, according to Motor1.

“This is the secret of the V60 Polestar, though,” it added. “The vehicles also have an Öhlins sourced suspension for improving their handling.”

Motor1 noted that Lexus generally prioritizes a comfortable driving experience over performance. However, as of the 2016 model year, it offered customers something different.

“It featured a 5.0-liter V-8 engine making 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. Inside, there’s a high-class cabin with lots of high-quality leather,” noted Motor1. “No one would look at this car and suspect how much power it offers the driver.”

Photo disclaimer: Images may not exactly match specific make and model of vehicle listed.