A sleeper car, also known as a Q-car in Britain, is basically a car which has what would be considered sporty power and performance figures, but the exterior styling is unassuming.
When you think of sports cars and any other performance-focused vehicles whether they be hot hatches, convertibles or track day cars, it is often easy for people to work out these are performance-focused just by observing their styling.
Details like aggressive bumpers and headlight styling and large aerodynamic parts like front splitters or rear spoilers are all often giveaways of a car’s high-performance credentials.
Some quick cars sold by manufacturers in the past though have had styling which is barely different to other cars with the same bodystyle which focus more on practicality or efficiency, and therefore have much more modest performance figures in comparison.
Such cars, which have become described as sleeper cars or Q-cars by motoring enthusiasts, can pick up a cult status because of their unassuming status. Their ability to offer exciting performance and handling, without having a showy, attention-seeking appearance can prove very appealing to some.
Current sleeper cars you can buy now
There is not much in the new car market right now which fits the description of a sleeper car.
But there are some very impressive cars in today’s market which you could reasonably call sleepers or Q-cars because they don’t look much different to other, considerably less powerful, specifications in the same range.
Skoda Superb 280 TSI
The latest Skoda Superb, available in hatchback and estate bodystyles, is an impressive large family car which offers comfortable cruising, a very practical cabin and an impressive equipment list complimented by a well-thought-out interior layout.
But while the styling is smart and gives the car a professional, executive car vibe, it’s not what you’d describe as sporty-looking, plus there’s no performance derivatives like a vRS model. But the latest Superb in certain higher trims can be picked with a meaty TSI 280 powertrain.
With this, the Skoda not only has four-wheel drive but also 276bhp from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This leads to a seriously impressive 0-62mph sprint time of just 5.8 seconds and the car’s top speed is 155mph.
Audi S3
Audi’s selection of S-badged cars could arguably be viewed as an entire line-up of sleeper cars, and the latest S3 is no exception.
The S3 is of course based on the latest Audi A3 range, which is available in three-door hatchback, five-door sportback, four-door saloon and two-door cabriolet guises. Put an A3 next to an S3 and the differences in styling would be difficult to spot, especially at first glance. The small red S badge found on Sport models like the S3 are the only notable visual clue.
While other motorists passing by may not realise you have an S3 rather than a more ‘regular’ A3, the performance difference is huge. With a potent 296bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine under the bonnet, the Audi S3 in hatchback guise takes just 4.8 seconds to cover the 0-62mph sprint when using the optional six-speed S tronic automatic gearbox, or 5.2 in manual guise.
BMW M140i
While the BMW M135i is a hot hatch, it does not look that much different to other specifications in the 1 Series line-up, especially the M Sport-badged specifications.
From an outsider’s point of view then, it could prove difficult to know for sure whether a properly hot M140i is being observed or one of its still-sporty but considerably slower counterparts. Some car buyers may appreciate the way the M140i can blend in with relatively more modest BMWs on the market.
There’s plenty of performance and agility to enjoy as well, the rear-wheel drive powertrain delivers a sweet-handling experience and the 335bhp output from the 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine is a delight.
Volvo XC90 T8
The Volvo XC90 T8 is a superb large luxury SUV offering space, comfort, premium materials and an elegant drive all in one package.
The XC90 has many qualities, but a sporty, performance-focused drive is not likely something you’d expect from a car like this. However, the XC90 range does include the T8 TwinEngine hybrid powertrain.
With this the XC90 doesn’t look any different, but the combination of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and 34kW electric motor plus a turbocharger AND supercharger means there’s up to 400bhp on tap. That leads to an eye-popping 0-62mph sprint figure of 5.6 seconds. This turns the Volvo into one of the most impressively fast luxury SUVs money can buy right now.
Volkswagen Golf R Estate
Even in one of its famous performance-focused guises, the Volkswagen Golf’s design is pretty conservative when compared to some of the hot hatches and sports coupes around today.
Opt for an estate version of the Golf R then, and you could realistically fool other motorists into thinking you’re getting about in a ‘typical’ Golf family car, until you really put your foot down that is.
Though not quite as quick as the hot hatch version, the Golf R estate is still a tremendously fast and agile motor, boasting a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds from its 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.
