If you own a fast and powerful car, it’s natural to want to make sure that the car looks the part. After all, what's the point of having a powerful car if nobody knows it, right? That’s true for most people, unless you’re one of the few who prefer driving what's known as a sleeper car.
What’s a sleeper car? It’s a vehicle that’s surprisingly powerful but looks modest on the outside. Simply put, you won’t know it’s a sleeper car until you’ve seen it perform, and that’s the point! Five of the best sleeper cars available in Australia include the Audi S8, Toyota Camry V6, VW Golf R, Ford Flex Ecoboost, and Skoda Superb.
You could also make your own sleeper car. In the following sections, we’ll look at the concept of sleeper cars, how to identify them, and the 5 best sleeper cars you can buy in Australia today.
Let’s get started.
What Is a Sleeper Car?
A sleeper car is simply one that looks modest on the outside but packs enough power under the hood to probably beat most others at a drag race. This term isn’t limited to a particular classification or body type. It’s an umbrella term that includes sedans, SUVs, vans, and any other regular vehicle that carries a lot of power but downplays it with its low-key guise.
Can You Tell If a Car Is a Sleeper?
Unfortunately, there are only two ways to tell if a car is a sleeper. The easy way is to look under the hood. If you know anything about car parts, a quick look under the hood will tell you if the car is capable of generating more power than it reveals.
The hard way is losing a race to it before realising that it’s a sleeper. In other words, the only other way to tell if you’re up against a sleeper is to see how it performs on the road. The morale of the story here is never to underestimate a competitor; it could be a sleeper.
Technically, you can consider any car a sleeper as long as it fits that loose definition of a vehicle that’s unassuming on the outside but powerful on the inside.
This is true for both production and modified cars. Yes, it’s possible to modify or build a sleeper car by yourself. All you have to do is upgrade the internal car parts like the engine and turbo system while keeping the exterior stock without any flashy upgrades or accessories. The larger the gap between the car’s high performance and bland exterior, the more of a sleeper car it’ll be!
Top 5 Sleeper Cars on the Aussie Market Today
As you’ll realise, sleeper cars exist in all categories. You can easily find a luxury sleeper car, just as you can find the cheapest sleeper car to fit a smaller budget. So if you're interested in owning a deceptively powerful vehicle, you'll have no problem finding the best sleeper car in Australia to fit your needs.
Now, here are 5 of the best sleeper cars on the local market today.
Audi S8
Let's start this list with the luxurious Audi S8. Some people might disagree about calling it a sleeper car, and that's alright. The term is open to interpretation, and we believe the S8 deserves a spot on this list.
On the outside, the Audi S8 is a luxury sports sedan, the kind of car you’d expect the driver to play classical music in a while driving the speed limit down a highway.
Yet, despite that polished exterior, there’s a mind-blowing amount of power under the hood. The car has a maximum output of 420 kW of power and a massive 800 Nm of torque!
It’s not likely that someone who drives this car might try to race you at a traffic light, but if they did, there’s a good chance they’ll beat you to it.
Toyota Camry V6
The The Toyota Camry V6 is a pretty standard car that you’d see on Aussie streets. That’s no surprise, considering it’s a stylish and comfortable car that comes in at under $40,000 price point, making it affordable for many car buyers.
Yet, despite being an everyday mid-sized car, this one produces a maximum power output of 224 kW and 362 Nm of torque.
VW Golf R
Another sleeper that you probably won't suspect is Volkswagen's Golf R. For one, the badging is quite discreet on this model, the reason why it’s often mistaken for a slower VW at first glance. Still, what it's got under the hood will blow you away with 213 kW of pure power and 380 Nm of torque!
Ford Flex Ecoboost
Okay, so this one is a bit older than the other models on this list, but it’s still worth mentioning, especially since it’s an unsuspecting sleeper that you can buy on the second-hand market.
The Ford Flex Ecoboost is a full-size crossover SUV that looks so wholesome it makes you think it’s capable of nothing except transport your whole family from A to B and vice versa.
Why do we consider it a sleeper? Well, because it packs a 3.5-litre V6 engine with a maximum output of 214 kW of power and 344 Nm of torque!
Skoda Superb
Skoda has a line of sedans called the Skoda Superb Sportline. We feel that it belongs on this list. The Skoda vehicles, in general, aren’t known for being flashy or powerful, but the Czech auto company’s reputation can be misleading, and that’s precisely what sleeper cars are all about!
The Skoda Superb has a maximum output of 206 kW and 350 Nm of torque!
If you’re thinking about building your own sleeper car or putting one in tip-top shape, then you need parts, and you will need Carpart.com.au. We know car parts will not always be easy to find, but you can rely on Carpart’s Auto Part Finder to search it for you. Try it now!
By Ray Hasbollah