We all like fast cars. Many automakers go out of their way to make sure their cars look as sporty as possible. This is cool, although some automakers do the opposite but keep the sporty drivetrains. These cars are called sleeper cars.

Volvo basically started the trend in the 1980s and 1990s with their turbocharged 5-cylinder 240 and later 850 models. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Swedes had the S60 T5 – a monster of an undercover sleeper car that even the British Police bought to catch criminals.

Today, many cars follow the basic sleeper car recipe – lots of power and speed in a relatively mundane or unexpected body. Who expects a family sedan to sound like a Corvette and dash 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds? Probably no one! This is what makes them so fun. Here are our top ten choices for sleeper cars that dominate the 0-60 mph sprint.

10 2014-2017 Chevrolet SS - 4.5 Seconds

The Chevrolet SS is the more modern equivalent of the short-lived Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Lumina. The SS was sold between 2014 and 2017 and was produced alongside the Holden Commodore until its eventual discontinuation. Unlike the Commodore, the SS was only available in one trim. The SS got the 6.2-liter LS3 V8, producing 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels only via either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

Speed & Performance

In addition to the performance, the SS sounds like a Corvette but looks like a Malibu – the perfect combination for a sleeper. Thanks to the SS’ basic Chevrolet parts, most aftermarket upgrades fit on the SS, easily allowing a supercharger. The standard SS completes the 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

9 1987 Buick GNX - 4.3 Seconds

The Buick GNX is one of the coolest classic muscle cars ever to be created. With the energy crisis nearly over in the late 1980s, General Motors decided to add a turbocharger to one of their V6s. The result was a turbo 3.8-liter V6 muscle car developing over 300 hp and beating the Ferrari F40 to 60 mph.

Speed & Performance

The GNX dashes to 60 in 4.3 seconds – a few tenths faster than a twin-turbocharged V8, carbon-fiber-bodied supercar. With a few minor upgrades, the GNX – or even just the regular Regal Grand National – can out-drag most supercars of the era. Plus, the Grand National looks awesome – most famously called ‘Darth Vader’s car’.

Related: What Driving a 1987 Buick GNX Is Really Like

8 2003-2006 Pontiac GTO - 4.3 Seconds

The fifth-generation Pontiac GTO is based on the older model Holden Commodore, but unlike the Aussie car, the GTO – and its European Vauxhall counterpart – only has two doors, rather than four. The initial GTO featured a 5.7-liter LS1 V8, but was upgraded to a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 – the former producing 350 hp and 365 lb-ft and the latter making 400 hp and 400 lb-ft.

Speed & Performance

The GTO wasn’t the best-received car in the US and was ridiculed for its relatively boring styling and design. Today, the GTO is pretty popular as it is a cheap way of getting a more modern muscle coupe that is easy to upgrade and improve. It can also get to 60 in just 4.8 seconds – faster than most sports cars of the same era.

7 2005-2010 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 - 4.3 Seconds

The first-generation Chrysler 300C SRT-8 was quite the head-turner. Top Gear called it the car Al Capone would have if he was alive today. The 300C SRT-8 gets a larger version of the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, bored out to 6.1 liters. All the power is sent to the rear wheels only via a 5-speed automatic borrowed from Mercedes-Benz – the 300C used many C-Class and E-Class parts.

Speed & Performance

With the big engine – which produced 425 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque – the big luxurious barge got to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. This was an E-Class AMG performance for much less money. Today, the 300C is still popular as it is a cheap way to look wealthy. Sadly, Chrysler is discontinuing the 300 in 2023 with a final hurrah.

Related: Here's Why The Chrysler 300C SRT8 Was Discontinued

6 2002-2009 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG - 4.1 Seconds

Speaking of the E-Class, the E55 AMG is one of the best and most value-for-money sports sedans on the used market. The E55 AMG features a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, producing 470 hp and 516 lb-ft. Unlike the latest E-Class AMG, the E55 is rear-drive only.

Speed & Performance

The W211 E-Class is one of the best-looking sedans on the used market – nearly as good-looking as the E38 BMW 7 Series. The E55 AMG sprints to 60 MPH in 4.1 seconds and can go even faster when upgraded – possible as the 5-speed automatic is rated at over 740 lb-ft.

5 2011-2016 BMW M5 - 3.6 Seconds

The fifth-generation BMW M5 broke the mold a bit as it was the first M5 to feature turbocharging. The F10 M5 used a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 553 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. Granted, the S63 V8 didn’t get off to a very good start, but BMW improved the engine so much that it became one of the most reliable V8 engines on the market.

Speed & Performance

The BMW M5 is relatively understated compared to its rivals – a feature the Germans from Munich keep adhering to. The F10 may have aggressive bumpers and quad exhausts, but most people will look completely past it, which makes it all the more fun when it accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. Quite the fast family hauler.

Related: What To Expect From The 2025 BMW M5

4 2010-2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon - 4.2 Seconds

The Europeans are pretty good at making fast sports sedans and the Americans didn’t want to be left out. Their answer is the Cadillac CTS-V. The first-generation model made an impact, but the second generation got even better as Cadillac sold not only a sedan but also a coupe and even a wagon.

Speed & Performance

The sedan and coupe may be cool, but the wagon is by far the coolest of the three. The wagon added more practicality to the vehicle – which still retained the 556 hp and 551 lb-ft 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and 6-speed manual transmission. Who doesn’t want a fast V8 wagon that gets to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds?

3 2009-2015 BMW 760Li - 4.4 Seconds

In the world of high-end luxury sedans, the 12-cylinder engine is always king. As a result, there was a point in time when BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and even Toyota’s luxury sedans were powered by a V12 engine. One of the coolest was the F01 760Li – a car that not only introduced a new internal naming strategy but also the car that dawned a new era for the German company.

Speed & Performance

The 760Li featured a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12, which produced 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. All the raging Deutsche horses went to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. No, it wasn’t as ferocious as Mercedes’ S65 AMG, but it still got to 60 MPH in under 4.5 seconds. Not at all bad for a big luxury sedan.

Related: Every BMW 7 Series Generation, Ranked From Worst To Best

2 2006-2008 Mazda 6 MPS - 5.9 Seconds

The Mazda6 MPS – also known as the MazdaSpeed 6 – is a sporty family sedan specifically designed to beat the Ford Mondeo ST220 at its own game. The biggest difference between the two is that the Ford has a naturally aspirated V6, while the Mazda has a turbocharged 4-cylinder making 274 hp and 280 lb-ft.

Speed & Performance

The Mazda6 MPS gets an all-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission. This doesn’t mean it sticks to the road though, easily achieving a four-wheel skid whenever wanted. The MPS does the 0-60 in just 5.9 seconds – slower than modern competitors but still fast compared to other lower-end sporty family sedans.

1 2010-2019 Ford Taurus SHO - 5.1 Seconds

The Ford Taurus literally changed automotive design in the US when it debuted in the 1980s. Fast-forward a few decades, and we got a huge family sedan based on an SUV instead of the spaceship which debuted in 1986. Yes, it still had a relatively powerful engine, but it wasn’t quite the same.

Speed & Performance

The first-generation 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 under the hood sent power to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic and delivered 365 hp and 350 lb-ft to the ground. Even though the Taurus SHO weighs well over 4,000 lbs, it still gets to 60 in just 5.1 seconds.