Never Judge A Book By Its Cover
You might not know it yet, but the parking lot at your local supermarket might harbor more performance potential than some racetracks. These unassuming rides fool everyone until that traffic light turns green and they let their true colors show. Here are 20 unassuming automobiles that perform a whole lot better than you might expect.
1. Honda Civic Si
Imagine you're at a red light next to what looks like your neighbor's economy car. Except this particular Honda Civic Si packs a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine delivering 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.
2. Toyota Corolla XRS
Forget everything you think you know about boring Corollas because the XRS was Toyota's answer to Honda's Si dominance. Under the mundane sedan bodywork lived a screaming 1.8-liter 2ZZ-GE engine—the same powerplant found in Lotus Elise supercars. This Yamaha-developed motor generated 170 horsepower.
3. Chevrolet SS
Australia's automotive farewell gift to America came disguised as the most boring-looking drive Chevrolet ever imported. The SS packed a full-blooded 6.2-liter LS3 V8. Built in Australia, this rear-wheel-drive rocket could sprint to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds.
4. Buick Regal GS
Your grandfather's Buick brand received a serious shot of adrenaline with the Regal GS, which turned conservative luxury into genuine performance prowess. The 2018 generation featured a potent 3.6-liter V6 engine that supplied 310 horsepower, paired with an advanced AWD system, complete with Brembo brakes.
5. Volvo S60 R
Swedish engineering meets sleeper car perfection in the form of the S60 R, a vehicle that redefined what safety-conscious buyers could expect from their daily driver. This particular Volvo was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine that produced 300 horsepower.
6. Ford Taurus SHO
When Ford needed to prove that American engineering could build a world-class performance sedan, they created the SHO (Super High Output) and shocked everyone. Despite its large, heavy body, the SHO delivers impressive straight-line speed with its 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada on Wikimedia
7. BMW 335i
Before the M3 became the ultimate expression of BMW's sports car philosophy, the 335i served as the perfect middle ground between luxury and outright performance. The genius of the 335i was its complete lack of visual drama—no aggressive body kits, massive wheels, or obnoxious spoilers.
8. Volkswagen Golf GTI
The original hot hatch that started an entire automotive movement continues to set the standard for understated performance in practical packaging. Interestingly, the current generation can reach 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds while returning over 30 mpg in real-world driving.
order_242 from Chile on Wikimedia
9. Honda Accord Sport 2.0T
Honda turned their sensible family car into a legitimate sports car alternative with the Accord Sport 2.0 T. This particular Accord delivers 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with Honda's excellent 10-speed automatic transmission. The Sport model includes performance-oriented suspension tuning.
10. Mazda 3 Turbo
The turbocharged “3” can accelerate from 0–60 mph in about 6.2 seconds while maintaining Mazda's signature zoom-zoom driving character that makes every commute feel like a back-road adventure. Most impressively, the subtle exterior styling means that most observers see just another compact car.
The 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo is NOT a Mazdaspeed 3 by TheStraightPipes
11. Pontiac G8 GXP
General Motors' final love letter to performance enthusiasts came wrapped in a not-so-attractive package. Yet, the G8 GXP harbored a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the Corvette, cranking out 415 horsepower. Motor Trend literally achieved 0–60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
12. Saab 9-3 Turbo
This car’s high-performance Aero variants featured advanced Trionic engine management, influenced by Saab's aerospace engineering heritage. It enabled acceleration that outperformed many contemporary sports cars. The most notable version, though, is the Saab 9-3 Turbo X, introduced in 2008 to celebrate 30 years of Saab turbocharging.
13. Hyundai Elantra N
Korean engineering reached its performance pinnacle with this beast. The Elantra N maintains the understated four-door styling that lets it blend seamlessly into daily traffic. Equipped with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, this car can rocket to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
14. Chrysler 300M
Chrysler stuffed a high-output 3.5-liter V6 into the conservative 300M sedan, and everything suddenly felt right. The 300M's clean, understated styling provided perfect camouflage for its seriously tuned suspension and powertrain components that could deliver brilliant acceleration and handling dynamics.
15. Subaru Legacy GT
Producing 250 horsepower, it created a practical family automobile better than many sports cars in all weather conditions. The GT's understated appearance provided fantastic sleeper credentials while hiding Subaru's advanced AVCS variable valve timing, intercooled turbocharging, and symmetrical all-wheel-drive system beneath conventional bodywork.
16. Kia Stinger GT
What makes the Stinger GT particularly devious is its understated styling, yet it was engineered by former BMW M division personnel. The twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine delivers 368 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to race from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.
17. Ford Fiesta ST
Ford Fiesta proved that serious performance could come in the smallest packages. The ST's sophisticated suspension tuning and electronic differential enabled handling dynamics that rivaled those of much more expensive European hot hatches. Automotive journalists consistently ranked the Fiesta ST among the best driver's cars.
David Villarreal Fernández on Wikimedia
18. Lexus IS300
It all began when Lexus equipped the IS300 with the legendary 2JZ-GE inline-six engine, producing 215 horsepower, the same powerplant found in the Supra, but naturally aspirated. The IS300's conservative luxury car styling concealed serious performance hardware, including a rear-wheel-drive chassis and sport-tuned suspension.
19. Nissan Altima SR
The SR's subtle exterior modifications and sport-tuned suspension components provided just enough visual differentiation to hint at its enhanced capabilities. It is driven by a 2.5-liter, DOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine. Steering is precise for the segment, while braking is prompt.
20. Infiniti G35
Nissan's luxury division came up with an exceptional automobile by combining the VQ35DE V6 engine, cranking out 280 horsepower. The G35's near-perfect weight distribution, responsive steering, and powerful naturally aspirated engine served genuine sports car performance in practical four-door packaging.