10 Best New Sleeper Cars for 2015

What is a sleeper car? At its core, a sleeper car is a high performance automobile whose styling gives away none of its athletic personality. The best new sleeper cars are those that provide a veil of anonymity in the parking lot or while passing a prowling state trooper, yet still deliver gobs of fun on a twisty road or in a straight line. Everyone has their own definition of what a 'true' sleeper looks like - some tolerate no clues as to what lurks underneath the metal skin at all, while others are ok with a few flourishes here and there - but an important factor with any sleeper car is an element of the unexpected once the light turns green and the pedal is mashed to the floor. 

Let's take a quick look at the 10 best new sleeper cars for 2015.

1. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT almost didn't make it onto our best new sleepers list because there's no denying that the amped-up body work of the mid-size SUV hints at something special under its hood. That being said, few are prepared for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT's 475 horsepower, 6.4-liter V-8 engine. Also capable of grinding out 470 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel drive system, the Grand Cherokee SRT can leap to 60-mph in under five seconds and also tow your camping trailer - a combination few other SUVs can claim.

2. 2015 Kia K900

The 2015 Kia K900 is a full-size luxury sedan that's aimed at taking the legs out from rivals like the Audi A8 and the Lexus LS by leveraging a high feature count with an affordable purchase price. Power is an important consideration in any premium four-door, of course, which is why the modestly-styled Kia K900 comes standard with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine. Good for 420 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, the eight-speed automatic-equipped K900 surges to 60-mph in 5.7 seconds from a standing start, a number that leaves a number of sport sedans in the dust.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

3. 2015 Fiat 500e

The 2015 FIAT 500e isn't just the all-electric edition of the Italian brand's entry-level subcompact car. It also happens to introduce a significant boost in torque as compared to the economy-minded standard Fiat. The Fiat 500e's battery-powered electric motor is good for 111 horses and 147 lb-ft of twist, which might not sound like all that much until you consider the fact that an electric motor can dump all of its twist to the front wheels immediately after the loud pedal's been stomped on. This allows the 500e to sprint to 60-mph in 8.2 seconds, a figure that smokes most other hybrids and EVs in its class.

Photo by FCA Media

4. 2015 Chevrolet SS

The 2015 Chevrolet SS has the great misfortune of presenting a lights-out drivetrain wrapped in a milquetoast body. The very definition of a new sleeper car, the Chevrolet SS might be dull to look at, but hit the ignition on the full-size sedan's 6.2-liter V-8 engine and you'll be thrilled to hear 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque roar to life. A six-speed automatic transmission is offered, although the best bet is the car's six-speed manual gearbox, which is available with a magnetically-adaptive suspension system that gives the car preternatural handling for its size. Expect a 0-60-mph time south of five seconds when piloting the Chevrolet SS.

Photo by Christian Wardlaw

5. 2015 Ford Flex EcoBoost

The 2015 Ford Flex EcoBoost has all the visual personality of a slab-sided people mover with a dash of retro wagon thrown in for good measure. None of Ford Flex's practical-minded design, however, hints at the fact that its optional EcoBoost drivetrain can throw down 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque by way of a twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6. A six-speed automatic transmission channels that output to a standard all-wheel drive system, which gives the seven-passenger Flex EcoBoost a 6.1-liter 0-60-mph time. Try doing that in your neighbor's Dodge Grand Caravan.

Photo by Ford Media

6. 2015 Cadillac XTS Vsport

The 2015 Cadillac XTS occupies the top slot in the luxury brand's sedan line-up, and the full-size sedan is more often associated with appealing to an older demographic than it is tearing down a drag strip. Sample the Cadillac XTS Vsport, however, and you'll come away with a very different impression of this stately-looking four-door. The XTS Vsport benefits from a 3.6-liter, twin-turbo V-6 that grinds out 410 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, and it also features a standard all-wheel drive system, a six-sped automatic transmission, and the availability of a limited-slip differential. Altogether, the Cadillac XTS Vsport sleeps its way past the cops on the way to a 0-60-mph time of 5.4 seconds.

7. 2015 Volvo V60 Polestar

The 2015 Volvo V60 Polestar is definitely a sleeper, but you have to avoid its eye-searing Rebel Blue paint option and stick with black (the only other available color) to stay under the radar in this mid-size wagon. How many family cars have you seen that come with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 345 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque through a grip-happy all-wheel drive system? 10-way adjustable shock absorbers and a six-speed automatic transmission round out the Volvo V60 Polestar's high performance gear, and when driven in anger you're looking at a 0-60-mph time of less than five seconds in this battle wagon.

Photo by Volvo

8. 2015 Subaru Forester XT

The 2015 Subaru Forester XT is another stealth family rocket ship that just so happens to feature a turbocharged engine. The Subaru Forester XT compact SUV borrows much of its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder drivetrain from the WRX performance sedan, and as such it enjoys access to 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard with the Forester XT, as it is with all Subarus, and a continuously-variable automatic transmission helps you keep the peppy four-banger in boost as you surge towards 60-mph in just a few ticks over six seconds.

9. 2015 Tesla Model S P85D

The 2015 Tesla Model S is well know for being at the forefront of electric car technology, but not everyone is aware that this zero emissions luxury sedan also happens to offer world-beating performance when ordered in P85D trim. The Tesla Model S P85D gives no visual cues as to its ability to crush whatever might line up beside it at a stoplight, but the figures don't lie: with two electric motors pushing out 691 horsepower through an all-wheel drive system, the big sleeper reaches 60-mph in a mere 3.5 seconds. This is quick enough to eclipse all but the most dedicated of sports cars.

10. 2015 Ford Taurus SHO

The 2015 Ford Taurus SHO is another lucky recipient of an EcoBoost heart transplant, one that transforms the staid family sedan into a full-size terror in a straight line. The Ford Taurus SHO also offers upgraded brakes and suspension tuning over the base version of the full-size sedan, but it's the car's 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 that makes the biggest difference thanks to its 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission channel that grunt to the pavement with enough efficiency to push the Taurus SHO to 60-mph in a healthy 5.8 seconds.