10 DIRT-CHEAP SLEEPER CARS ON THE MARKET TODAY
Imagine you're sitting at a stop light in your 2024 Toyota GR Supra 3.0. You look over to your right, and you see a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The driver is making eyes at you like they want to race. You scoff at their attempts to challenge you in your newly minted high-performance Supra.
The light turns green, you both speed off, and you're flabbergasted that it's actually keeping up with you. Little do you know, it's not just a regular CTS, it's actually a CTS-V with a Chevrolet Corvette engine under the hood. This is the concept of a sleeper car. A sleeper car is an everyday type of vehicle, whether it be an SUV, family station wagon, or even a pickup truck that you wouldn't expect to have a supercharged V8 under the hood.
Sleepers are the coolest sports cars you didn't see coming, quite literally. Cars that typically have four- or six-cylinder engines that have been transformed into pavement-crushing monsters. Sleeper cars have been around for a while, but they spiked in popularity around the 90s and 2000s.
They're equal parts practical and impractical. That's what makes them great cars. With the used market slowing down, we've compiled a list of the ten cheapest sleeper cars that you can buy right now. We've based it off of current Kelley Blue Book (KBB) fair market values and included engine specifications and the original MSRP.
How We Made Our Model Selection: HotCars researched these sleeper vehicles based on a Kelley Blue Book Fair Market Value of under $12,000. A sleeper constitutes having a larger engine than what's normally offered for that generation of vehicle and has to have a 0 to 60 mph of under seven seconds. We then ranked them from most expensive to least expensive.
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Despite its unassuming exterior, this luxurious sleeper sedan is capable of surprising some true supercars.
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: $11,556
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 | $11,556 | $40,675 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 6.1-Liter |
| Power | 420 HP |
| Torque | 420 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 4.7 Seconds |
The third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee was originally available with three standard powertrains. The fourth powertrain was the massive 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that could also be found in any of the other SRT8 Chrysler products of the time. The SRT8 could only be had in the third and fourth generations as Stellantis is currently shying away from all of its HEMI products. It was originally $40,675, but with inflation that is around $58,000 in today's money.
According to Kelley Blue Book, you can scoop one of these Jeeps up for $11,000 today, which is why it's made the list. It rockets to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds thanks to a lower ride height, bigger wheels, and a dedicated all-wheel drive drivetrain.
2005 Cadillac CTS-V: $10,753
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2005 Cadillac CTS-V | $10,753 | $49,995 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 5.7-Liter |
| Power | 400 HP |
| Torque | 395 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 4.5 Seconds |
Fun fact - the very first V-badged vehicle was the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V. You wouldn't know it by looking at it, but it's powered by the same 5.7-liter V8 that you can find in the C5 Corvette. Surprisingly, it was only available with a 6-speed manual transmission, which enthusiasts will be happy to know about.
The CTS-V differentiated itself from base CTS models with chrome mesh grille inserts as well as larger chrome wheels and dual exhausts. Mechanically, it comes with a sport-tuned suspension and active dampers plus Brembo brakes. It gallops up to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 163 mph.
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2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 Sport Wagon: $10,633
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8 Sport Wagon | $10,633 | $37,995 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 6.2-Liter |
| Power | 425 HP |
| Torque | 420 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.0 Seconds |
The Dodge Magnum was not originally a station wagon. In fact, it was a two-door sports coupe. Then, when it was resurrected for a brief period of time between 2005 and 2008, it turned into a sports wagon instead. The sportiest wagon of them all was the SRT8 version, which was a HEMI V8 high-performance machine.
It is powered by a 6.2-liter HEMI V8 that outputs a near-equal 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque tethered to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Like most sleepers built by Chrysler at the time, it came with larger wheels, sport-tuned suspension, and Brembo brakes. Kelley Blue Book has it valued at just under $11,000 currently.
2009 Cadillac STS-V: $9,895
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2009 Cadillac STS-V | $9,895 | $81,940 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | Supercharged V8 |
| Displacement | 4.4-Liter |
| Power | 469 HP |
| Torque | 439 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.0 Seconds |
The point of the Cadillac V-series was to take on German competitors like BMW Motorsport and Mercedes-Benz AMG. The STS-V was set to compete with the E39 BMW M5 and the E Class AMG models from Mercedes-Benz. It was powered by a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 that output 469 horsepower and 439 pound-feet of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Like the CTS-V, it had a chrome-accented front grille with larger, shinier wheels. On the interior, there's a "V" badge on the analog gauge cluster and suede inserts. For a car that would cost $118,000 today if it were new, grabbing one for slightly under $10,000 sounds like a much better deal.
The Cheapest New Sleeper Car In 2024
A big part of a sleeper car's appeal is that it usually sells at a considerably lower price point than its flashier contemporaries.
2005 Chrysler 300 SRT8: $7,908
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2005 Chrysler 300 SRT8 | $7,908 | $39,995 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 6.1-Liter |
| Power | 425 HP |
| Torque | 420 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 4.8 Seconds |
In the early 2000s, Chrysler couldn't help itself but to try and compete with the Cadillac Vs, BMW Ms, and AMGs of the world. In came the Chrysler 300 SRT8, sharing the same platform with the Magnum and Charger. For $7,908, these older 300 SRT8s are pretty much a steal at this point.
It is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that has 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The SRT8 is lower than mainstream 300s, has bigger wheels, a rear wing, and fog lamps. Not much changed on the interior except for the SRT8-badged front seats. It got up to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and has a blistering top speed of 175 mph.
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2012 Ford Taurus SHO: $7,436
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2012 Ford Taurus SHO | $7,436 | $40,800 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | Twin-Turbocharged V6 |
| Displacement | 3.5-Liter |
| Power | 365 HP |
| Torque | 350 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.7 Seconds |
The definition of a sleeper car might be found in the sixth-generation Ford Taurus. Nobody sees a Ford Taurus and thinks of fun and performance, but that's where the SHO (Super High Output) came in. Apart from the bigger wheels, there's nothing that really stands out on this Taurus as being the high-performance version.
It's powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 that outputs 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. That might not sound like much compared to everything else on the list, but any Taurus that can get up to 60 mph in under 6 seconds deserves a spot on this list. It's also cheap at around $7,500.
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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP: $5,956
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP | $5,956 | $29,315 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 5.3-Liter |
| Power | 303 HP |
| Torque | 323 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.6 Seconds |
The Pontiac Grand Prix was one of the longest-running name badges for Pontiac next to the Bonneville. The eighth, and final, generation of the Grand Prix did not disappoint. The unique 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP came with a 5.3-liter V8 that outputs 303 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque.
The red brake calipers and 5-spoke chrome-accented wheels might give this up as a high performer, but for the most part, you wouldn't see it coming. It gets up to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and currently can be had for $5,500. It was even a pretty reasonably priced car back then as well.
The Overlooked Japanese Sleeper That Beats German Performance For Less
This overlooked Japanese sleeper proves you don't need to spend big for some great, turbocharged fun.
1992 GMC Sonoma Regular Cab Syclone: $5,870
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 1992 GMC Sonoma Regular Cab Syclone | $5,870 | $27,465 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | Turbocharged V6 |
| Displacement | 4.3-Liter |
| Power | 280 HP |
| Torque | 360 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 4.5 Seconds |
The GMC Sonoma is a plucky little pickup truck that was in production until the early 2000s. In the early '90s, however, GMC came out with a bonkers turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 version of this truck that would get up to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph.
Initially, it was only available in black with red lettering and had a lower profile compared to the other Sonomas. Later, you could choose from other colors, but the Sylcone itself was only available for a short while. For $5,800, you can have a piece of '90s American truck history that at least has an ABS system for safety.
2006 Chevrolet Impala SS - $5,200
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS | $5,200 | $27,790 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 5.3-Liter |
| Power | 303 HP |
| Torque | 323 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Automatic |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.5 Seconds |
The Impala comes from a long line of SS (Super Sport) models dating as far back as the early 1960s. The ninth-generation Impala SS had a short stint of about 3 years. It was powered by a 5.3-liter small block V8 that had a cylinder management system, shutting off four of the eight cylinders to help with fuel economy ratings.
It output 303 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque and gets up to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. It comes with dual exhausts, bigger wheels, an actual rear wing, and special SS badging. You still probably wouldn't expect something that looks like this to keep up with you off the line, but for $5,200 it might be worth it to shock your opponent.
1992 Dodge Spirit R/T Sedan - $2,579
Pricing
| Model | KBB Fair Market Value | Original MSRP |
| 1992 Dodge Spirit R/T Sedan | $2,579 | $19,159 |
Performance Specifications
| Configuration | Turbocharged 4-Cylinder |
| Displacement | 2.2-Liter |
| Power | 224 HP |
| Torque | 217 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| 0 to 60 MPH Time | 5.7 Seconds |
Topping our list of cheap sleepers is the 1992 Dodge Spirit R/T. For $2,579 you get quite an impressive turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that can get you up to speed in 5.7 seconds. It comes with a 5-speed manual and has 224 horsepower and 217 pound-feet of torque.
It's also perfect for the sleeper list because, from an exterior design standpoint, it is objectively unremarkable. The R/T had specialty red badging and one of the most red interiors that's probably ever been on the market.
Sources: GM, Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, GMC, Ford, Cadillac, Jeep, Cars.com, KBB
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