Top 10: Factory-built sleeper cars

Q-cars (or sleepers, depending on your choice of terminology) mix plain looks with rapid performance. For a particular breed of driver who's more concerned with 'go' rather than 'show', they hold a special appeal.

That allure is certainly understandable. After all, why attract unnecessary attention from boy racers, the police or outside-lane boors in their German repmobiles? The stealth effect is further heightened if the Q-car in question doesn't wear a so-called 'premium' badge.

While aftermarket customisers can achieve sleeper status by tuning or doing an engine swap, such models are also available direct from the production line. Sometimes a bit of hunting through brochures is needed to find them, though.

Here, in alphabetical order, are ten examples of the genre which are currently available to buy:

1. DS 4 Prestige THP 210

Engine	1.6 litre I4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	6-speed manual
Power	207 bhp (155 kW / 210 PS)
Torque	285 Nm (210 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.8 seconds
Top speed	146 mph (235 km/h)
Combined cycle	47.9 mpg (5.9 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	138 g/km
Starting price	£23,095

2. Ford Mondeo Titanium Hatchback 2.0T EcoBoost 240

Engine	2.0 litre I4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Power	236 bhp (176 kW / 240 PS)
Torque	340 Nm (250 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.9 seconds
Top speed	149 mph (240 km/h)
Combined cycle	38.2 mpg (7.4 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	171 g/km
Starting price	£26,750

3. Infiniti Q50S Hybrid Sport

Engine	3.5 litre V6 petrol + electric motor
Transmission	7-speed automatic
Power	359 bhp (268 kW / 364 PS) combined
Torque	546 Nm (402 lb/ft) combined
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	5.1 seconds
Top speed	155 mph (250 km/h)
Combined cycle	45.6 mpg (6.2 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	144 g/km
Starting price	£40,700

4. Mazda 6 Sport Nav Saloon 175 Skyactiv-D

Engine	2.2 litre I4 turbocharged diesel
Transmission	6-speed manual
Power	173 bhp (129 kW / 175 PS)
Torque	420 Nm (310 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.9 seconds
Top speed	139 mph (223 km/h)
Combined cycle	62.8 mpg (4.5 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	119 g/km
Starting price	£26,795

5. Seat Leon FR 1.8 TSI 180 DSG

Engine	1.8 litre I4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power	177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS)
Torque	250 Nm (184 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.2 seconds
Top speed	139 mph (223 km/h)
Combined cycle	48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	134 g/km
Starting price	£23,045

6. Škoda Superb SE L Exec Hatch 2.0 TSI 280 4x4 DSG

Engine	2.0 litre I4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	6-speed dual-clutch automatic + all-wheel drive
Power	276 bhp (206 kW / 280 PS)
Torque	350 Nm (258 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	5.8 seconds
Top speed	155 mph (250 km/h)
Combined cycle	39.8 mpg (7.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	160 g/km
Starting price	£31,020

7. Subaru Forester 2.0i XT Lineartronic

Engine	2.0 litre H4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	Continuously variable + all-wheel drive
Power	237 bhp (177 kW / 241 PS)
Torque	350 Nm (258 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.5 seconds
Top speed	137 mph (220 km/h)
Combined cycle	33.2 mpg (8.5 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	197 g/km
Starting price	£30,995

8. Vauxhall Astra Elite 1.6i Turbo

Engine	1.6 litre I4 turbocharged petrol
Transmission	6-speed manual
Power	197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS)
Torque	300 Nm (221 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	7.0 seconds
Top speed	146 mph (235 km/h)
Combined cycle	46.3 mpg (6.1 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	141 g/km
Starting price	£21,155

9. Volkswagen Passat GT Saloon 2.0 BITDI SCR 240 4Motion

Engine	2.0 litre I4 turbocharged diesel
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic + all-wheel drive
Power	236 bhp (176 kW / 240 PS)
Torque	500 Nm (369 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.1 seconds
Top speed	149 mph (240 km/h)
Combined cycle	51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	144 g/km
Starting price	£34,955

10. Volvo V60 SE Lux Nav D6 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid

Engine	2.4 litre I5 turbocharged diesel + electric motor
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Power	217 bhp (162 kW / 220 PS) + 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS)
Torque	440 Nm (324 lb/ft) + 200 Nm (147 lb/ft)
0-62 mph (100 km/h)	6.0 seconds
Top speed	143 mph (230 km/h)
Combined cycle	155.2 mpg (1.8 l/100km)
CO2 emissions	48 g/km
Starting price	£50,175

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