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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