A sleeper car is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife. At a glance, it has an element of unassuming subtlety and practicality. However, turn on the taps, and a proper sleeper will dash the pride of pedigreed sports cars. Better yet, an American sleeper option with M3 and AMG-fighting potential exists. It’s the Cadillac ATS-V, a used car performance bargain. 

Stop your sleeper car search right here– the Cadillac ATS-V has you covered

It’s a Cadillac. I know. You’re conjuring mental images of garage queens and Sunday church runabouts. However, the Cadillac ATS-V chose a different path. Instead of ferrying your grandmother to the grocer, the ATS-V would rather blast you through corners with V8 exit speeds. It’s a proper sleeper car.

Still, despite its V8-like thrust, the ATS-V packs a twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6. Don’t think that means an anemic power output, though. Cadillac’s leaner V model produces a muscular 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, even with two fewer cylinders than a comparable CTS-V.

As a result, the Cadillac sleeper car will hit 60 mph in around 3.9 seconds. That’s nearly as quick as a seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. But straight-line speed is only part of the equation. Feed the ATS-V corners and the luxury car asks for more. It’s especially canyon-carving-compliant with its standard magnet-actuated adaptive dampers and weighty steering.

Better yet, the ATS-V is available as a slick-styled coupe in addition to a sleeper car sedan. Moreover, savvy shoppers can snag a low-mileage, early-model example for around $30,000 to $35,000. Of course, buyers beware of the oft-problematic CUE system.

Sure, you could buy a C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray that will out-launch and out-corner just about anything out there. However, a C7 is about as subtle as a gun. The ATS-V, on the other hand, is a top-tier athlete in a three-piece Tom Ford suit.