Market Watch: These Used Cars Are Deceptively Powerful

Our previous Q car feature in early 2023 felt like another dimension, given the rapid rise of EVs. These new players are packing formidable motors that power luxury MPVs. Well, EVs have changed the game no doubt. We can even hand the title of ultimate sleeper or Q cars now to luxo-haulers such as the 369hp Denza D9 and 315hp XPENG X9 (even the single motor variant does 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds), because never in our wildest dreams would we have thought one with a 20-inch screen and fridge for the 2nd row can outpace a hot hatch.

Which is why we have chosen to place more emphasis on driver-centric features and dynamism. Our shortlist this time round might belong to a different kettle of fish (the VW Passat R36, Jaguar XJ 5.0 V8 and Alpina D4 Coupe are admittedly hard acts to follow), but they still do boast genuine Q car appeal.

2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pure Electric

A compact EV SUV that looks just like its petrol-powered sibling forms a good starting block for undercover work. This is no Cat A-friendly, sub-100hp city cruiser - the Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pure Electric’s a dual motor, 402hp / 660Nm bruiser. 0 to 100km/h arrives in under 5 seconds, and it can still store more than 450 litres of groceries in the trunk.

A colleague shared in his review that “its turn of pace is not what one would have expected from a sensible Volvo”. It might not draw too many mechanical similarities to the bonkers 850R back in the 90s, but this reminds us that Volvo is still an expert of understated appeal.

2022 Tesla Model 3 Performance

Given the sonic rate at which EVs evolve, slotting the previous-gen Teslas in our archives might even be a possibility. But when it comes to the Performance variants of Tesla’s Model 3, their earth-shattering figures defy generations.

This 2022 model packs more than 500hp and does the century sprint in a smidge over 3 seconds. While we might be desensitised to big numbers these days, in real world application this family sedan will still require discipline of the highest order.

2017 SEAT Leon Cupra 2.0 TSI DSG

Modern Cupras now come in petrol and electric flavours. Cupra has also undergone a rebranding; it’s now introduced as a standalone since 2018. We might also recall SEAT - Cupra was the performance sub-brand of SEAT for more than two decades. Before the rebranding, Cupras under the SEAT brand did sign off in style.

The 2017 SEAT Leon Cupra’s EA888 motor produces 290hp and 350Nm, and it marches on to 100km/h in well under 6 seconds. All this grunt goes only to the front axle (unlike its Golf R brethren), so it should feel more wild on the limit. This example has been through an ECU upgrade. Given how flexible this engine is, it’s never going to be short of pulling power.

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