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Top 10 Cars That Look Fast but Are Secretly Slower Than a Minivan

Cameron Eittreim June 3, 2025

When it comes to speed, appearances can be deceiving.
We often assume sleek, sporty cars boasting aggressive designs and aerodynamic curves are built for performance and high-speed thrills.
However, beneath the stylish exterior, some of these vehicles deliver surprisingly lackluster acceleration and speed, making them slower than the family minivan sitting in your neighbor’s driveway.
In this article, we reveal ten cars that promise speed and excitement through their bold looks but secretly fall short when it comes to actual performance.
Prepare to be shocked as we uncover sporty-looking rides that can’t quite keep up with the humble minivan.

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1. Toyota Celica (Last Generation)

The final generation of the Toyota Celica turned heads with its sharp lines, low stance, and aggressive styling that screamed speed.
Yet, despite its sporty facade, the Celica was powered by a modest 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, generating only around 140 horsepower in its standard form.
This meant acceleration was surprisingly muted, taking over eight seconds to reach 60 mph—slower than many popular family-friendly minivans on the market.
Owners expecting thrilling performance from the Celica’s sleek exterior were often left disappointed, secretly aware that their sporty coupe could easily be outpaced by the practical and unassuming minivan waiting patiently in the next lane.

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2. Hyundai Veloster (Base Model)

With its unique three-door layout, aggressive front fascia, and sporty lines, the Hyundai Veloster looks every bit the part of a quick and nimble hatchback.
However, beneath that eye-catching exterior, the base model houses a rather modest 2.0-liter engine producing just 147 horsepower.
Acceleration from zero to 60 mph clocks in at around 8.5 seconds, placing its performance closer to economy sedans than genuine sport compacts.
Surprisingly, this means the Veloster base model can find itself trailing behind many common minivans, vehicles rarely associated with speed, when it comes to real-world acceleration and passing power.

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3. Mitsubishi Eclipse (Fourth Generation)

The fourth-generation Mitsubishi Eclipse featured bold curves, aggressive headlights, and a sleek, coupe profile that boldly promised performance and excitement.
Unfortunately, its dramatic styling couldn’t fully mask the reality beneath—a heavy body paired with modest engine choices that maxed out at just 263 horsepower in its most powerful trim, with base models offering significantly less.
Weighing in well above its sporty rivals, the Eclipse struggled during acceleration, often needing more than eight seconds to reach 60 mph.
In everyday driving scenarios, this meant the sporty-looking Eclipse would surprisingly find itself losing impromptu acceleration battles to the neighbor’s practical minivan.

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4. Scion tC

The Scion tC immediately attracted younger drivers with its angular styling, lowered stance, and sporty profile—seemingly promising spirited performance at an affordable price.
Yet, despite its youthful appearance and aggressive design cues, the tC was powered by a relatively modest 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing just 179 horsepower.
Acceleration to 60 mph took around eight seconds, making its real-world performance surprisingly lackluster.
This meant, embarrassingly, that the Scion tC could be outrun in a stoplight sprint by many popular family minivans, vehicles traditionally associated with soccer practice and grocery runs rather than speed and agility.

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5. Honda CR-Z

The Honda CR-Z arrived with futuristic aesthetics, featuring sharp angles, aerodynamic curves, and a sleek, compact stance that hinted at agile handling and quick acceleration.
Marketed as a sporty hybrid coupe, expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, beneath that forward-thinking exterior, the CR-Z relied on a modest hybrid powertrain that produced a combined output of just 130 horsepower.
This translated into leisurely acceleration, with the CR-Z needing close to nine seconds to reach 60 mph.
In practical terms, this meant the stylish hybrid coupe found itself outpaced by many everyday minivans, vehicles that few would ever suspect of being quicker off the line.

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6. Fiat 124 Spider (Base Model)

The Fiat 124 Spider immediately catches the eye with its classic roadster styling, sleek convertible profile, and Italian-inspired lines.
At first glance, this stylish two-seater appears purpose-built for spirited driving and quick acceleration.
However, beneath its charming exterior lies a modest 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, delivering only 160 horsepower in the base model.
Consequently, the 124 Spider takes around seven and a half seconds to reach 60 mph—not exactly the thrilling performance its looks promise.
Surprisingly, this means the chic Italian convertible can find itself trailing behind everyday minivans, vehicles nobody associates with sporty driving, during real-world acceleration maneuvers.

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7. Subaru BRZ (Automatic Transmission)

The Subaru BRZ earned enthusiastic praise for its classic sports-car formula: lightweight, rear-wheel drive, and sharp, agile handling.
However, when equipped with an automatic transmission, this sleek and sporty coupe reveals an unexpected weakness—sluggish acceleration.
With just over 200 horsepower from its naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and the automatic transmission’s leisurely gear shifts, the BRZ takes nearly eight seconds to sprint from zero to 60 mph.
In practical terms, this translates to the stylish, track-ready Subaru BRZ falling behind family-haulers like the Honda Odyssey minivan, a vehicle few would expect to outpace a dedicated sports coupe off the line.

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8. Mazda MX-5 Miata (Older Models)

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has long been celebrated as an icon of affordable sports-car driving, praised universally for its nimble handling, balanced chassis, and pure driving experience.
Yet, enthusiasts who’ve driven earlier generations know that straight-line speed was never the Miata’s strong suit.
With older models producing around 116 to 140 horsepower, acceleration from zero to 60 mph often hovered near the nine-second mark.
This modest performance means that, despite its classic roadster charm and sporty appeal, older Miatas can easily be outpaced by modern minivans, vehicles few would suspect of having quicker acceleration than an iconic sports car.

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9. Chevrolet Camaro (Base Model, Early 2000s)

With its muscular lines, aggressive stance, and classic American muscle-car design, the early 2000s Chevrolet Camaro seemed built for tire-shredding speed.
However, enthusiasts who opted for the base V6 model soon discovered a less thrilling reality beneath the bold exterior.
Producing around 200 horsepower from its 3.8-liter engine, these entry-level Camaros required more than eight seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph, noticeably slower than their muscular design implied.
Ironically, this placed these visually intimidating vehicles behind contemporary minivans in acceleration tests, a surprising truth that left some Camaro owners quietly humbled at stoplights.

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10. Dodge Avenger (Sport Trim)

With aggressive styling cues including bold front grilles, sporty wheels, and a low, athletic stance, the Dodge Avenger’s sport-oriented trim appeared eager for action.
Yet beneath this assertive exterior, the Avenger’s performance failed to match its sporty aesthetics, featuring a modest 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced just 173 horsepower.
Accelerating from zero to 60 mph took around nine seconds, a pace far more leisurely than its muscular appearance suggested.
Surprisingly, this meant the Avenger’s sporty trim could routinely find itself outpaced by common minivans, vehicles rarely associated with speed or aggressive driving dynamics.

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Conclusion

As we’ve seen, appearances in the automotive world can be surprisingly deceptive.
A sporty exterior, aggressive styling, and aerodynamic curves don’t always translate into the thrilling speed and acceleration one might expect.
When evaluating a vehicle, especially one that appears built for performance, it’s essential to look beyond the sleek design and closely examine the actual performance metrics.
Doing so ensures you won’t find yourself unexpectedly trailing behind a family minivan at the stoplight.
Ultimately, informed buyers who prioritize real-world performance over flashy looks will avoid the disappointment that comes from discovering their stylish ride is secretly slower than a minivan.

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