When driving on highways, the quality of the ride can be significantly affected by the amount of external noise that enters the cabin. Calm highway noise can make long trips more relaxing, allowing for easier conversations, clearer music, or simply a peaceful environment while you cruise at high speeds.
Conversely, excessive road and wind noise can quickly turn a highway journey into a noisy, tiresome experience, detracting from comfort and causing driver fatigue.
Road noise is caused by various factors, including the vehicle’s tires, suspension, aerodynamics, and soundproofing materials used in the cabin.
Automakers have long recognized the importance of cabin serenity, especially for highway driving, and many vehicles are equipped with advanced sound-dampening materials, laminated windows, and aerodynamically optimized designs to reduce noise.
These elements work in tandem to keep highway noise at bay and create a calm environment inside the car. On the other hand, some vehicles, particularly those with less attention to soundproofing or more performance-oriented designs, can allow road noise to intrude at higher speeds, making the cabin feel much less serene.
In this article, we’ll look at five vehicles that are known for their calm highway noise, making long drives more pleasant. We’ll also examine five vehicles that tend to roar over 60 mph, letting in excessive wind and road noise, which can interfere with the driving experience.
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5 Vehicles With Calm Highway Noise
1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has earned a reputation for luxury and refinement, and it delivers one of the quietest and serene highway experiences available. With its superior soundproofing, this mid-size luxury sedan excels at keeping road and wind noise at bay, even at high speeds.
The E-Class is equipped with laminated windows, which help reduce wind noise, and the car’s plush interior is filled with soft-touch materials that further dampen any residual sounds. The vehicle’s suspension is also tuned to absorb road imperfections, ensuring a smooth, quiet ride.
Highway drives in the E-Class are marked by a level of serenity that few competitors can match. Even when cruising at speeds well over 60 mph, the cabin remains impressively quiet, making it an ideal choice for those who spend a lot of time on the highway.
The car’s aerodynamics and high-quality construction further help reduce the noise that makes its way into the cabin, creating an experience where you can hear only the soft hum of the engine and the occasional whisper of the wind.
For those looking for a vehicle that offers luxury and tranquility on the highway, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class stands out as a leader in quiet cabin design, offering a calm, enjoyable ride on any journey.
2. Lexus ES 350
The Lexus ES 350 offers a smooth, quiet ride, making it an excellent choice for long highway trips.
Known for its excellent sound insulation, the ES 350 is equipped with a variety of noise-reducing features, including thick soundproofing materials, laminated windows, and a well-tuned suspension system that smooths out imperfections in the road.
These features work together to create a cabin that remains calm and serene, even at higher speeds. When cruising at 60 mph or more, the ES 350 remains one of the quietest vehicles in its class, with minimal road, tire, and wind noise penetrating the cabin.
The cabin’s interior is lined with soft, noise-dampening materials that further reduce sound transmission, allowing for clear conversations or uninterrupted listening to music or podcasts. This quiet, comfortable driving experience makes the ES 350 a favorite for those who prioritize a relaxing and noise-free highway drive.
The Lexus ES 350 strikes a perfect balance between comfort and quietness, ensuring that highway noise stays at a minimum so you can enjoy a serene journey no matter the distance.
3. Audi A6
The Audi A6 combines luxury with technology, and one of its most impressive qualities is its calmness at highway speeds. Audi’s attention to detail in terms of sound insulation makes the A6 an excellent choice for those who value a quiet cabin.
The car features multi-layered windows, sound-absorbing materials in the doors and roof, and an optimized suspension system that helps keep the cabin free from vibrations. These features allow the A6 to maintain an exceptionally quiet cabin, even when driving at high speeds on the highway.
At over 60 mph, the A6 remains remarkably composed and serene, with road and wind noise kept to a minimum. Whether you’re driving through busy highways or open stretches of road, the cabin provides an oasis of calm.
The combination of a smooth ride and effective sound insulation creates a peaceful environment that allows passengers to focus on the drive or enjoy the entertainment system without distraction.
For highway cruising, the Audi A6 offers a premium, noise-free experience, making it one of the best options for those who want to avoid the stress of loud cabin noise.
4. Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 is a luxury sedan that excels in creating a quiet, relaxing driving environment, particularly on the highway. This car is engineered with soundproofing materials, thick laminated windows, and a refined suspension system designed to reduce noise from the road.
The S90’s interior is focused on comfort, and that includes reducing unwanted sounds. Whether driving on smooth highways or more uneven roads, the S90 keeps external noises at bay, allowing passengers to enjoy a calm ride.
At highway speeds, the S90 is particularly adept at keeping the cabin noise-free. Even with higher speeds and faster-moving traffic around you, the car remains peaceful, with wind and tire noise significantly reduced.
The smooth suspension also helps to isolate the cabin from road vibrations, creating a tranquil driving experience. This makes the Volvo S90 a standout for anyone looking for a serene and quiet highway ride.
Volvo’s commitment to comfort and tranquility in the S90 ensures a hushed and pleasant journey, whether it’s a short trip or a long highway drive.
5. BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is renowned for its performance, but it doesn’t sacrifice comfort and quietness for speed. Equipped with high-quality sound insulation, laminated windows, and an air suspension system, the 5 Series ensures that road and wind noise are kept to a minimum even when cruising on highways at high speeds.
The vehicle’s smooth, controlled ride further isolates the cabin from any vibrations or noise that might otherwise seep in. While the 5 Series is often praised for its driving dynamics, its ability to maintain a quiet cabin even at 60 mph or more is equally impressive.
Whether you’re on a long road trip or simply commuting on the highway, the 5 Series provides a peaceful environment that allows you to focus on the drive or relax without distraction.
Its precise engineering and luxurious interior combine to create an experience that rivals the best in terms of highway noise reduction.
For drivers who enjoy a balance of performance and tranquility, the BMW 5 Series delivers a refined and quiet ride, making it one of the top choices for calm highway noise.
5 Vehicles That Roar Over 60mph
1. Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is beloved for its rugged design and off-road prowess, but this can come at the cost of a quiet ride, particularly on highways.
Due to its boxy design, rugged suspension, and removable doors and roof, the Wrangler is prone to allowing wind and road noise to enter the cabin, especially at highway speeds.
Once the vehicle exceeds 60 mph, the noise from the wind, tires, and the general construction of the car becomes far more noticeable, making for a loud driving experience.
On highways, you’ll often find yourself battling wind noise, especially if driving with the roof off or windows down. Even with the roof on, the Jeep’s design doesn’t do much to minimize road or wind noise, and it tends to amplify these sounds, particularly over 60 mph.
While the Wrangler is fantastic for off-road adventures, its highway performance in terms of noise isolation leaves much to be desired.
For those seeking a peaceful, quiet highway ride, the Jeep Wrangler may not be the best choice. Its performance on rugged terrains is unmatched, but its noise level on highways can be less than desirable.
2. Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang, known for its powerful engine and muscle-car appeal, is also known for its loud highway performance. Whether equipped with a V8 or a turbocharged four-cylinder, the Mustang’s engine roars, and that sound tends to be amplified when cruising at highway speeds.
While this engine noise may be thrilling to some, it can become quite loud and intrusive once you hit 60 mph or more. In addition to the engine noise, the Mustang’s relatively rigid suspension can make road imperfections more noticeable, adding to the cacophony inside the cabin.
As you push the Mustang faster, wind and tire noise also become more apparent. The car’s aerodynamics aren’t necessarily designed for a quiet, smooth ride at higher speeds. Instead, the emphasis is on performance and driving excitement, which often comes with more noise, particularly at highway speeds.
For those who enjoy the roar of a muscle car engine and the excitement of a performance vehicle, the Ford Mustang delivers in spades. However, if you’re looking for a quieter highway ride, the Mustang might not be the most peaceful option.
3. Chevrolet Camaro
Like the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro is a muscle car designed to perform, and that performance comes with some noise. The Camaro’s powerful engine, whether it’s a V6 or V8, produces a deep, throaty growl that only becomes louder as speed increases.
At 60 mph and beyond, the engine noise can become quite pronounced, and the sound levels inside the cabin can make it difficult to hold a conversation or enjoy your music without cranking up the volume.
In addition to the engine, the Camaro’s suspension and rigid frame contribute to the noise levels. The car’s sporty, performance-oriented setup does little to isolate the cabin from road and wind noise, meaning that at higher speeds, the outside world will make its presence felt in a rather loud manner.
The Camaro is built for power, and that power is often loud and inescapable when cruising on highways.
If you’re looking for a car that offers a more refined, quieter highway experience, the Chevrolet Camaro may not be the best choice. However, for performance enthusiasts who enjoy the thrill of engine noise and sporty driving, the Camaro offers an exciting, loud ride.
4. Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX is a compact sports sedan known for its turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive capabilities. While it excels in performance, particularly in terms of handling and acceleration, it tends to let in a lot of noise when driving at highway speeds.
The turbocharged engine can produce a loud and aggressive roar, which is thrilling for driving enthusiasts but may become tiresome for those seeking a more tranquil ride.
At speeds over 60 mph, the WRX’s cabin tends to fill with a mix of engine noise, tire noise, and wind noise. The car’s design prioritizes performance over noise isolation, and as a result, highway driving can be noisy and distracting.
Even with the car’s stiff suspension, which is designed for agility rather than comfort, road imperfections are felt in the cabin, amplifying the noise experience.
The Subaru WRX is perfect for those who enjoy spirited driving and don’t mind the accompanying sounds of performance. However, for long highway drives, it’s likely to be much louder than other, more refined sedans.
5. Tesla Model 3 (Standard Range Plus)
While the Tesla Model 3 is an impressive electric car in terms of technology, performance, and range, the Standard Range Plus variant is known for producing noticeable cabin noise at highway speeds.
Despite being an electric vehicle with no internal combustion engine, the Model 3 isn’t completely immune to wind and tire noise, particularly as you accelerate beyond 60 mph.
Its aerodynamic design contributes to wind noise, and while the tires are designed for performance, they can also be a bit loud, especially on highways.
In addition to the wind and tire noise, the Model 3’s minimalistic interior design doesn’t do much to absorb sound. The cabin is clean and modern, but it lacks the heavy sound-dampening materials found in more luxury-oriented EVs, making it more susceptible to the hum of road and air noise.
The result is that, while the Model 3 offers an otherwise quiet electric driving experience, it can get noisy at higher speeds.
For those who prioritize a completely quiet highway experience, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus may not offer the level of cabin tranquility found in more premium electric vehicles.
However, its performance and cutting-edge technology might make it a great choice for those who value these aspects more than a silent ride.
When selecting a vehicle, highway noise can be a key consideration for comfort and driving experience.
While cars like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Lexus ES 350 offer serene cabins with little road or wind noise, other vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Mustang are louder by design, focusing on performance, adventure, or muscle-car appeal.
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Your decision will depend on whether you prioritize a calm and quiet highway experience or if you’re willing to trade off some tranquility for the excitement and thrill of a more powerful, roaring engine.
Whether you seek a peaceful ride or the adrenaline of a loud performance car, there’s a vehicle that suits your driving preferences.
