If you're like me and spend most of your time on the road, you clearly understand what I mean when I say that road noises eventually drive me crazy. It seems like things are getting worse with each passing year. Fortunately, there are vehicles with such impressive soundproofing that you literally feel like you're in a bubble when you're inside.
The concept of silence goes even further, where the slightest creak or even the sound of materials rubbing can annoy me. I don't know if it's age getting to me, but it's the kind of thing I critique severely. Finally, there's the issue of engine noise. Yes, there are vehicles that one might want to hear roar, but that's something temporary. I don't want to have ringing ears after a few hours of driving a sports car every day. So, you'll understand that sports cars are not the topic here.
A large luxury sedan
I believe it's no secret to anyone, but the chances of experiencing a certain level of road silence are significantly higher with a luxury car. It's definitely a standard feature with cars like those offered by Bentley or Rolls-Royce still. However, there's an even quieter car in the segment, and that's the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Moreover, the latter is considerably more affordable even though it's out of reach for the budget of the majority of buyers.
An electric car?
If we're talking about mainstream models, most electric vehicles are quieter than their gasoline rivals. Well, that's generally the case, as there are some exceptions to the rule. As you probably know, I drive several hundred different vehicles each year, and some have particularly surprised me with their road silence, such as the RAM 1500 on the pickup truck side and the Kia Telluride on the SUV side. However, there's a model that has frankly impressed me this year, and that's the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
Firstly, there's the overall isolation. I had to recharge in downtown Montreal, and once the doors were closed, I could hardly hear anything. As for the rolling noise, the tires and suspension absorb a large part of it. The interior finish is of good quality, which means you don't hear all sorts of creaking noises. However, what really made the difference for me was the wind noise, or rather the absence of wind noise. The aerodynamics of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 have been very well studied, and you can feel it in the driving experience. This also allows air to circulate better around the car, significantly reducing noise. So, for this reason, I award the title of the quietest car on the market to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 this year. In my opinion, it's even quieter than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
