Quietest Midsized and Large Sedans From Consumer Reports' Tests
Whether you're on a daily drive or a long road trip, these 10 are standouts
When buyers step up to a midsized or large sedan, they get more than just a more expensive car. Along with the bump in price comes a roomier interior and noticeable improvements in refinement. But that doesn’t mean every single one is library-quiet inside.
It can be a challenge for shoppers to determine during a brief test drive just how loud a vehicle is. Larger wheels and tires transfer road noise into the cabin, while some automakers limit their use of sound-deadening material, which absorbs noise, in order to lighten the car and improve fuel economy. Also, many sedans come with small four-cylinder engines, which work hard to accelerate, particularly at highway speeds, so they can get pretty loud.
We evaluate interior noise among more than 50 objective and subjective tests. To do so, we listen to the wind, road, engine, and tire noises generated when the vehicle is driven over various pavements, both on our track and on public roads.