Cabin noise at highway speed shapes how tiring a long drive feels, and instrumented tests from Car and Driver and Edmunds put numbers on it. The readings below span a modest Buick crossover to a plug-in hybrid BMW, with measured levels falling steadily down the list. Here are ten SUVs that tested hushed at 70 mph.
1. Buick Encore GX: Budget Cabin, Library Manners
Car and Driver recorded 67 decibels at 70 mph in the 2020 Encore GX, a figure that sets the ceiling for this list. The 2024 Avenir refresh read 68 dBA on the same test, so the subcompact crossover held steady rather than improving.
At a price far below the luxury names that follow, 67 dBA shows that a small, affordable crossover can keep highway noise modest. Shoppers who put commute comfort ahead of badge prestige have a credible low-cost option, though the refresh gained nothing.
2. Chevrolet Equinox EV: Electric Calm Without Premium Pricing
In a 2024 Equinox EV 2LT AWD, Car and Driver measured 65 dBA at 70 mph, two decibels under the Encore GX. With no engine to mask, the electric crossover relies on insulation and tire choice to hold that number.
Because decibels are logarithmic, a two-point gap is audible but modest. Owners who spend long stretches on interstates get a quiet mainstream electric SUV, though the figure came from one AWD trim and other versions could differ. Both it and the Encore GX sit at the affordable end of the group, which makes the comparison with pricier models more striking.
3. Hyundai Palisade: Hybrid Calligraphy Keeps It Down
Edmunds logged 64.9 dB at 70 mph in the Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy during its Telluride Hybrid comparison. That reading shows how well three-row family haulers can now insulate occupants from wind and road roar.
The Calligraphy is the top trim, so the number reflects the most insulated version. Families weighing lower trims should expect similar but not guaranteed results, and the Palisade still lost the quietness contest to its Kia cousin. Its three rows of seats add cabin volume that must be sealed, which makes a sub-65 reading harder to achieve than in a compact crossover.
4. Kia Telluride: Hybrid Edges Its Hyundai Cousin
The 2027 Telluride Hybrid measured 63.8 dB at 70 mph at Edmunds, a full 1.1 dB quieter than the Palisade Hybrid it shares a platform with. Small differences in glass, sealing and tuning explain the gap.
For buyers cross-shopping the two corporate siblings, cabin hush now favors the Kia. A one-decibel margin is subtle on the road, so price, space and styling may matter more when the final choice is made. Both vehicles use similar hybrid hardware, so the result mostly reflects acoustic tuning rather than a different powertrain, a detail that shoppers rarely see in spec sheets.
5. BMW X1: Compact Luxury, Measured Quiet
Edmunds measured 62.7 dB at 70 mph in the X1 xDrive28i, quieter than every mainstream entry above it. The result puts the smallest BMW crossover in the territory usually reserved for larger luxury models.
Shoppers who want a premium badge without a big footprint get hushed highway manners here. The reading applies to the xDrive28i, so performance trims with larger wheels may sound different at speed. Its xDrive28i badge denotes the gasoline all-wheel-drive version, so the reading reflects engine and driveline noise as well as wind and tires.
6. Rolls-Royce Cullinan: Ultra-Luxury Delivers on the Promise
Car and Driver recorded 62 dBA at 70 mph in a 2019 Cullinan, which is exactly what the brand’s reputation for silence implies. Extra sound deadening and thick glass are part of the formula.
Notably, the Rolls is only a few decibels quieter than the Encore GX at the top of the list, so the premium for hush is steep. The result shows diminishing returns once cabins fall below roughly 65 dBA. Car and Driver’s test used a 2019 model, the first year of production, so later refinements could shift the reading slightly in either direction.
7. Audi Q4 e-tron: Electric Compact Under 62
At 70 mph the Q4 e-tron registered 61.4 dB in Edmunds testing, among the lowest readings for a compact SUV. Its electric drivetrain removes engine noise, leaving only wind and tires to manage.
Compact electric buyers who value a calm commute should shortlist it. Tire wear and road surface can shift real-world numbers, so a test drive on a rough highway remains worthwhile. The reading sits below the Rolls-Royce figure on paper, although the two outlets use different equipment and conditions, so the comparison is only rough.
8. Bentley Bentayga: V-8 Power, 61 dBA Cruising
Car and Driver measured 61 dBA at 70 mph in a 2019 Bentayga V-8, proving a large combustion SUV can still cruise almost silently. Heavy insulation and tuned glazing mask the engine at highway speed.
The Bentayga undercuts several electric rivals on this list despite its V-8. That result is relevant for luxury buyers who assume only an electric drivetrain delivers a hushed cabin. The reading came from the 2019 V-8 model rather than the hybrid or Speed versions, whose different engines and wheel sizes could change the result noticeably.
9. Hyundai Ioniq 5: Mainstream EV Near the Top
Edmunds recorded 60.4 dB at 70 mph in the Ioniq 5, a reading below the Cullinan’s 62 dBA and the Bentayga’s 61 dBA. It is the lowest figure here for a model sold at mainstream prices.
The Ioniq 5 shows that a quiet cabin no longer demands a six-figure budget. Different test methods separate Edmunds numbers from Car and Driver’s, so cross-outlet comparisons are approximate at best. Its flat floor and electric motors leave tire noise as the main remaining sound source, so tire choice and road surface influence the result most.
10. BMW X5: Plug-In Hybrid Takes the Crown
The X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid registered 59.4 dB at 70 mph at Edmunds, the quietest result among these ten SUVs. Electric assistance and heavy acoustic work combine to keep cabin noise lowest.
Buyers who spend hours on the interstate get the calmest cabin of the group, though the xDrive50e carries a price well above the Encore GX that opens the list. Plug-in hybrid operation can also mean the engine stays off at highway speed while battery charge lasts, which removes a large share of mechanical noise.
More from Morning Overview
- Hurricane Hunter radar shows four warning signs that a tropical cyclone is about to strengthen, a University of Miami study found
- Tropical Storm Rachel is dumping up to 12 inches on four Mexican states on its way to major hurricane strength
- The FTC says Lens.com doubled the price shoppers saw in Google ads
- Common allergy, bladder and sleep pills tied to sharply higher dementia odds
