The Quietest Cars on the Road: What Makes Them So Silent?

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Discover the quietest cars on the road and learn what makes them so silent, from advanced insulation to cutting-edge electric technology.

Introduction

In an age of constant 24/7 information, silence isn’t just a lost art it’s become a luxury few can obtain. With automakers jostling for an edge not just on performance and style, but acoustic comfort, a few cars now provide a gentle whisper of a ride. Whether you’re driving busy city streets or an open highway, the right cabin doesn’t just offer peace and quiet; it can also make the difference between comfort and fatigue, communication and frustration, as well as satisfaction and annoyance. But what exactly drives some cars so silent?And which models are leading the pack right now in noise reduction?

Table of Contents

Here is a closer look at all that and more, with help from those who have sought to measure such things.

Why Car Noise Matters

“Cabin nose (NVH noise, vibration, harshness) plays a huge part in fatigue, stress and perception of quality for the driver. A quiet cabin enables passengers to talk without raising their voices, listen to music without sacrificing volume and remain healthier during long drives.

Noises in vehicle are commonly generated by:

Engine vibrations
Road and tire friction
Wind turbulence

Things, such as the transmission and suspension, that are mechanical.

The quieter the vehicle, the more these noises are isolated or eliminated through a blend of design elements, materials and engineering approaches.

What Makes a Car Quiet?

Electric Powertrains

Electric vehicles (EVs) are quieter than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles by design (since they don’t have internal combustion engines). The primary source of mechanical noise in EVs, lack of pistons, exhaust systems and gear shifts cause them to be relatively quite. That makes them the progenitors of the quiet car revolution.

Acoustic Glass

Laminated acoustic glass is found in the windshields and side windows of many luxury cars. This special glass has a noise-suppressing layer that helps minimize the wind and outside noise. Some luxury brands go as far as to offer double or triple-pane windows.

Sound-Deadening Materials

Insulation products that provide sound coverage include the floor, doors, pillars and firewall. High-density foams along with carpets and even purpose-built underbody panels, are used to absorb or reflect sound waves.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Borrowing technology from high-end headphones, ANC systems deploy microphones to pick up undesirable sound waves. Then create counter frequencies through the car’s speakers to cancel out the sound.

Aerodynamic Design

With increasing velocity, wind noise becomes more apparent. Aerodynamically teardrop shaped vehicles with flush-fitting panels will not create as much wind buffeting around mirrors, windows and roof shapes.

Advanced Suspension Systems

Ride is less choppy, road noise more isolated and tire noise attenuated with air suspensions or adaptive dampers that absorb bumps more readily. This isolation inhibits transmission of noise into the cabin house through the chassis.

Top Quietest Cars in 2025

Below are some of the quietest cars currently on the market, known for their impressive NVH ratings:

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class has always been synonymous with luxury and silence. And with state of the art insulation and double glazed windows, and active noise cancellation, it offers a near-silent cabin even at highway speeds.

Lucid Air

The Lucid Air provides <-RAW exceptional acoustics for a premium electric sedan. Mute as no engine noise and engineered body panels, it’s one of the quietest EVs out there.

Lexus LS

Lexus now knows how to handle the sound of silence. The LS is a sedan that uses hybrid powertrains to provide a highly insulated and special glass riding experience.

BMW i7

BMW’s electric flagship sedan is a silent runner, employing electric powertrains, active sound canceling and thick acoustic insulation to cushion the interior from rattles, squeaks and the clanging of trash cans. And it uses adaptive suspension to lower road noise and feedback.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is famous for its technology and performance, but it’s also one of the quietest EVs. Thanks to Tesla’s minimalist cabin and lack of engine growling, other noises, as well as the cars aerodynamics help cut down noise pollution and not only in the passenger compartment.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

The Ghost is really in a class by itself, quite possibly the quietest car on earth. Rolls-Royce employs more than 100 kg (220 lb) of sound deadening material. Bespoke tires with foam inserts and microscopically frayed paneling to deliver the last word in acoustic isolation. And sometimes engineers had to layer in sound, too so that passengers wouldn’t be unsettled by the silence.

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