To make a very long story short, I have been on an insane crusade over the last decade to measure vehicle cabin noise in the expensive / super expensive categories. I take it to an extreme level but I won't go into detail here.

tl;dr Car & Driver also takes this extremely seriously. Their full methodology can be found in the * below (updated for this year). They've also been testing it in the same location (They have two facilities) over the last decade or two.

Anyway, per https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...highway-range/

"In our testing, the BMW iX recorded an average of 66 dBA with the accelerator pressed to the floor, and 63 dBA when driving along at a steady 70 mph. This puts it among the quietest cars we've ever tested. Only four cars have been quieter at highway cruising speeds—a 2019 Bentley Bentayga V-8 (61 dBA), a 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan (62 dBA), a 2020 Audi S8 (62 dBA), and a 2019 Jaguar I-Pace (62 dBA). The iX was significantly quieter than this quartet at wide-open throttle, even beating the fully electric I-Pace, which measured 71 dBA under heavy acceleration. And the iX is far more serene than the quietest Tesla we've ever tested, a 2021 Model S Long Range Plus, which came in at 66 dBA.

BMW's EV SUV outdoes some seriously luxurious vehicles at keeping it silent on the highway. The iX measured one decibel quieter than a 2020 BMW 745e plug-in hybrid, a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580 4Matic, and a 2021 Cadillac Escalade 600. The iX also easily betters these three gas-powered land yachts when it comes to lack of noise during maximum acceleration."

So iX is 66dba under WOT, 63dba at 70mph
S8 (with 23" rims) was 62dBA at 70mph
S class (W223) was 64dBA

So an S8 is quieter than a W223 which is shocking because previous generations of testing with C&D (D4 model) had the A8 quieter than the S8 by "a fair bit".

Why did I post this?

-I'm genuinely shocked. The W222 was only a fraction louder than the A8 and that had RFTs in MY testing at 1xx kph and I have no doubt the W222 would be even quieter with non RFTs. The W223 is generally reviewed to be quieter than the W222, and C&D found otherwise. Do most people care? Of course not. Did I find it interesting? Yes.

--Now before the haters come after me - I am simply sharing data from C&D. I am in the market for a W223. I have absolutely *0 interest* in vehicle bashing or whatever. I'm too old mentally for that sort of behaviour!




*https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...r-noise-sones/

 

Lexus LS 500 reference per: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...i-rs-q8-drive/

" Another typical drawback of performance cars is the rolling noise generated by rubber this wide and grippy, but this Audi sails along at 70 mph with just a 67-decibel whisper of background noise, one more than a Lexus LS sedan."

​​​​​​​Lexus LS500 - 66dba

--

I'm not shocked. The LS500's noise levels stood out to me immediately, especially on the highway

 

Because this is all volunteer work on my part, Im' not going to cite all of my work but it's all public info from C&D. Just dumping stuff

Range Rover on 23s: 66dba
Cayenne Coupe/Regular: 65/66
RSQ8: 67 per above dba
Rolls Royce Ghost: 62dba
Rolls Royce Spectre: 63dba
RR Phantom (older model): 64dba

 

Low to high sorted all at 70mph

Rolls Royce Cullinan- 62dBA
Audi S8 (23s) -62
Jaguar I-Pace - 62
Rolls Royce Spectre: 63
Mercedes S class - 64
Rolls Royce Phantom (old model) 64
Cayenne Coupe/Regular: 65/66
Range Rover - 66
Lexus LS500 - 66